July 2013 issuu

The ALMONDBURIAN T H E MAGAZINE OF TH E OLD AL MONDBURIANS’ S OCIETY

July 2013

3 4 5 10 14 19 21 24 25 25 26 27 28 33 37 38 39 42 43 44 46 47 49 50 53

IN THIS ISSUE

Chairman’s Letter OAS Calendar But the ladyWAS for turning…

Enthroning the Archbishop Bonjour! Nous sommes d’Almondbury Concrete and custard for lunch Farnley Lines Poet David reaches number 10 Annual Dinner/Founders’ Day OAS membership New Sports Pavilion Every picture tells a story Walter: the master we all remember The Walter you never knew A view from the common room Walter’s rope trick in the Big Samuel Johnson’s loose sally Terry’s Teaser Cricket Badminton Tennis Football OAS Quiz Evening 2013 Postbag Obituaries

(Opposite): This view of the School from Farnley Line was drawn by Gavin Kane. Prominent in the centre is the much-missed ‘Big Tree’, the sudden vandalistic felling of which shocked so many Almondburians in 1977 after the OAS had commissioned a special survey that suggested the tree would stand for many more years with judicial pruning.

The ALMONDBURIAN Editor: Roger Dowling

July 2013

The magazine of The Old Almondburians’ Society

A word from your editor

A

RO G E R D OWLING

FTER a spirited campaign in the correspondence columns of The Almondburian, the OAS Dinner is to return to King James’s School (see announcement on page 25). It is, in fact, an appropriate time to return to the School as the event will mark the arrival of Taylor Dyson 100 years ago. There are still around a hundred OAS members who will rememberTaylor Dyson, who retired in 1945; we hope many of them will take this opportunity to make a nostalgic return visit to the School. Present head teacher and OAS President Robert Lamb also reaches a milestone this year as he completes his first ten years in the post, and we hope that this will encourage some of our newer OAS members to make a point of attending.

3

Chris West is leading a small sub-committee who will be responsible for planning the Dinner and he will welcome offers of assistance, particularly on the day. He can be contacted by email at c.west225@btinternet.com (tel: 07714 677720).

Another important development is that Chris West’s plans for the new Sports Pavilion have now been formally submitted to Kirklees Council for approval (report: page 26). Once approval has been received, the fund-raising activities will get under way.

Finally, my thanks to those who submitted entries to our crossword competition Terry’s Teaser in the March Almondburian. Each issue, a small but determined band of crossword-solvers submit their entries, but Teaser No 8 for some reason attracted a particularly good response, literally from all over the world. It therefore seems particularly appropriate that the winner, chosen from a hat in the traditional way, should be Old Almondburian John R Bradley (1950-1957) in Victoria, Australia and we send him our heartiest congratulations together with a year’s free membership of the Old Almondburians’ Society.

OLD ALMONDBURIANS’ SOCIETY CALENDAR

of 1943, 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1988, 1993 or 2003 for example or, indeed, anyone else who takes a notion to do so, should consider starting to organise their class re-union earlier rather than later.

DATES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, 2013 The Executive Committee of the Society meets upstairs at the Woolpack in Almondbury, at 7.30 pm. Meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the month, although there are exceptions due to Bank Holidays and school holidays, and there is no meeting in August.Any member of the Society who would like to attend one of these meetings will be made most welcome on the following dates: Monday, 1st July; Monday, 2nd September; Monday, 7th October; Monday, 4th November; Monday, 2nd December.

FOUNDERS’ DAY SERVICE Our new chaplain, Revd Stuart Roebuck, is in discussion with the School to explore the possibility of changing the traditional Sunday to a day that might enable more students from the School to attend.We will be announcing further details in due course.

CRICKET The season opened on 21st April and is now in full swing. A cordial invitation is extended to Almondburians to support our matches at our scenic Arkenley ground on Saturdays from 2.00 pm.

ANNUAL DINNER This year’s Annual Dinner will be held at the School on Saturday, 23rd November, so please put the date in your diary now to make sure that you don’t miss out on a great evening.The price will be pegged at last year’s figure of £27.50.An application form for tickets is included in this issue of The Almondburian.

It is always good to see members making a special effort to stage a re-union of their year at the dinner and such occasions are always enjoyable, so those with a special anniversary this year, members of the classes

TENNIS The season started on Thursday, 6th June on the school tennis courts from 7.15 pm to dusk.The season will run to 29th August.

GOLF Gothard Cup:Woodsome Hall Golf Club on Friday 5th July 2013 followed by Dinner. Further details from Simon Russell (simon@pacific-lifestyle.co.uk).

4

NEWS

But the lady WAS for turning…

N

The death of MargaretThatcher in April reminded many Almondburians of her ambiguous role in the comprehensive education rows of the early 1970s

O student of the history of our School can fail to be struck by the many vicissitudes that it has survived during the past 400 years. But none changed its nature as fundamentally as the introduction of comprehensive mixed-sex education in Huddersfield in the 1970s – a change in which Margaret Thatcher as Secretary of State for Education played a central role.

As Edward Royle recorded in his excellent article in The Illustrated History of King James’s School, comprehensive education was to some extent a by-product of the 1944 Education Act. It became a central plank of Labour Party policy under former Royds Hall Grammar School pupil Harold Wilson and his Education Secretary Anthony Crosland.

The Conservatives came to power in 1970 and Margaret Thatcher became Education Secretary in Edward Heath’s administration. A grammar school girl herself – she attended Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School – she promptly ended the compulsion on local authorities to convert their grammar schools to comprehensives. However, by this time the process was so well advanced that it would have been prohibitively expensive to put the policy into reverse.

The situation in Huddersfield was that it had already developed a plan to convert its three grammar schools – King James’s, Huddersfield College and Greenhead High School – into co-educational sixth form colleges.

The OldAlmondburians’ Society and in particular chairman Fred Sheard, the redoubtable Gerald Dobson and status secretary Michael Dyson made strong representations against the plan. In a letter

5

…Is this record of service, this accumulated experience to be lost? Certainly it will be under the present proposals.

And yet in all its long life the school has never been in better shape,academically, in sport, or in the variety of its extramural activities.

Once a good school has been destroyed or changed out of all recognition in some‘reform’scheme it is very difficult if not impossible to resurrect it.In Huddersfield we are not so well endowed with institutions of excellence that we can afford to lose a Grammar School of the calibre of King James’s.

“It was a very uncertain period for the School,” recalls Michael Dyson. “I had a one-to-one half-hour meeting with Margaret Thatcher in a room at Huddersfield

to the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Sheard wrote: …The School received its Royal Charter in 1608 and has well served the citizens of Huddersfield in its contribution to the education of their children.

In that time it has of course undergone many changes but one function it has always fulfilled and should be allowed to continue to fulfil. It has taken boys and turned them into young men.It has had the care of them over exactly the right span of their lives to make this transformation and in making it has given them so much more than mere factual knowledge. It has given them a sense of community, a sense of responsibility and an awareness of true values.It has educated them.

Margaret Thatcher honoured a promise to a parent, anxious about the future of the School in 1972. But did it guarantee its long term future as a grammar school?

7

The School is restless,the staff are wavering (particularly when posts at the local Comprehensives are being advertised), the Headmaster is leaving in July.

The OAS will insist on the Authority undertaking their obligations under the terms of the 1944 Education Act. Headmaster Harry Taylor was in a difficult position and it required all his diplomacy as a trained lawyer to strike the right note in his public statements: The basis of our attitude to the problem has been to maintain standards within the School and keep the ship afloat while all the arguing is going on.

There followed another long period of uncertainty. A number of options were explored and rejected, such as the School becoming a direct grant or voluntary aided grammar school.The possibility of the School closing completely could not be discounted, while Labour MP J P W Mallelieu went so far as to put forward a suggestion that it should become a special school for mentally retarded children. But behind the scenes, the Education Authority continued to press for its third Sixth Form College on the grounds that the imminent introduction of the Kirklees Metropolitan Council would increase the overall catchment area. Finally, later in 1973, Margaret Thatcher – perhaps not quite the Iron Lady as Education Secretary as she was to become as Prime Minister – gave in. From September 1973, King James’s would become a coeducational Sixth Form College.

Polytechnic where I put forward the case for retaining King James’s as a grammar school. She seemed very sympathetic, but I left with the feeling that she thought she could do little more to delay the change to a sixth form college.”

At first, it seemed that the efforts of the OAS and other campaigners had met with success. Margaret Thatcher decided that Huddersfield did not need more than two sixth form colleges and that King James’s would‘remain unchanged’ when the local authority’s plans were introduced in September 1973.

But the announcement was ambiguous in failing to clarify what would happen to the School in the longer term. In spring 1973, Dyson wrote:

“A very uncertain period for the School”: Michael Dyson was status secretary during this turbulent period.

8

The die was cast: Margaret Thatcher finally agreed that the School should become a sixth form college.

There will, inevitably, be some Old Almondburians who regret deeply the School’s loss of grammar school status 40 years ago.

Indeed, there may be some who are convinced that the School has never quite recovered from the traumatic changes of the 1970s.

But they should perhaps heed the wise and witty observations of Harry Taylor in the midst of the great controversy. He wrote in 1971: I know that every old boy feels it was a good school when he went to it. Gradually it got better and reached its peak just before he left, since when it has rather dropped away.

Those who look back fondly at the grammar school days should perhaps be careful that their spectacles are not too heavily tinted in rose. Even at its peak, King James’s Grammar School was – like every other school in the land – by no means perfect. Because it was a small school, it could offer only a limited number of subjects compared with those available to students today. The classrooms were cramped and the facilities were limited. Although some teachers were of the highest calibre, there were others who were no more than average and one or two who – whisper these words – should probably never have been teaching at grammar school level at all.

Forty years later, King James’s School

9

is a success story.Thanks to Robert Lamb and his dedicated staff, it is achieving results of which any school can be proud.

This is recognised by parents: it comes as no surprise to learn that the school is the most over-subscribed in the whole of Kirklees.And now, with its new academy status, the School moves forward with renewed confidence to face the educational

challenges that lie ahead.

Ironically, MargaretThatcher’s initial view turned out to be correct: Huddersfield Education Committee’s belief that the town needed three sixth form colleges was soon found to be erroneous.From 1976,the School became a coeducational 13-18 comprehensive and from 1990 it took on its present role for the age group 11-16.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Enthroning the Archbishop

I

EDWARD ASQUITH (1962-1970)

An Old Almondburian had many responsibilities at the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury. He recalls the occasion with pleasure

T was a day to remember: 21st March 2013.The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral in succession to Rowan Williams who had stood down at the end of 2012.

For me it was going to be a particularly busy day. Not only was I deeply involved in the enthronement but I had also been booked to give a floral art demonstration in Sittingbourne that evening, arranged three years before the same date was chosen for the Archbishop’s enthronement.

I left King James’s Grammar School in 1970 to study dentistry at Leeds University and had a dental practice from 1975 to 1984; I was also a Kirklees Councillor for several years.Then I became registrar in maxillofacial surgery at Hull, Leeds, Nottingham and finally at Canterbury. Due to ill health I retired in 2006.

I am involved with Canterbury Cathedral in various ways. I soon became a Server at the Cathedral in 1990 and have progressed to help

10

in various aspects of Cathedral life. I am a Steward, lead the Intercessions at the Cathedral Eucharist, and help with the administration of the Chalice when the duty rota requires. I am also a member of the Flower Guild and help with the floral arrangements as required.

