March2014issuu

The ALMONDBURIAN T H E MAGAZINE O F TH E O LD AL MONDBURIANS’ S OCIETY

March 2014

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IN THIS ISSUE

A word from your Chairman When we had fun at the fleapit Terry’s Teaser Annual General Meeting Graham Gelder—his life and death Every picture tells a story But how modern everything is now!

How languages became my life Vernon Scannell: WalkingWounded Farnley Lines Annual Dinner/Founders’ Day Sudoku We get the green light – official Jim Toomey: a master of Latin A history of Almondburian quizzing Football Cricket Golf Postbag The Almondbury Poets Obituaries

(Opposite): This small wooden hut – little larger than a garden shed – served as the School cricket pavilion until 1958. It dated back to Rev Francis Marshall’s time as Headmaster.

The drawing is by Roger Sykes (1946-1953).

The ALMONDBURIAN Editor: Roger Dowling

March 2014

The magazine of The Old Almondburians’ Society

A word from your Chairman

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B RYA N H O P K INSON

OUR 2014 Chairman resumes the position after four years’ absence, and following the elections at this year’s AGM I am happy to report that the School’s HeadTeacher, Robert Lamb, has agreed to be the Society’s President for another year.

The return of the annual dinner to the School last year (report:page: 31) was hugely popular, according to informal polls of those who attended and other feedback, and we hope to hold it there again this year. It feels right for a Society such as ours to hold this event in the establishment which binds us together.

A major theme for the coming year is likely to be the new School pavilion appeal: plans have been approved (see page 35) and now the big task is to raise funds – watch this space, for we shall no doubt be appealing to OAS members in the coming months.

At the AGM (report: page 10) it was revealed that in 2012/13 the Society made a 3

marginal loss of £245.97.The main reason for this has been the greatly increased costs of postage for The Almondburian.The new committee will need to look into this, for the