My duties at Canterbury Cathedral often cause me to recall with pleasure Harry Taylor’s school assemblies at King James’s and I was delighted to learn of the publication of Morning Assembly. It is absolutely right that Harry Taylor’s prayers are now recorded for posterity in such a sensitive volume. I always enjoyed School Assembly, particularly on the days when it was full assembly. I had been a boy chorister at Huddersfield Parish Church in the 1950s, so for me school assembly was a good way to start the day. I well remember Harry Gledhill playing the piano with great gusto to accompany our singing.

The other memory is occasionally hearing a blood curdling thud as a pupil fainted during the prayers and the noise of the resultant

P

Th Dio

re

wa wa ha wh we ab job th sio ne En Co

ov om na no N

of bu

Photographs by courtesy of Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral

The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury, presents the Archbishop with his pastoral staff for the Diocese of Canterbury in the Diocesan Throne.

removal of that pupil to the sick-room.

When it was announced that Dr RowanWilliams was to stand down as Archbishop of Canterbury, it was a great surprise to everyone. Some said that it had been expected, but it was a shock nevertheless when it actually happened.The immediate questions were “Who would follow?” or “Is there anyone suitable?” or “Will anyone want to take on such a difficult job?”.The process for finding a suitable successor is the function of the Crown Appointments Commission after a consultation process to determine the needs of the diocese of Canterbury, the Church of England nationally and the world wide Anglican Communion.

Consideration of possible candidates took place over several months, and on the Commission’s recommendation the Prime Minister put Bishop Justin’s name forward to Her Majesty the Queen. The announcement was made by 10 Downing Street on 9th November 2012.

The next stage of the process was for the College of Canons to meet in the Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral to elect Bishop Justin as the new

11

Archbishop.

The Confirmation of Election took place in a separate ceremony on 4th February 2013 at St Paul’s Cathedral, when the Dean of Canterbury reported to a commission of senior bishops chaired by the Archbishop ofYork that Bishop Justin had been elected according to statute.

The Archbishop ofYork, on behalf of his fellow bishops and the wider Church, conferred on him the‘spiritualities’ of the diocese of Canterbury. It was at that point Justin Welby became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The enthronement service on 21st March was the occasion at which the new ministry was formally inaugurated. Bishops from the whole of the Anglican Communion were present along with many ecumenical guests and also representatives of State and Government.The Archbishop was installed (or enthroned) in two places: the diocesan‘cathedra’ in the

Quire of the Cathedral as the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury, and the Chair of St Augustine as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Such an impressive world-wide guest list inevitably has very serious security implications and required the precincts to be closed for days before the event, apart from the usual daily services. In addition the BBC required space free from visitors to erect the necessary scaffolding to install the lighting and cameras.

The Vesturer of the Cathedral had to manage his team of Vergers to prepare the seating of the Cathedral for the large congregation of 2,000, and had the task of compiling the numerous and various processions.

I was involved in the team of people from the Flower Guild who were asked to stage the floral designs in the Cathedral. This was a difficult area because of the fact that the enthronement was in the penitential season of Lent, when it is usual practice for there to be no flowers.

The colours of the flowers was also a problem and it was decided that they should complement the colours used in

the fabric of the Archbishop’s cope and mitre.

I was involved with arranging the flowers at the Archbishop’s Diocesan throne for his Enthronement and staging the Easter Garden at the SouthWest door of the Nave. All this was much earlier than usual, which created a number of problems, not to mention the difficulties caused by the poor weather. Thankfully the problems were overcome and, judging by the positive feedback we received, the hard work given by a wonderful group of helpers was greatly appreciated.

The formal Processions started at 2.00 pm and the live television broadcast started at 2.30.The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall entered the Cathedral – on time – at 2.50, escorted by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, and were received at the West Door by the Dean and Chapter. The Dean conducted their Royal Highnesses to their seats in the Quire, and the Service started at 3.00.

After the Dean’s welcome the Mandate for Installation was read.The Archbishop then struck the West Door of the Cathedral three times with his pastoral staff. The West door was opened and a fanfare sounded and the Archbishop entered.

At this point there was a new development: instead of the questions of the Archbishop being asked by a member of Chapter they were asked by a young member of the regular congregation.

Appropriate replies were given by the Archbishop and the service continued.

12

The new Archbishop strikes the West Door three times with his pastoral staff before being allowed to enter his Cathedral

The Dean and Archbishop with the Canterbury Gospels, brought

by St Augustine in AD 597

The day chosen for the Enthronement was the feast day of St Benedict,Abbot of Montecasino and also Thomas Cranmer, a previous Archbishop of Canterbury whose Book of Common Prayer shaped the worship of the Church of England. Both were remembered in prayer at this point of the Service.

The Archbishop then made his declaration of Assent and took the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown. These solemn vows were sealed by his kissing the Canterbury Gospels. They were brought to Canterbury by St Augustine in AD 597 and are one of the earliest volumes of the Gospels; for security reasons they are now kept at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.The ministry of the word followed, leading to the two installations and then the Archbishop of Canterbury preached his first sermon in his new Cathedral.

The Blessings were then given by the Archbishop – the first from the throne of St Augustine and the second at the Nave Altar. The ceremony concluded with the Foundation Ceremony in the Chapter House, when all the Members of the Foundation promised obedience to the new Archbishop.

All went to plan. Everyone seemed in good humour and very supportive of our new Archbishop and we look forward to serving him here in Canterbury.

He has a wealth of experience in many

aspects of secular life as well as being someone who gives confidence and seems a very open person who has had and dealt with a number of personal problems.

But for me the day was not yet over: there was still the Flower Demonstration in Sittingbourne.The venue was in an unfamiliar part of Kent (with no signposts) and inevitably we got lost.

Eventually, through good luck and management, we found the venue but with only ten minutes left for emptying the car and setting up. The Demonstration was not the usual ‘run’, but everyone seemed very appreciative and a few days later I received a lovely letter of appreciation and thanks.

And so ended a particularly challenging day. It was a great privilege to be part of the enthronement service and support our new Archbishop and his family. The position of Archbishop of Canterbury in this day and age is not easy.

The power of prayer should not be underestimated and my realization of this started way back in the 1960s at Harry Taylor’s morning assemblies at King James’s Grammar School.

13

TRAVEL

Bonjour! Nous sommes d’Almondbury

T

JOHN ASPINALL (1956-1961)

A school party went to France on one of Reg Addy’s trips fifty years ago.

Last summer some members of the group made a nostalgic return visit

HE build up to the summer of Peter Fisher, Mike Gibson, Mike 2012 was, at times exciting, con- ‘Tweeny’ Hellawell, John Linton and myfusing, laborious, frustrating, self, together with Colin Ainley (a priand, above all, requiring of patience. I’m mary school pal of Mike Gibson and not talking about minor attractions like Mike Hellawell). Colin had travelled with Town’s play-off for promotion or the them on the 1962 school trip.

London Olympics. No, my friends, I’m So the serious stuff began. We had to talking about organising the trip to decide on minor details such as how Paramé, in Brittany: a After leaving school at 16, John would we get there and return trip of nostalgia Aspinall became a junior surveyor back, when exactly the construction industry. For ten for some of the leavers in would we go and for years from 1968 he worked as a of 1961, now around 67 quantity surveyor with a company how long, where would in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State. we stay, and would we years old*.

Returning to England, he bought an The first email I have existing need a car. small building company in located which men- 1979, and traded as JTA First the travel tioned ‘Paramé’ was Construction until 2006. John and arrangements. We dehis wife Sheila have four children from Mike Gibson, and six grandchildren. cided to fly, as travelling dated 18th November by train would lose us 2010. After a period of two days. Peter, with wondering who was the help of a bi-lingual going to join us and friend, booked a hotel, who wasn’t, it was fithe Kyriad in Saintnally established by Malo.We were all a litApril 2011 (and 54 tle concerned that we emails later) that the inwould be booked into trepid six would be rooms with double beds rather than twin, single * Reg Addy organised two beds. very successful school At 9.00 am on Tuestrips to Paramé in 1961 day, 12th July, John and and 1962 I met Peter and his wife, 14

who had very We strolled Leeds-Bradford Airport kindly agreed to down the prom to take us to LeedsSaint-Malo in Bradford airport search of an to meet up with evening meal.

Mike Hellawell What an impresand Mike Gibson. sive town it is! We Colin Ainley, who went through the lives in Harrogate, outer walls into was also to meet us the small town and there. We flew after looking at with Ryanair and it umpteen menus all went according and having a few to plan. The flight ‘shall we, shan’t to Dinard took an we?’ episodes, we hour and was good decided on one value at £45 reand had a very turn. good meal. John Pete had organand I shared oysMont-St-Michel ters and mussels ised a charabanc Paramé for us, a sevenfor the starter; the Dinard seater Nissan oysters were exQashqai, and it did ceptional though the job. It was a bit cramped in the back the mussels were in need of a good meal with the six small suitcases, but I didn’t get themselves. My main course was belly any sympathy. Pete drove and fortunately pork and chips and ice cream for pudding he had borrowed a TomTom from a pal – very French. John had a‘galette’ but he and we reached our hotel without much recovered quickly. No, it’s a savoury pantrouble. On arrival at the hotel, the recep- cake with a fried egg in the middle. I tionist listened very patiently, to our per- wouldn’t fancy one for breakfast, espesonal travel agent Peter explaining, in his cially if the egg was a little runny. best French, that he had booked one single Wednesday was a lovely, sunny day. for himself, a twin room for Mike After a continental breakfast, we climbed Hellawell and me, and a room with three in the chara and set off to Paramé to resingle beds for John, Colin, and Mike Gib- visit the scene of my pals’ schoolboy holson. Of course the young lady responded, iday. We found the building which had in perfect English, that the hotel had in been their hotel but is now something fact, reserved exactly those rooms for us. else – offices I think.As they were posing This shook us; it seemed too good to be in front of the building some thirty yards true, but true it was. in front of me, my camera at the ready, a 15

Time for a song: (left to right) Peter Fisher, Michael Hellawell, Colin Ainley, John Linton, John Aspinall, Michael Gibson

lady stopped to talk to them. Now, being a calculating sort of guy, I reckoned the lady would have been about 18 at the time of their school holiday. I did venture to ask our heroes if they had recognised the lady, but the subject was changed.Too quickly, I thought at the time.

After a trip to Cancale, where we lunched, we returned to our hotel and unanimously decided that a short snooze was required after such a strenuous, decision-making excursion.

We met around 7.00 pm in the bar (where else?) and proceeded to try the local beers. Big mistake. Mike Gibson decided that he was fed up of ‘Eurofizz’ so we had several samples of Belgian beer at 6€ a time. It has to be said that Pete, Mike and I were in good form and the other three, seeing that the writing was on the wall, announced that they were going across the road to find somewhere to eat.

So we arranged that once they were settled in, they would phone us and we would go ‘across the road’ to join them.

16

After about an hour we three realised the other three hadn’t called, so we phoned them.They, having been unimpressed with the restaurants across the road, had decided to walk in to St. Malo in search of food. It was 10.00 pm by now, so we elected to go and try for a meal locally.

After three attempts to find a place which was still serving, we approached the fourth and Prof Gibson (aka Captain Mainwaring from Dad’s Army) instructed Pete and me to stand back while he sorted a table out for us. So we stood back and watched and listened to Mike sort it out. With a dead-pan face, the Maitre d’ informed us that they were not taking any more orders. Mike protested that there were lots of people still dining and if this were Brighton… I spotted that our quiet Maitre d’ was now backed up by two rather large kitchen staff, so I whispered in Mike’s ear that maybe we should go. Fortunately he agreed, almost graciously. Guess what? We returned to the hotel bar without food and had a

drink while the others returned, fed and watered, from Saint-Malo.

Three of us were a bit delicate at breakfast onThursday morning. Nothing was done in a hurry.We were given time to recuperate, take medication, and regroup and then we decided to go to Mont -Saint-Michel for a bit more culture.

We were all in good form by the time we piled into the car. Peter was our amiable chauffeur once more, and although we had left Mike Hellawell’s compass at the hotel, we managed to find MontSaint-Michel via the coastal route.

I think all of us had been there before at some time or other and we all agreed it had changed and become much more commercialised and tourist orientated. It was a bit of a puzzle as to where to park, or park and ride, or what. But I need not fear; for I was with experienced, worldwide travellers. Peter spotted a car park for the disabled, flashed his card and in we went.We also managed to hitch a ride on a bus for the disabled to take us to Mont-Saint-Michel on the strength of Peter’s card. I must add that there was plenty of room on the bus so we didn’t deprive others of the facility.

The mount is best known for the medieval Benedictine Abbey and steepled church that occupies most of the island. It is also well organised for tourists. We were rather thirsty and a little hungry by The impressive old walled town of Saint-Malo

the time we walked into the inner walls of the Abbey. Our little eyes lit up when we spotted a bar/restaurant almost as soon as we had gone in. Some of us had a beer (4.90€ for a half) while others had tea.

So we just had the one drink and strolled up the 1 in 10 footpath ever upwards towards the Abbey. On the way back down, John bought a Brittany flag and held it aloft, in the style of a tourist guide.

We returned to the hotel via the motorway which took half the time it had taken on the outward journey. In the evening we went in to Saint-Malo and eventually selected a tavern worthy of our custom and were ushered to a table by a pretty, but rather nervous, waitress.

Apart from a truly awful local ale, the meal progressed very well; all in high spirits, full of bonhomie. So much so, that we decided to treat the rest of the diners to a ‘sing song’, Almondburian

17

Rainy day in Mont-Saint-Michel: (left to right) John Aspinall,‘guide’ John Linton,Colin Ainley, Michael Hellawell, Peter Fisher

at Dinon. Mike Hellawell volunteered to drive – and terrified us to ensure that we wouldn’t ask him to drive again. Suffice to say that Peter confiscated the keys in Dinon car park. After signing out at the hotel we went in to Saint-Malo for last minute shopping. We decided we would eat at the airport or on the plane.What a big mistake that turned out to be!To cut a long story short, the flight was delayed nearly five hours due to a defective door closing mechanism. The airport is small, and had neither food nor drink facilities for such a delay. Even the food vending machines were out of order and water was at a premium. However, we were safe and eventually returned to Leeds-Bradford Airport.

The holiday was a great success.We all got along really well and laughed with, and at, each other. I can recommend such a reunion to other Old Almondburians.

style. To give you a taste, I think we started with La Mer, and, after going through Elvis and Cliff, maybe finished on Floreat Schola.We must have been good because a fellow diner congratulated us on the entertainment and gave us a half full bottle of wine.

On Friday morning we said our fond farewells to John Linton who was departing early to attend a wedding.The rest of us decided we would go and have a look

SUDOKU

9 4

Difficulty: easy

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

5 2 9

7 2 1 8 3 18

8 6

5 7 1 7 6 4 6 3 5 1 2 4 1 3 9 8 4 1 4 9 8 5 1 2 7 6

NEW APPOINTMENT

Concrete and custard for lunch

I

STUART ROEBUCK (1950-1955)

Rev Stuart Roebuck has become the Society’s new chaplain in succession to Rev David Herbert.He recalls his School memories and the career that followed.

T’S an honour to join the succession of excellent folk who have held the office of OAS Chaplain, especially as, according to your Honorary Secretary, the role has no necessary duties at all. “I’d better go and get the feel of the School again,” I said at the first Executive meeting. “It’s nearly 50 years since I left.” “Nearer 60,” corrected Gerald Stead, whose brother had been in the same year. Goodness me!

My school memories? Freezing at the bus stop, freezing on the football field, hopeless at sport, bewildered by science, day-dreaming through the boring bits, anxious about all sorts of things, exhausted by the long walk home.

But some happy memories too, such as concrete and custard for pudding in the dining room, silent reading in Dorm 2 while Mr Haigh dozed after lunch, singing in Mr. Gledhill’s choir, cutting the tennis courts with the temperamental motor mower. My

19

last day at Almondbury Grammar School slipped by wearily, waiting for final assembly, supervised by tired masters looking forward to the summer break. Then an extraordinary thing happened. The Latin master said he was sorry I was going and wondered if I’d considered the 6th Form. It was too late, of course. Career guidance wasn’t a big issue in those days. I’d already got a job and was about to take the commercial world by storm.

But his kind comment has not been forgotten.

It took nearly 20 years of investigating insurance claims in Halifax, Sunderland, Doncaster, Manchester and Leicester before I was able to escape into demiParadise. We all went to college together – my wife Joan and our two little children – and had three of the happiest years of our lives while I studied theology in Bristol and took a divinity degree in London. After five years of looking after churches in

dren had grown up, Joan had five wonderfully stimulating years studying at Anglia Polytechnic University [now Anglia Ruskin University] in Cambridge, gaining the highest honours of us all. I eventually managed to retire a bit early on health grounds and came back to a Huddersfield which had changed radically from the town we had left forty years earlier.

There’s a plaque in the chapel at Hall Bower which gives a quotation from the OldTestament Book of Proverbs: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. It’s a statement of hope and faith, of course, rather than a guarantee. But its sentiment is both a warning and an encouragement to parents and teachers.The teachers down St Helen’s Gate were (and probably still are) far more influential than they realised.

And that’s about the end of the story – 70-plus years in 600 words. At least I thought so, until Andrew Haigh telephoned to see if I’d like to take part in the Old Almondburians’ Society as Chaplain.

As one door closes…!

the gin and Jaguar belt around Guildford, Methodism decided I’d be more use in one of the Church’s schools, so off we all went to a boarding school near Bury St Edmunds, where I served my remaining working years as Chaplain and Head of Religious Studies Department and latterly running the Adult Christian Education centre.

The years went by. ‘Hobbies’ have including 20 years as editor of Methodism’s Science & Religion Group which involved meeting some fascinating highfliers; and 27 years as Chaplain of the National Methodist Youth Brass Band which has taken us on tour to 18 countries all the way from Estonia to Jamaica.

The rest of the family all graduated during the Suffolk years. Graham’s two degrees have led him to becoming a senior planner with an international company in London. Helen’s BA and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualifications took her to Madrid where she works for the British Council and lives with her Spanish husband and their two lovely children. And once the chil-

Our thanks to Dave Herbert

OAS Chairman Nicky Briggs writes: The Old Almondburians’ Society is indebted to Dave for his contribution as Chaplain and we are sorry that for family health reasons he has reluctantly felt obliged to relinquish this position.

He has always taken a deep interest in the OAS and we know that he has valued his close connections with the School.We know that he will be striving to maintain this contact in the months and years ahead.

The OAS and the School have greatly valued his sponsorship of the Revd Sam Herbert Memorial Prize for progress in Religious Studies, and are pleased that Dave will generously be continuing this sponsorship.

I should like to take this opportunity to thank Dave for his contribution as Chaplain and wish him well in the future.

20

Farnley Lines

M

DAV E BUSH

YANMAR, or Burma as you most probably still call it. Hubris again convinces me that you, dear reader, have had difficulty in staying your patience until receipt of this issue reveals where your correspondent’s latest venture took him. Hence my opening words to end immediately the suspense. With three other members of The Glamorgan Bird Club – we have to give it its full title as we have been confused with The Gay Birders’ Club – I spent 17 most thought-provoking, memorable days in this emerging country.

I must try to be brief for this must not turn into a travel guide. Recent reports of sectarian violence are most distressing for they run so vividly

counter to our experiences. The Burmese at all social levels I found to be the most courteous, charming, helpful and above all smiling people I have ever encountered. We travelled extensively

by Pajero and internal flights, sailed down the Irrawaddy and flew into Mandalay rather than taking the road.

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon) with its central golden dome covered in 60 tons of pure gold is the most impressive building I have ever seen. The Taj Mahal is comparatively boring.An embarrassing moment at the Pagoda occurred when I asked our guide, Lay Win, why some monks, all with shaven heads, were dressed in pink rather than brown/ saffron. “Dave, they are not monks , they are nuns.” Oops.

And birds? Ah, yes, of course, it was a birding holiday.

Over 300 different species recorded by the group but only just over 100 ‘lifers’ for me as there was much overlap with India. Best bird?

White-browed Nuthatch.A true endemic. Google it to Splendour: the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon

21

discover just how endemic it is.And my nomenclature rating? Third place sadly to Plaintive Cuckoo, second – thinking of so many Old Almondburians – to the Common Tailorbird and first for obvious reasons to the Burmese Bushlark.

Back to reality with 3° at Heathrow from 38° inYangon.The local paper was complaining about potholes, (it took us 10 hours to cover the eighty miles from Bagan to MtVictoria) and nationally television and the press were obsessed with the horse meat scandal. The poverty in rural Burma was such they would have eaten the whole horse, hooves included.

is how, as Housemaster of Fenay and PE teacher, he would gather all the spikes prior to Sports Day and distribute them among Fenay runners.

No wonder Fenay was Cock House for so many years in succession.

It was even rumoured that Walter visited feeder schools to persuade the following year’s entry that they had a relative, no matter how distant, who had been in Fenay inThe Grammar School. (Following Public School tradition one followed one’s relatives into the same House.)

Memories ofWalter Taylors. Now I wonder if that is the most common surname among our members. The Sykeses and the Haighs/Hagues must score highly*.The one I miss most, of course, is Jack. We meet too rarely but when we do it’s not a stroll down Memory Lane but a race at full pelt. Well, it would be if our aging limbs and fading memories would permit.

This issue of The Almondburian includes memories of our old colleague Walter Haigh. Now get Jack and me together over half a shandy and we could fill a whole Almondburian with Walter stories. One of the commonest *The present OAS membership includes 19 Taylors, 14 Sykeses, 12 Shaws, 10 Hirsts, 9 Brookes/Brookes (including a Brooke-Benn), 9 Steads, 8 Smiths, 8 Dysons, 7 Earnshaws and 6 Haighs/Hagues. Ed.

22

Sports Day Back to spikes. It must be remembered that most events were held on the cricket field, not on the modern purpose built track sited on what was previously the 3rd XI football pitch.This meant that the 220 yards was one circuit. In the light of Walter’s dastardly tactics it cannot have been a Fenay runner who, having failed to negotiate the tight bend, disappeared down the bank onto the football field.

Perhaps readers would like to write in with their own Sports Day reminiscences. I’ll add three more to encourage you. Harry Gledhill once timed the 100 yards at over a minute, having forgotten to stop his watch; in throwing the cricket ball, competitors allegedly targeted marker ‘Killer’

beginning ‘none of the…’ or ‘one in ten…’ I am poised to exclaim “singular subject , singular verb” for it’s more than likely the verb will be plural.

And what about ‘iconic’ or ‘icon’? If ever a word were overused. Yesterday Margaret heard somebody talking about ‘an iconic image’. If you fancy a little competition, try this. At breakfast you and your partner chose either ‘icon’ or ‘professor’. At supper the winner is the one who has recorded the larger number of instances of these being mentioned in the media. Professors in the most esoteric of subject areas pop up with staggering frequency from their chairs to give their ‘expert’ opinions.

I could go on and on but allow me just one more gripe. The profusion of ‘thanks’.Why, when the weather forecast has been delivered, does the main presenter have to say, “Thank you very much indeed, Matt” and even throws in another “thank you” for good measure?

They have only read a forecast from an autocue for goodness sake, for which they are very well paid, not delivered a Reith Lecture.

Walker; and on one occasion a staff member, wielding his loudhailer, asked competitors to report to the shot put pit but unfortunately misplaced his vowels.

Victor Meldrew Syndrome So delightful retirement with emphasis on ‘full’ continues. Still jogging, playing badminton – cannot stop yet as our oldest member is 83 – with 32 participants one week (sorry to mention that figure, Andrew Haigh,OAS Badminton Secretary). I’m deeply involved with our Twinning Association, allotment, birding and… enough said. However, I do seem to be suffering more from VMS or, to give its full title, Victor Meldrew Syndrome.

While litter raises blood pressure it’s more matters linguistic that cause our cocker spaniel’s ears to rise as I yell at the television or rustle the newspaper.

As soon as I hear or read a sentence

23

Burgess breasts the tape at a 1950s Sports Day, watched by teachers ‘Nipper’ Newton (in beret),‘Teak’Akroyd and ‘Isaiah’ Bareham. In the distance, behind Bareham, is ‘Dusty’ Binns and Charlie Bungeroth, with Bill Rennison (partly obscured) in the far distance.

custodes ipsos in proof reading circles.

Stop! I have contributed sufficient to keep Keith Crawshaw, proof reader extraordinaire, busy. Let’s finish on a positive note.We have a thriving society, a highly successful and vastly oversubscribed school and the best former pupils’ magazine in the country.

So much to be thankful for and proud of.

Oops. A preposition to end a sentence with. And another. Cut your losses and stop typing. Just say FLOREAT SCHOLA!

The problem with setting oneself up as founder member of the South Wales Grammar Police is that one is always at risk of being hoist with one’s own apostrophe, though I can always blame the editor or proof reader.As with many others, I suspect, I was initially completely taken in by the brilliant PercyTrutone spoof in the March issue.

Yet in the list of corrections on page 32 there was still an error in the spelling of Magdalen College; a sort of Quis custodiet

NEW BOOK

P

Poet David reaches number10

ROLIFIC Almondburian poet David Morphet has just published his tenth book Night Train to Utopia and other tales.

Night Train to Utopia is a story in three parts.The lawyers, religious zealots, sporting types, hippies and others who have boarded the NightTrain are utterly selfcentred and clueless about where the mystery train will take them. On arrival in the middle of nowhere,their only glimpse of ‘Utopia’ leaves them in deep shock.

Thereafter, in a journey of self-discovery, some of them make their way into a war zone far from their original dreams. Can this be their final destination?

Other tales in this volume are The WitheringVines,The Horse Plague and After the Pied Piper.

Details of all David’s books are given on the website Price: £6.50 inc p+p www.notionbooks.co.uk.They are available from Notion 60 pp, soft-back, 180 x 120 Books, 11 Daisy Lane, London SW6 3DD. ISBN 978-0-9575458-0-9

GERALD HINCHLIFFE (1933-1940)

As this issue went to press we were saddened to learn of the death at the age of 91of Gerald Hinchliffe, author of A History of King James’s Grammar School. A full obituary will appear in the next issue.

24

Annual Dinner/Founders’ Day

W

E shall be returning to King James’s School for this year’s Annual Dinner on Saturday, 23rd November at 6.30 pm for 7.30 pm.

The ticket price will remain £27.50 and an application form is included with this magazine; alternatively, you can apply online at the OAS website www.oas.org.uk.

It will be a special occasion to mark two notable anniversaries: the arrival of the legendary Taylor Dyson in January 1913 and the arrival of the present head teacher Robert Lamb in January

2003. Please note that as the numbers we can accommodate at the School will be more limited, it is desirable to get your application in early.

It is always good to see members making a special effort to stage a reunion of their year at the Dinner and anyone who takes a notion to do so should consider starting to organise their class re-union earlier rather than later.

Rev Stuart Roebuck, our new Chaplain, is in discussion with the School with a view to changing the date of the Founders’ Day service in order to encourage more present-day students to participate.We will be making a further announcement in due course.

OAS membership

S

A ND R E W HAIGH

INCE the last magazine was published, we have been pleased to welcome one new member to the Society: Prof Alan Prout (1961 – 1964), from Marsden.

We have been sorry to learn of the death on 30th March of J. NevilleArmitage (1939-1944), in Newark following a short illness (obituary: page 54). His widow said that he was proud of his old school and always enjoyed receiving his copy of The Almondburian.

Please remember that subscriptions are due on 1st September each year so, if you do not have a standing order in place,

25

please remember to send payment for your 2013-2014 subscription by 1st September.

If you receive a letter with this magazine pointing out that your subscription is not up-to-date for the current year, then please do complete the updated standing order mandate that accompanies it and return it in the envelope provided without delay. It does make the Membership Secretary’s life much easier if you have a standing order mandate in place. However, you may also renew online, using PayPal or a debit or credit card, by visiting www.oas.org.uk and clicking on the ‘Join/Renew Online’ button.

A

UPDATE

New sports pavilion

FULL planning application for the planned new sports pavilion and the demolition of the present pavilion was submitted to Kirklees Council planning department on 14th May 2013.The target date given for a decision is 9th July.The application has been submitted in the name of the King James’s School Foundation which has agreed to meet 50% of the cost.

The supporting statement states that the new pavilion, designed by architect ChrisWest, is in the approximate position of the one it replaces.The accommodation will be on two floors due to the limited site area and the proximity of the trees along the western boundary. A roof terrace and balcony will provide views over the cricket pitch. A level access will be provided at ground floor level and a chair lift will provide access to the first floor.The car park will be finished with rolled crushed limestone with space for 23 cars.

The planning application and supporting documents can be viewed online at http://tinyurl.com/koju76m; the planning application number for the pavilion is 2013/91517.

26

Every picture tells a story

T

Martin Priestley (1963-1971) remembers George Beach’s orchestra

his photograph was taken in the school hall in 1967 after the orchestra had won the Walker Rosebowl and the Easedale Shield in the Pontefract Festival. I am on the front row, second from the right, holding my violin.

Our conductor George Beach, holding the baton, entered the orchestra in successive years at the Mrs Sunderland and Pontefract Festivals.The pinnacle of our achievement was the outstanding mark of 90 at the Pontefract Festival in 1968. He was a very enthusiastic amateur musician but relinquished the role soon after this photo was taken when Mr Higginson, also in this photograph, took over as Head of Music.

I joined the orchestra when I first arrived at King James’s Grammar School.

I was a keen pianist and singer and had

27

begun to learn the violin via the Huddersfield Education Committee’s scheme when I was a pupil at Deighton County Junior School.

Vaughan Kitchen, sitting on the front row next to George Beach, was a marvellous player who was the violin soloist in the orchestra’s performances of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 5 when in the 2nd Year, and of a Mozart violin concerto when in the 4th Year.Two of his siblings were professional musicians.

Vaughan himself has been for many years a vet in Worcestershire. He and I played together again last year (me on piano) – the first time for many years.

I continue to love music, mainly piano and singing, and I still play the violin occasionally at a couple of schools where I used to teach.

R E P U TAT IONS

Walter: the master we all remember

I

No-one who attended the School between 1929 and 1967 can forgetWalter Haigh. Did he influence more pupils than he ever realised,asks Roger Dowling

T used to be called ‘PT’ or physical training. Later, a more fashionable term was ‘PE’: physical education. But in the more forthright days of the late 1920s it was simply known as ‘drill’ and at Almondbury Grammar School it was conducted by a somewhat military part-timer called Thomas Bolland whom Taylor Dyson had recruited in 1926. In reality, ‘drill’ was little more than sessions of press-ups and the like, conducted in the ‘Big’, together with the occasional visit to Ramsden Street baths and games of football and tennis outside when weather permitted.

When Bolland departed in 1929, Taylor Dyson’s eyes lighted on the 26-year-old Walter Haigh, who at that time had been working for five years as a part-timer at Stile Common Council School.

Walter had gained a Teacher’s Certificate at St John’s Training College, York and was gaining a reputation as a bluff, plain-speaking man with a keen interest in sport and recreation. He was born in Huddersfield, the son of mechanic Harry Haigh, on 4th November 1903. The family – he had an older brother Al-

28

At last, a purpose-built gymnasium: Walter proudly demonstrates in 1940 his new facility, complete with adjacent showers, built as part of the 1938 extensions

bert and two younger sisters Laura and It was an eventful period for Walter.

Annie – lived at 12 Bath Street, Lock- In 1938, at the age of 34, he married wood, a small house since demolished Mary Kreling, a 26-year-old spinster near the town centre. from Bradford known throughout her Having qualified as a teacher, Walter life as ‘Dodo’. Dodo herself came took up a part-time position at Hillhouse from an educational background: her Central School and divided his time be- father Charles Kreling was a languages tween the two schools for some seven teacher in a Bradford secondary years until he was offered a full-time po- school. Before his marriage, Walter sition at Almondbury Grammar School in was living at 18 Woodside Road, Lock1936. He brought a new rigour to the wood but the happy couple then teaching of PT and sport, although the moved further along the road to No 32 School remained badly equipped and the which became their home for the rest ‘Big’ continued to fulfil the role of gym- of their time in Huddersfield. nasium through the exThe war years prepedient of slinging sented many prob‘He brought climbing ropes over the lems for the School, new rigour to the as it did for the rest beams. However, Walter’s promotion to a teaching of PT and of the country. As the full-time position was war effort gained mosport’ in readiness for the mentum, a cadet building of a new purpose designed gym- force in the form of a School Flight of nasium, constructed as part of the the Air Training Corps was set up with School’s major 1938 extensions.

Walter’s assistance under the com29

1932

(Back row) L C Ash, E Akroyd, H Gledhill,Walter Haigh, L H Hadlow, C W Eaves (Front row) J I Hopton, H Blackburn, J M Baldwin,Taylor Dyson, R Burn, H H Hirst, R Addy

1959

(Back row) K L W Ireland, M Villquin,A Makinson, J P Toomey, C H Gill, O D Kendall, J W Rennison, D M J Hockley, R T Roofe (Front row) Mrs M Hanson (Secretary), F Anderson, G LBeach, R Addy, F S Hudson, H Taylor, Walter Haigh, H Gledhill,W Western, F J Bareham, Mrs M M Newton

mand of Reg Addy. There was AirCrew Navigation from Mr Hopton, Morse from Pilot-Officer Calloway, Ground-Staff Wireless under Corporal Brook and Aircraft Recognition under Flt-Sergeant Jarman. But F/O Haigh also had an important role, enthusiastically supervising ‘drill’ and sporting activities.

By 1947,Walter was 44 years of age

but increasingly not the fittest of men.

He was an habitual smoker and someone who enjoyed his pint at least as much as (if not more than) the next man. It is perhaps not surprising that the ascetic Headmaster of the day – John Baldwin – came to the conclusion that a more athletic figure might be needed to stimulate the School’s sporting ambitions. So it was that

30

Harry ‘Dusty’ Binns ‘He had no time for in no uncertain way that life in a gramarrived with his the skiver, but those mar school deDiploma in Physical Education from who worked hard and manded standards of behaviour way beCheltenham, leaving played hard found yond what they Walter to contemmight have been plate his future. him a sympathetic used to at primary But it turned out mentor’ school. He had no to be the start of a new career rather than the end of an time for the skiver or those who misold one. Walter had already begun to behaved; but those who were prepared show that he had teaching skills, albeit to work hard and play hard found him at a junior level, in other areas. He a sympathetic and encouraging mentaught increasing amounts of Mathe- tor.

For many years after the war Walter matics, and took classes from time to time in Geography, Science and – per- served as Fenay housemaster, and somehow, under his powerful influhaps surprisingly – Religion.

He also became the Form Master ence, Fenay nearly always seemed to for Form 1A, a role for which he was come out top in sports. He looked ideally suited. For generations of new after the accounts of the School Welarrivals at Almondbury Grammar fare Fund which, despite his constant School, Walter was the forthright but gloomy forebodings, always showed a avuncular figure who reminded them handsome balance. A less well-known

First XI Football team 1947-48: (back row) Walter Haigh, Micklethwaite, Hinchliffe, Kaye, Nesbitt, Kelly, D A Willcox, H Binns (Front row) Robinson, Smith,Taylor, Mr Baldwin, Carter,T L Willcox 31

1967

Walter’s final year at School (back row) Y M Etchevest, L Mallinson, R Wearing, R Beever, S Wroe, J E Kenyon, M P James, Mrs H Hebblethwaite, C Hindley,A C Brown, C H Gill, K L W Ireland, R G Walker (Front row) W Western, J P Toomey, G W Chapman, D A Bush, F S Hudson, Harry Taylor, J Taylor, P H Heywood, F J Bareham, G L Beach,Walter Haigh

role was as unofficial School Detective. Petty theft was quickly traced to its source when the case was handed over to Walter, whose shrewdness and bluff could usually be guaranteed to expose the culprit when gentler, more subtle, methods would have failed.

In the 1960s, Walter’s health sadly started to deteriorate and he lost much of his former vigour. He eventually had to revert to the part-time role he had held when he had joined the school 30 years earlier, finally retiring at the end of the summer term in 1967.

He and Dodo thought of moving to North Wales, which had become almost a second home for them; but in the event they decided that sea air might be good for Walter’s health and moved to 16 Douglas Avenue, Black-

pool, within walking distance of the sea front.

There, they were to enjoy seven happy years of retirement before, in May 1974,Walter was admitted to the nearby Victoria Hospital where he died from senile dementia and vascular disease at the age of 71.

Walter had taught at King James’s Grammar School for 38 years, one of the longest-serving teachers in modern times. Though brusque and blunt both in his speech and manner, and not always tolerant of boyish pranks, the juniors – especially those in his own form – nevertheless regarded him as a friend in need, an avuncular, even fatherly, figure who was always ready to go out of his way to protect and assist them. He influenced them far more then even he probably realised.

32

The Walter you never knew

JOHN DYSON JOHN (1948-1954) DYSON John Dyson lived only a few doors away fromWalter Haigh and his wife in Beaumont Park.He recallsWalter’s life away from Almondbury Grammar School

W

ALTER HAIGH lived in a small end e n dmodern - t e r r aterce race househouse in in Woodside Woodside Road, Beaumont Park. Number 32 30 was built in the early 1900s like most of the houses in that area.When area. When it was built Beaumont Park had been an ‘up market’ market’ area, area,and andif ifyou you hadhad an an address address therethere you you reallyreally had had climbed climbed the local thesocial localladder. social ladder.

It was a neat and tidy place and ItWalter was a and neathis andwife tidytook placegood andWalcare ter of it.There and hiswere wife gardens took good at thecare front ofand it.

There rear ofwere the house gardens and at the alsofront a plotand torear the of sidethewall house which andWalter also a gardened. plot to theLater, side which after Walter’s Walter gardened. time, a small house was built Dodo, on that his plot. wife, was a slim good lookingDodo, woman, his wife, always was smartly a slim good dressed looking when woman, you met always her out smartly on the dressed street. when She you and Walter met her kept out on themselves the street.toShe themand Walter selves and kept thethemselves immediate locals to themselves in Beauand montthe Park. immediate I did notlocals knowinmuch Beaumont about Park. them Iasdida not couple.There know muchwere aboutno them chilas adren couple.There and I suspect were the no terms children of theand rela-I suspect tionship the were terms that of he the brought relationship in the were daily that bread he and brought she instayed the daily at home, bread looked after the house and prepared the

Walter and Dodo Haigh moved into this house at 32 Woodside Road, Beaumont Park after their marriage in 1938.They added the garage in their side garden at a later date.

and she stayed at home, looked after the meal for him after a hard day’s work at house and prepared the meal for him King James’s Grammar School. after a hard days work at King James.

However Walter was something of a However Walter was something of a ‘wheeler-dealer’: he enjoyed doing ‘wheeler dealer’: he enjoyed doing deals deals no matter how small they were. If nomatter you needed someone to repair a wall or how small do a small they were. painting job, If you he could alneeded ways find you someome someone from the estate,

Biographical words about John Dyson. Biographical words John is a chartered accountant profession.

He worked aboutDyson John Dyson.

Biographical words by about John Dyson.

Biaround the words world about with KPMG and Ernst and Youngwords before his ographical John Dyson.

Biographical retirement 2002.Today he liveswords in Oslo, Norway with hisBiabout John in Dyson.

Biographical about John Dyson.

Norwegian words wife and is aJohn regular visitor to the UK and Canada to ographical about Dyson. see his family and friends.

33

Walter’s three ‘watering-holes’ in Beaumont Park (from the top): The Walpole Hotel, later known as the Crosland, now boarded up; the Town Hall, which recently re-opened as a cafe-restaurant; and the Shoulder of Mutton, still open for business

Road andWalpole Road. Here he mixed with the Beaumont Park locals in the lounge bar and theWalpole Housing Estate locals in the tap room.

The Walpole Hotel was run by the Watson family who had two sons who were very active in the local sporting activities of football and cricket. One of these boys – Willie Watson – became quite famous playing for Huddersfield Town and Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Walter was very keen on sport, as we all remember from our schooldays.This was another attraction with this local pub for him – he liked to be ‘in the know’ on sporting matters. And of course he enjoyed small wagers in the lounge bar with the rest of the ‘boys’.

Another of his watering holes was a pub called the Town Hall (now a caferestaurant), situated at the corner of Swan Lane and Victoria Road, Lockwood. I suspect that this was a place that he used to frequent in his younger days before he was married.A third one also in Lockwood was the Shoulder of Mutton in Neale Road. Walter was a ‘club man’ and around these pubs and other places he built up networks to serve his various needs and requirements. He was a shrewd man but fair in his dealings.

In my childhood days, the area around Beaumont Park was a hot bed

with no questions asked. And of course from time to time he needed an odd favour doing for himself and he was never afraid to ask.

He liked a pint and his ‘fags’ and had quite a few distinct watering holes. His local in Beaumont Park was theWalpole Hotel (later re-named the Crosland) situated on the corner of Dryclough 34

for the recruitment of bright elementary school boys for Almondbury Grammar School. Within a radius of a mile embracing Woodside Road and Dryclough Road, in a period between 1945 and 1960, over two dozen boys attended the School. Remarkably, there was one point in 1950 when 20 of them were attending at the same time*.

But it wasn’t really remarkable at all.

Walter had used his networking skills to ‘sell’ Almondbury Grammar School to his contacts in the local pubs. As a result, he was then able to give constant feedback, in strict confidence, to the boys’ fathers on how their sons were performing.

Of course, his motives were not

purely altruistic. His promotion of the School led to a small but lucrative sideline for him in providing private coaching sevices to those talented schoolboys who were not maximising their talent – * Malcolm Arnold (1948-1956); Christopher Arnold (1953- 1958); David Mellor (19481956); Neil Smith (1946-1951); David Anderson (1948-1956);Alan Mitchell Smith (1950 -1955); Richard Swift (1948-1956); Alan Dixon Smith (1947-1952); John Dyson (19481954); Jeremy Dyson (1950-1957); Christopher Dyson (1945-1952); Gerald Bagshaw (19471952); Jeffrey Smith (1945-1950); Philip Jackson (1949 -1954); Neil Mitchell: (1944-1951); John Christie (1953-1960); Paul Christie (1955-1960); Peter Kippax (1953-1958); Alan Pratt (1944-1951); Christopher Rockett (19501955)

‘Play the game!” – but Fenay still lost

I

T was a house football match and Fenay were playing Siddon.As usual, the loyal Walter was there to support his troops and make sure the opposition played fair.“Play the game, laddie!” was one of the expressions I remembered.

This was a particulary important match because the House Shield – and Fenay House’s reputation – were at stake. It was one of the few occasions when Fred Hudson turned up to support his Siddon troops.This led to 90 minutes of banter between the two masters.

Siddon, encouraged by Fred’s attendance, put up a terrific resistance to Fenay’s superior play.This resulted in great frustration because Fenay could not quite score the match-winning goal.The final twist of the saga came in the last five minutes when Siddon’s goal keeper, the famous Graham Gelder (1947-1955), took the game into his own hands.

Graham had observed whilst picking up the ball that the lace was a bit loose and was hanging out. He placed the lace between his teeth, hung the ball from his mouth and proceeded to run the whole length of the pitch towards the Fenay goal. Everyone stood still in amazement wondering what was going on.Walter was ranting and raving “Not allowed, ref!”, but the referee took no notice of his complaints. Fred was silent but clearly puzzled. By now Graham Gelder was in front of Fenay’s goalmouth and before anyone realized what he was up to he dropped the ball to his feet and belted it past the Fenay goal keeper.“Not allowed, ref!” shouted Walter,“Come on ref, play the game laddie. What about fair play?”

At this point Fred, with a little twinkle in his eye, spoke out.“But Walter, we are playing fair.We are playing the game.The goalkeeper did not handle the ball outside his own goal area, so we have to accept the referee’s decision.”

Walter and Fred shook hands at the end of the match, so there was at least ‘fair play’ between the two masters.

I believe Fenay won the House Shield eventually that year despite Siddon’s dubious tactics.

35

or who were either outright lazy or dinner sittings, pandering to their more interested in other things. I was whims and fancies – but above all looking afterWalter. And if there a dish that one of the latter.

My father at that time was a typical he had really enjoyed I had to go into commercial traveller working for a tex- the back kitchen and tell Mrs McGowan tile company in Manchester. He was to save him an extra helping which he away from home most of the week: would take afterwards in the back away on Monday morning and back on kitchen. But I used it for my own advanFriday afternoon. I was a lazy performer tage as well: needless to say I put on at school but mad on sport. I was more some extra weight.

During this period of Walter’s rethan a handful for my mother so my father asked Walter to keep an eye on me sponsibility for the school dining room at school and report back if I was going and dinners, he also became responsible for the school Tuck off course – which Shop, to the left I did: daydreaming ‘I had to go into the hand side of the old in class; not comback kitchen and tell entrance to the pleting my home work; and a whole Mrs McGowan to save school underneath Happy Harry’s host of other him an extra helping’ music room. things.Worst of all, Here he asked one of my more promising subjects, mathematics, had me to help him with the cash takings and the book keeping. Little did I know taken a nosedive.

Walter immediately offered some at the time that he was grooming me for coaching services. Once a week I would a career in accountancy. He eventually have extra maths lessons in the evening recommended to my father that I leave at home and also an occasional review school on getting my GCE ‘O’ levels of the homework of my other subjects and take up the profession – which I where I had not performed well. did. I protested in the beginning be“Come on John ! What’s up lad?” I had cause I wanted to take ‘A’ levels and go to university. But Walter told me I to give a clear explanation.

Once Walter had the full measure of wouldn’t make it as I was not an acame and that he felt that I respected him, demic type. He was right.

The Christie boys, whose father travI was offered some unusual responsibilities. He came up to me one day and elled away a lot, also occasionally had said, “I want you to be responsible for help from Walter. And since the boys’ the serving of lunch to the masters at mother usually picked them up from lunchtime.” Walter was the member of School in her car, Walter was usually staff responsible for the smooth running there – wheeler-dealer as ever – of the school dinners at lunch time, so I thumbing a lift home to Woodside

had to look after the masters on both Road.

36

A view from the Common Room

W

DR JIM TOOMEY (Staff 1953-1968)

JimToomey recalls a ‘sound man’ teased by his colleagues at morning break ALTER was a forthright Yorkshireman, fiercely proud of the School and especially of Fenay House. He always had a First Form as Form Master, and inculcated standards, in an avuncular but insistent way. He had been at his best as a PT man, and his classroom teaching tended to be old fashioned, but perhaps none the worse for that.

As a colleague he was a little overwhelming for young masters who arrived with ideals and found that they

needed a pinch of salt! But his heart, as they say, was in the right place, if somewhat disgruntled.

We did tease him! For a time he supplied iced buns to the Common Room at break, and every day there was the cry of “Who hasn’t paid for his bun?” – in broadYorkshire of course; one of us would have ‘forgotten’ and the eruption of Walter would be eagerly awaited.

But a sound man, with the world just a little against him.

1A form master in 1955: (back row, left to right) Bates, Dyson, Bentley, Garner, Fisher, Jones, Booth, Boothroyd, Gibb, Earnshaw, Baxter, Brook (Middle row. left to right) Balderstone, Billington, Hargreaves, Hall, Griffiths, Carter, D Haigh, Hobson, Burluraux, Barraclough (Front row, left to right) Cooper, R Haigh, Davies, Duffy, Hepworth,Walter Haigh, Eastwood, Holroyd, Gledhill, Dowie,Armitage

37

Walter’s rope trick in the Big

O

BOB GOLDSMITH CMG (1935-1942)

Bob Goldsmith remembersWalter’s earliest days with PT lessons in the‘Big’

to become the library.Most of it consisted of the usual ‘knees bend, jump up and down, arms above your head’ capers but now and then the‘equipment’had to be brought out.

This comprised a vaulting horse, half a dozen benches and three ropes.The ropes were tied to the rafters and the idea, of course, was to scrim up to the top.

Walter was good at this. I can still see his rather ample backside disappearing rapidly in the direction of the roof. For a long time I regarded this feat (which I could never manage) as the height of athleticism.

F all the staff of Almondbury Grammar )School in the second half of the 1930s, the young Mr Haigh – known affectionately by one and all as ‘Walter’ – was the best looking. His features were classical:blue eyes,aquiline nose, square firm jaw, expressive mouth, wide forehead and blond hair receding gracefully at the temples.He might,had fate given him the opportunity, have made a fortune in Hollywood.

There was only one period of PT a week for each form. It was held in the‘Big’, later

Two incidents that I’ll never forget

EING good at all sport at School, I was one of Walt’s ‘Fenay forever’ lads. I was lucky enough to win theVictor Ludorum Cup in 1953 and I will always B rememberWalt’s words when I received the Cup: “Eh Brooky, if your brain could

move as fast as your legs you would be going to Cambridge University on a scholarship.”

In order to take my GCEs I had to stay on at school for an extra year because my 16th birthday was after July. One Saturday night I went out with some of my 18-yearold pals to the Spinks Nest pub in Birkby.

Who should be standing at the bar having a drink butWalt Haigh and Harry‘Dusty’ Binns? I had nowhere to hide.

They both looked at me and smiled.Walt said, “We won’t take this any further but it will cost you.” And he ordered two whiskies and said, “This chap here will pay.”

So all my pocket money had gone for the rest of the week.

Jeff Brook (1947-1953) 38

Samuel Johnson’s loose sally

W

R E G G I E B Y RAM (1946 - 1954)

)HEN our esteemed Editor – and he is doing a fine job – accepted with no hesitation at all that I might produce something for this issue, he suggested that I write about punctuation. So I cast about for a subject.

When one has the whole field to explore, it is difficult to settle on a particular topic.

Being of a cussed nature, I decided to choose anything but punctuation.

Nothing presented itself as interesting.

So I decided not to choose a topic, but to allow my mind – such as it now is – to wander. I remembered something from school. I confess that I rarely think of my schooldays; so much of far greater interest has happened in later years. I remember, of course – and who does not? – the liberal education received

from Fred Hudson. Fewer people remember Frank Anderson, and certainly not with the same affection, but he and I got on well together. I recall that he quoted Doctor Samuel Johnson’s definition of an essay: A loose sally of the mind. That was in the famous dictionary.

Contrary to popular belief, Johnson was not the first to produce a dictionary.

He was not even among the first ten. So why is Johnson’s dictionary remembered?There are several reasons. Samuel Johnson’s efforts tower above earlier attempts because of the number of words, and the quality of definitions; his work was not simply a lexicon of hard words, glossed. (Is there a verb ‘to gloss’? Well, there is a noun ‘gloss’, and, as every schoolboy knows, all nouns can be verbed). And, gloriously, the dictionary was the result of the labours of one man alone.

39

After nine years’ work, Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1755. It had a farreaching effect on Modern English and has been described as one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship.

Alfred George Gardiner (1865–1946) was a British journalist and author. Born in Chelmsford, the son of a cabinet-maker, he initially worked on the Chelmsford Chronicle and the Bournemouth Directory. He joined the Northern Daily Telegraph in 1887 and two years later became editor of the Blackburn Weekly Telegraph.

Anyway, Johnson – one of my few heroes, along with Cecil Rhodes, Lawrence of Arabia, and the Duke of Wellington – defined an essay as a loose sally, which as a youth made me think of a promiscuous Lancashire lass, rather like Gracie Fields.

What Frank did not tell us was the whole quotation: a loose sally of the mind; an irregular undigested piece;not a regular and orderly composition. As a teacher of English, he had no doubt had to read too many undigested pieces. I speak from more than forty years’ experience as a teacher of English.

Johnson’s own essays for The Rambler magazine were anything but loose, even though he wrote them to a deadline. His essay on Procrastination is an excellent example of fine English prose, controlled, muscular.Try this for a taster.

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success;death may intercept the swiftest career;but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.

I have taught in several schools, here and abroad. Every English stockroom has its piles of books no longer on the

40

syllabus. Usually collections of essays.

(Note to the editor, and his excellent proof reader: I no longer hold that all sentences must contain a finite verb.) In those collections were the best essay writers in English. An illustrious list, indeed, ranging from Francis Bacon, through Addison and Steele, to Williams Hazlitt and Cobbett, and ending in Belloc, Chesterton and Robert Lynd. I can still remember, as no doubt other Almondburians can, the essays of Lynd that appeared in the News Chronicle.

There is one name always found in these anthologies, a name I almost forgot to mention – that of Alpha of the Plough.

This was the pseudonym for A G Gardiner, a journalist. If you want entertainment, read Alpha. His choice of name refers to the stars rather than to the farm. I even found essays by these worthies, and others, in a pile of old books in a God-forsaken town in central Yemen.

My wife and I were lodged in a flat in the bar, hunched over our Castle lagers, Ta’izz. We were next door to a mosque. we naturally got to talking about school, Our sleep, as you will appreciate, was for that was all we had in common.

I had taught him in the early ’80s. He broken regularly, starting at four in the morning. One day, unable to get back to remembered that I had cast him in a sleep, I turned to the battered volume, dramatisation of Alan Paton’s Cry, the and to A G Gardiner’s essay, TheVanity of Beloved Country. As a lawyer, as it Old Age. It had resonance, was a line to a happened. Subsequently, he had read Law more civilised life. (Two years with Dayak at the university.

He admitted that he had enjoyed his head hunters would have been more years at secondary school in Lobatse. I civilised thanTa’izz.) started to feel smug.Yes, I had got things Nature is a cunning nurse. She gives us right.Then, incautiously, fishing for more lollipops all the way, and when the praise, I asked him to make other comlollipop of hope and the lollipop of ments. Without warning, his eyes narachievement are done,she gently inserts in rowed. His features would have our toothless gums the lollipop of darkened, had he not, as a Motswana, remembrance. And with that pleasant been dark already. He informed me that vanity we are soothed to sleep.

Not so long ago, I was in Gaborone, the I had been unfair in my marking. Not capital city of Botswana. It had been a once, he said, not once had I given him dangerously hot day, and I had, like a mad more than 12 marks out of 20. After all dog, been out in the midday sun, baht ’at, those years, this imagined slight rankled still. too. As the sun went Before we parted I down in the late after- Not once had I given asked the fellow what noon, I decided to go him more than 12 he was doing now. for a stroll.

I walked down the marks out of 20.This “I’m a judge of the High Court,” he said. I hotel steps into the rankled still. offered my congratuMain Mall. Coming toward me was a middle-aged man with lations. Casting him as a lawyer in that what we used to call a large corporation, play must have sown the seeds. “Yes, which I interpreted, correctly, as a beer good going. Especially for someone who belly. Suddenly, surprised, the man never received more than 12 out of 20 stopped and cried, “Hau! It’s the Boss.” for his essays.”

Well, there we are. Enough about That told me he was a former student. I had long been aware of my nickname, essays, enough, no more. I trust that I have fulfilled the chief aim of an essay. Not and, indeed, encouraged its use.

We exchanged greetings; I pretended to instruct, not to educate, and certainly that I knew his name. He invited me to not to indoctrinate. My aim has been to accompany him for a pre-prandial drink divert you from common cares. Only you at an upmarket watering hole.As we sat at can decide if I have succeeded.

41

TERRY’S TEASER NO 9

Compiled by Terry Buckley (1948 - 1953)

Entries to the Editor (address/email: back cover) by 1st October 2013 20

1

7

20

2

3 20

20

4 20

9 20

20

20

11

15

20 20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

12

13

14

20

19

20

25

20

20

33

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20 28

20 29

20

20

20 20

20

21

20

20

20

23

26

20

27

30

31

20

34

17 20

20 20 20

20

20

20

32 20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

37

38

ACROSS 1 They plan their shots, and, in the field, caught Morris out (4, 9) 9 Join girl to get ex back (6) 10 In web complex, main left (8) 11 The time for sobering thought (7) 15 Perfect my trade (5) 16 He returns for the sell-by date (3) 17 Bird beds down (5) 18 Take on a tot (3) 20 Braid covering (3)

20 24

35

36

8

10

16

18

Prize: 12 months free OAS membership

20

20

20

22

6

20

20 20

5

20

22 In or about crystal, a confused noise (6) 23 Swiss sign about a reversing bike points to a fort (6) 25 Fish in Peel harbour (3) 27 The celebrated group of the early forties (3) 28 Defraud through headache attack (5) 30 Eureka! – with no holds barred! (3) 32 One duty is to get to the island (5) 33 Found in disc rub, by overuse of brake (7) 36 Dreamt, at home, a magazine editor came round (8)

37 I left Josie and the officer moved in – ridiculous ! (6) 38 Nation sounds to have no hard cash! (5,8)

DOWN 2 Two points to notice about a favourable verdict (8) 3 Stay up in lustful, lewd and lascivious surroundings! (5) 4 Decline to coalesce again? (6) 5 Organ of punctuation (5) 6 Wound, and tottered (6) 7 On reflection, the effect of bits of paper (13 8 Apostle shortly becomes a baron on the way (2, 11) 11 Back in the days of the gangster, alcoholics discovered red wines (7) 12 Grey in golden sunset (3) 13 Look for the theory in Morris Mayhew's book (3) 14 Escape – I don’t believe it! (7) 19 Stain on Lady Elizabeth's gown (3) 21 Serve best from the deck (3) 24 Bond generator creates a variety of cauliflower (8) 26 Role reversal leads one to cry (3) 27 Up from the tomb of Tutenkhamun, an ornament (3) 29 False eastern tzars are disturbed (6) 31 Gather it’s 500-550 in the shade! (6) 34 Study at the church on a tropical beach (5) 35 Twee sparkler (5)

Name Email Tel

The winner of Terry’s Teaser No 8 (March 2013) was John R Bradley (Victoria,Australia)

Across 1. Strolling player 8. Referee 11. Olive 13. Ere 14. Sou 15. Ilks 16. Ill 17. Nomad 19. Hand me down 21.Aden 22. Face 24. In credit to 27. Mufti 29.Awl 30.Webs 31. Far 33. Son 35. Radii 37. Element 38. Doctor Dolittle Down 1. Straightforward 2. Over 3. Ides 4. Groundwork 5. Lei 6.Yielded 7. Russian roulette 9. Felon 10. Realm 12.Via 18. Identified 20. Due 21.Ami 23. Cambric 25. Douse 26.Thane 28. USA 32. Redo 34. Omit 36. Duo

42

Cricket

T

HE Club held its Dinner and Presentation Evening on 2nd March at the now customary venue at Lockwood Park, home of the Huddersfield Rugby Union Club. Some 65 people attended and enjoyed a buffet carvery meal followed by a welcome from chairman Jack Taylor.

The previous evening Graham Cliffe (founder member of the Old Almondburians’ Cricket Club), John Clutterbook (OACC League Representative) and John Headey (OACC Secretary) had represented the Club at the centenary dinner of the Arrow Huddersfield Central Cricket League.The dinner was held at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top. Our Club Evening was competently directed by batsman/wicketkeeper Will Atkinson, in spite of a recent squashinduced injury which has unfortunately delayed his 2013 cricket debut.After the obligatory entertainment provided by a guest comedian,Will – in the absence of

JACK TAYLO R

Steve Slack – presented the club prizes in recognition of individual achievements in 2012 (see panel).

Ben Ellam has decided to move to a higher standard of cricket with Lascelles 2012 SEASON Honours List FIRST XI

Batting Bowling Fielding

Simon Lyons Tim Taylor Sam Atkins

Batting Bowling Fielding

Ben Ellam Ed Hall Ben Ellam

SECOND XI

Young Player of theYear

Ben Ellam

Clubman of theYear

John Headey

(donated in memory of Jessica Taylor) (donated by the Chairman) 43

(Top): Jonathan Mansell is our newlyelected 2nd XI captain.An experienced cricketer, he is a good off-spinner and a useful batsman.

(Bottom): Richard Taylor, the Club’s senior player, is 2nd XI opening batsman and ‘occasional’ fielder. Elder son of former headmaster Harry Taylor, Richard wishes that his batting average approached his age.

Hall in the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League.We wish him every success and watch his progress with keen interest.

Optimism for the new season was reasonable high after we attended the pre-season Sundaymorning nets at Almondbury High School. A prompt start to the new season (in contrast to last year) was made on Sunday, 21st April.

However, as we go to press, the First and Second XIs had both recorded only one victory from their first four league fixtures. In addition, the First XI failed to progress beyond the first round of the Allsop Cup, losing at Upper Hopton on their second visit in successive weeks to that picturesque ground.

As ever, a cordial invitation is extended to Almondburians to visit the unique setting of our scenic Arkenley ground. Hopefully, by 2014 we could be looking forward to the prospect of a new pavilion.Arrive any Saturday by 2.00 pm and you could well get a game.

Badminton

R

EADERS will recall from the last issue that, other than when the obviously extremely popular Matthew Booth returned from Cambodia for two weeks and came to play, bringing crowds of disciples with him, we have

ANDREW HAIGH

44

continued to struggle for numbers this season. Last term we didn’t manage more than five players in any one week, and more often than not they were Ian and Adam Daffern, Neil Gledhill, David Parry and myself .

work up a thirst, before retiring to the Conservative Club. Unfortunately, however, Neil had injured his arm whilst moving flagstones, so only two games were possible, although this didn’t stop Neil from winning them easily (I claimed that I was feeling sorry for Neil and was hitting shots out so that Neil didn’t have to return them). It was only when we retired to the Conservative Club (where, upon enquiry, we found no guga available to accompany their pints of ‘Platinum Blonde’) that they had a vague recollection that David and Hazel had said that they would be on holiday after Easter.

The second week followed much the same pattern, except that this time I staged a fierce comeback. Neil injured his foot part way through the second game and had to retire, so only a game and a half had been possible. Furthermore, when we left, we found that the car park gate had been locked. We have been locked out on a Thursday evening before, but never locked in! When we finally made it to the

Although, strictly speaking, the badminton season ends at Easter, it has become customary for the Old Almondburians to continue to play until Spring Bank Holiday, before switching to tennis for the summer months. However, since Easter this year, attendances have gone from bad to worse and Thursday evenings have certainly been eventful!

The first week after Easter, Ian Daffern sent a message that he and Adam wouldn’t be playing for the next four weeks, due to football and cricket commitments.

However, there were still hopes that we would muster a foursome and Neil Gledhill and I turned up to play. Because it was examination season, the sports hall was three-quarters full of desks and chairs. So, we dutifully cleared these from one court before falling into conversation about the guga hunters of Sulasgeir and the likelihood of a vote for Scottish independence, amongst other wide-ranging topics.When there was a lull in the conversation around 8.15 pm, it dawned on us that it was unlikely that anyone else would be putting in an appearance. We decided that, having gone to the trouble of moving all the desks and chairs, we had better play singles for a while in order to Stalwarts: Andrew Haigh and Neil Gledhill, with some of the examination desks and chairs that they had to move in order to play a little badminton

45

Conservative Club, this time we decided that, although David and Hazel had gone on holiday for one week, it was actually from Thursday to Thursday, and so they missed two weeks of badminton. At this point, Neil confessed that he had done the same thing and would be missing the next two Thursdays.What shocking organisation!

So it was with some trepidation that I turned up the third week, wondering whether anyone else would be there. As it was, David and Hazel Parry came along, fresh from their holiday. However, they were only part way through a fourth game when they were plunged into darkness; there had been a power cut, which not only forced play to be abandoned due to bad light, but meant that the showers were also out of action because the water is pumped to the sports hall. Consequently, we felt obliged to sit in the farthest corner of the Conservative Club that week.

On the fourth week, David turned up alone, explaining that Hazel had said that, if it was just he and Andrew, they would be

able to have a good game together. Thank you very much, Hazel.A whole evening of singles: how energetic! At least the exams were over and we didn’t have to move all the desks and chairs.

Finally, on the fifth week, with Neil back from holiday and Ian back from cricket, we did manage a foursome and six very fine games of doubles were played.

Afterwards, the beer (‘White Rat’) in the Conservative Club was excellent, as always, although there was still no guga available.

An eventful half-term indeed.

However, unless more of you can be encouraged to come along to play, the future of Old Almondburians’ Badminton has to be in some doubt. We shall endeavour to continue next season, which starts onThursday, 5th September, and ask for your support. It really is a most enjoyable evening and the beer and conversation in the Conservative Club afterwards is excellent, even if they don’t

have any guga.

Tennis

T

ANDREW HAIGH

hursday night badminton becameThursday night tennis onThursday, 6th June, 2013, and will run until Thursday, 29th August. We shall be playing on the school tennis courts each Thursday evening between these dates, weather permitting, from 7.15 p.m. until dusk, and anyone is most welcome to join us. During term-time, it is possible to play badminton in the sports hall if the weather is inclement, although this is not possible during the summer holidays due to maintenance work in the sports hall.The fee, to cover the cost of balls (and showers during term-time), will be the princely sum of £3.00 per person, per evening.

Almondburian tennis is purely social, so why not come along and join us?

46

Football

S

MARTYN HIC KS

Farnley Recreation ground with a current players and past players reunion match (which was a very well attended and keenly fought affair) followed by a drive to the now re-instated home of the AFC The Woolpack where a barbecue was held.

There then followed the raffle draw and trophy presentation and Celebrity AFC Blockbusters competition. The day itself raised £1,100 which will be used to buy kit for the futureThird XI and the balance put towards our goal of £20,000 for the Pavilion project.

Next season we have entered a Third XI which hopefully the YAL can accommodate. We have also secured Farnley Recreation ground as our First XI’s home venue for next season.

In an internet forum of YAL members the ground at King James’s was voted the worst in the league (but was recognized

O another fun-filled actionpacked football seasonal adventure has drawn to a close.

For the Reserve XI, their first season as a new team casually concluded playing away at Thornesians (Wakefield) where a convincing 1-5 victory secured their winning of the now renamed Yorkshire Amateur League Division 4 as champions with two games left to play.

For the First XI, a frantic six games in 15 days proved too much. Where once they had the opportunity to finish as runners up in Division 2, the backlog proved too much and they finished in 4th position, equal on points to 3rd place SandalWanderers but missing out on goal difference. Congratulations to Morley Town, in this their first year in theYAL, winning Division 2 at a canter.

The end of season bash began at

(Below left): Division 4 champions Almondburians Reserves after their title-winning match against Thornesians (Below right): Past v Present reunion match at Farnley Rec on 18th May

47

DIVISION 2 FINAL TABLE Morley Town AFC

Leeds Independent Sandal Wanderers Almondburians

Huddersfield YMCA Amaranth

St Bedes Res

Leeds Medics & Dentists IV Old Modernians Reserves

Woodhouse Moor Methodists Colton Institute

Gilderstone Spurs OB III East Ardsley Wanderers

Bramley Juniors OB III

Played

W

D

L

F

18

2

6

70

7

62

26

24

26

15

26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26

15 14 11 12

8 8 8 7 7 4 2

1 4 4 6

Wheelwright OB

Old Centralians Reserves Alwoodley III

Farnley Sports Reserves Leeds City OB Reserves

Huddersfield Amateur III Old Collegians Reserves Thornesians III

Old Modernians IV North Leeds

Sandal Ath Reserves

Played

12

7

11

0 7 6 5 3 6 4

22 22 22 22 22 22

12 14 16 16 20

15

3

4

14

22

11

L

22 22

14

D

18

22

6

W

22 22

7

3

DIVISION 4 FINAL TABLE Almondburians Reserves

1 117

14 11 10

8 7 7 6 5 2

1 2 1 4 3

52 40 54 49 38

35

45

F

68

7 7 9

13

2

57

6

2 3

70

97

12

4

59

3

2 3

83

12 12 14 18

81 63 61 63 47 61 32 54 59 32

as the most picturesque!),We in the AFC have not really given too much credence to the award but having re-entered the league we have been very surprised at the recent improvement in facilities at which opposition teams play, certainly around the Leeds area and specifically on School

48

pitches. We will continue to play at the school for as long A GD PTS as possible however and if the 38 79 73 opposition continue to moan 41 29 56 about the pitch we will 56 27 49 continue to beat them.

48 14 49 Training for next season 46 13 44 will resume on the floodlit 60 10 36 3G pitch at Mirfield 61 -4 36 Grammar School in late July.

55 -3 31 Past and new players always 63 -23 31 welcome.

61 -7 29 Some Almondburians have been asking how they 71 -22 26 can access the results for 71 -33 22 matches. The club’s website 80 -45 18 is: 80 -35 10 http://tinyurl.com/b86pwfu and the league’s website is: yobleague.co.uk A GD PTS Immediate results (10 36 61 55 minutes after each game) can 27 54 48 be found at: 38 30 44 http://tinyurl.com/adoozjj 53 10 43 On a different note we 48 13 37 have begun a digital library of 54 9 29 all things associated with 63 -16 26 Almondburians’ Football, 67 -6 24 which can be accessed 63 -31 23 through the club’s website. or from the OAS website 80 -26 22 oas.org.uk.

I should also make 96 -37 18 these two appeals to 93 -61 8 members: We would like you to scan any photos you may have (action shots, teams, individuals, etc) and email them to us for our archives Can we also ask the collective minds of OAS members one question: when was the Almondburians’Football Club formed?

OAS Quiz Evening 2013

T

K EITH CRAWSHAW

HE

‘1970s’, alias Bryan Hopkinson and Alan & Marie Thomas, are becoming the Manchester Utd of our quiz world as once again they successfully defended their trophy at Almondbury Conservative Club on 1st May. Disappointingly, despite some recruitment efforts, we could still muster only 6 teams, as for the first time since the inaugural competition in 1978, the staff were not represented.

In the first semi final, as in 2012, the 1970s scored heavily in the first‘multiple choice’ round. Although the Chairman’s team (Nicky Briggs, Howard Earnshaw and Joseph Briggs) failed to get off the mark they were top scorers on ‘faces’.

The 1970s correctly identified all the ‘numbers’ in the musical round before Badminton (Hope Byram/Andrew Haigh, David Parry and Reggie Byram) were better at naming‘Yorkshire places’.

After the usual final ‘buzzer’ round the Chairman’s trio were eliminated leaving the 1970s and Badminton to go through to the final.

In the second semi final, after a fairly even start and a low Bryan Hopkinson with Alan and MarieThomas: the ‘Manchester Utd of our quiz world’

scoring third round, the Cricketers (Graham Cliffe, RichardTaylor and John Clutterbook) excelled in rounds 2 and 4.

Dartmouth (Jez Whitehead, Doug Norris and David Sinclair) showed greater expertise on the buzzer and these two teams progressed at the expense of Jessop (Denis Taylor, Andrew Haigh and A N Other), who trailed in third place after a disastrous ‘faces’ score.

Although Dartmouth got off to a slow start in the final, there was little to choose between the other three sides after the first two tests on knowledge of ‘2012’ and the ‘London Olympics’. Decisively the l970s recorded a perfect score on ‘Disney film musical lyrics’ in round 3 followed by an exceptional ability to identify ‘mammals’ in round 4 to set up an unassailable lead before the final buzzer round. The reigning champions amassed 107 points but the battle for the

49

other places was more exciting. Dartmouth clawed their way back somewhat to finish on 74 points behind the Cricketers on 78 points in third place and Badminton who were runners up with 79 points.

Our thanks to Andrew Haigh for arranging supper which, this year, was

taken at the end of the evening. My thanks also to Angela Melling for organising the buzzers and helping with the marking and to Jack Taylor (our resident Bill Frindall) for scoring.

Why not put together a team of 3 for next year to see if you can defeat our

‘eggheads’?

Postbag

O

YO U WRITE …

Reunion – down under

From Mike Powner (1959-1967)

ne thing leads to another…

Last July I read with interest Dave Bush’s article about his overseas adventure which included visiting Ken Leech and his wife in Australia.

Of particular interest was the fact that Ken and Janine live in Rosebud on the Mornington peninsula, about 60 miles south of Melbourne.This just happens to be very close (in Australian terms) to where our daughter, Australian son-inlaw and grandchildren Joshua (5) and Grace (2) live. We spend two or three months with them every year, usually

50

over their summer and early autumn period.

The thought occurred that it would be good to have an Old Almondburians’ get together, if only with the two of us. I discussed the idea with Dave at the dinner last November and he kindly put

me in touch with Ken.The upshot is that Ken and Janine invited my wife and me to spend a day with them at the beginning of March. They are excellent hosts and we had a wonderful time together.

We brought gifts to add to Ken’s already extensive collection of Old Almondburian memorabilia, some of which you can see on the wall behind us.

Dave suggested the teddy bear to add to

Ken and Janine’s extensive family of teddy bears. Andrew Haigh searched his records and discovered Ken didn’t have a copy of the limited edition print produced to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the school.

I don’t know if there’ll be enough room left on the wall as it’s pretty full – we’ll see next year when we meet up again.

Fixby,WestYorkshire

C

Kicking leaves on Farnley Line

I

Memory man

From David Morphet (1951-1958)

ONGRATULATIONS on another fine issue – and my plaudits run way beyond the poetic content, though I was really pleased to be reminded of the macaronic Michael Jackson squib which amused me when it first appeared in 1956.

The interview with Robert Lamb is particularly interesting and the first time as an ‘outsider’ that I have had any real sense of who he is. I am glad , too, that you have written about George Beharrel.

As for Walter Haigh, one day he took us new boys in Autumn 1951 to ‘kick leaves on Farnley Line’ – no more than that – instead of a scheduled lesson in

D3. He said (growled?) that whatever we remembered from the classroom, we’d never forget our walk down the Line kicking drifts of autumn leaves, and in my case he was right. Whether this was his annual routine with Form One I know not.

London PS Keith Crawshaw’s attention might be directed to the box on page 12. After Magdalen (no, not ‘Magdelene’) the redoubtable Percy may perhaps have flouted his father’s wishes rather than flaunted them – though I suppose he may have done both... And does not the local newspaper need to brush up its spelling?

From J Michael Sykes (1946-1954)

I was in 1 Alpha; Miss Badger was formmistress and each of us called out his name in alphabetical order.

Memory is a strange thing but I can still remember the names of my

wonder if any other really old boys remember the first thing which happened in class when they arrived in the Formroom.When I started at Almondbury Grammar School in 1946

51

classmates from 66 years ago, as follows: Beaumont, Beckett, Beever, Brown, Byram, Dempsey, Earnshaw, Ellis, Haigh, Hardy, Houghton, Howarth, Knight, Lindley, Lumb, Randall, Schofield, Sharpe, Shaw, Sheard,

I

Smith, Stevenson, Stocks, Sykes, Sykes, Sykes, Thompson,Wilde,Williams,Woodward.

I apologise to anyone who may have been left out!

Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria

I scored two goals at the age of 15

From Prof Tom Ledwidge (1942-1947) HAVE just noticed in a recent edition of The Almondburian some discussion on who scored for the First XI when aged only 16.

The photo below is of the school team that won the Huddersfield Examiner Rose Bowl in 1947.

Our captain, Jeff Taylor, scored one goal and I scored two. I was just 15 at the time.

Mooloolaba,Australia

Rose Bowl winners in 1947: Tom Ledwidge is front right and captain Jeff Taylor back right.

Taylor went on to have a very successful football career with Huddersfield Town, Fulham and Brentford. The Almondburian carried a report on the team’s success in its Summer 1947 issue.

52

Obituaries

G O N E B UT NOT F ORGOTTEN A E (Bill) Wood (1935-1940)

Almondburian who took a leading role in the last fleet action inWorld War 2 The action was fought on the night of 15th/16th May 1945 by a flotilla of five destroyers.Their sinking of the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro in the Indian Ocean approaches to the Malacca Strait happened three months before nuclear bombs forced Japan’s surrender.

BillWood, who has died aged 88, was a young sub-lieutenant serving as gunnery control officer in one of those destroyers, HMSVerulam.The Haguro was picked up on radar at the then extreme range of 68,000 yards – so distant that the captain at first disbelieved the report by an able seaman operating the scanner.Verulam, armed like the other destroyers with four 4.7 inch guns, could not match the fire power of the Haguro’s 10 eight-inch guns.

Bill Wood once said: “Her gunnery, however, wasn’t all that good. Our ships starred out – meaning that we got around the Haguro and came at her from different directions. She seemed to be taken, by surprise and we scored several hits, but the night was pitch black and our flotilla shared the honours.”

They finished off the Haguro with torpedoes and were about to pick up survivors when the appearance of an aircraft made a Kamikaze attack seem imminent and they quickly withdrew.A Japanese destroyer went out from Penang and rescued some 400 men from the sea.

Bill was born in Huddersfield on 3rd December 1924 and was baptised Albert Edward (names he hated). He was educated at the former Almondbury Grammar School. Some of his classmates also went on to serve under either the white or red ensign. For 25 years he travelled all over England as a representative forYorkshire Imperial Metals.

He met his wife, Joan, in New 53

Zealand and they married in 1958. Bill and Joan lived inWetheringsett, Suffolk before moving to nearby Debenham, taking a lively interest in Church of England matters.

His ashes were cast into the sea off Felixstowe and a thanksgiving service took place in Debenham parish church on 11th February. His wife survives him, along with a son and two daughters, one of whom, Mrs Katie Reade, is a member of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich diocesan staff.

J Neville Armitage (1939-1944)

Farmer who for many years played a leading role in planning the Newark Show Neville Armitage died on 30th March 2013 after a short illness. On leaving Almondbury Grammar School he decided to take up farming and studied at Usk Agricultural College. In due course he joined H J Crocker on his 850 acre farm at Besthorpe in Nottinghamshire, at that time home of a nationally famous pedigree herd of dairy Shorthorn cattle, a flock of Suffolk sheep and Sussex poultry.

Neville became deeply involved in his local community of Collingham. A keen cricketer, he was a renowned fast bowler; and he also played badminton, hockey, football and golf. He became captain of Newark Golf Club, ably supported by his wife Ann who was active on the ladies’ committee.

The Crocker family had long been associated with the Newark Show, H J’s father having been secretary from 1926 and H J himself from 1951. Neville and Ann also became involved in the Show and became joint secretaries from 1969 to 1996.

During this time they played a leading role in developing the Show’s extensive facilities and buildings. Neville also became secretary of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations, involving close liaison with government departments and other national bodies.

On retirement, Neville was able to devote more time to golf and he also became a keen bowler. He was a director and chairman of the Newark Indoor Bowls Club.

Neville’s younger brother Gordon, a former OAS chairman, also attended Almondbury Grammar School, from 1939 to 1946.

54

Now on sale

All who remember Harry Taylor will enjoy this new book about the School’s respected Headmaster from 1951 to 1973.

A well-known Almondbury figure, he was also a regular reader at All Hallows’ Church, the transcriber of the local parish registers, and one of the authors of a respected history of Almondbury. He played cricket for Almondbury Casuals, and earned a reputation throughout Huddersfield as a witty and entertaining after dinner speaker.

Morning Assembly gives a fascinating and often humorous account of Harry Taylor’s life and includes, in facsimile form, 100 prayers – ancient and modern – which he assembled over the years for use in School assemblies.

Get your copy NOW!

Copies of Morning Assembly cost just £10 plus £1.30

pp*. Please send your cheque, payable to the Old Almondburians’ Society, to Andrew Haigh, R D Haigh & Co, Oakhill Road, Brighouse,West

Yorkshire HD6 1SN.Alternatively, you can order on line at http://tinyurl.com/bw9ms88 or through any

good bookshop.

*in UK. Mainland Europe: £2.70; Rest of World: £4.30 33 55

Chairman NICK BRIGGS 17 Fair Street, Huddersfield,Yorkshire HD1 3QB Tel: 01484 305734 Mobile: 07595 175835 Email: nickybriggs@hotmail.com Secretary ANDREW HAIGH 2 Arkenley Lane, Almondbury HD4 6SQ Tel: 01484 432105 Email: andrew.haigh@oas.org.uk

Treasurer KEITH CRAWSHAW 5 Benomley Drive, Almondbury HD5 8LX Tel: 01484 533658 Email: keith.crawshaw@oas.org.uk

Media Editor ROGER DOWLING Editorial address: Orchard House, Oughtrington Lane, Lymm, Cheshire WA13 0RD Tel: 01925 756390 Email: almondburian@oas.org.uk Archivist NICH BRIGGS Tel: 07771 865330 Email: nichbriggs@hotmail.com Website: www.oas.org.uk

Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3ykffo3

56

The Almondburian is distributed to OAS members free of charge.

Price to non-members: ÂŁ3.00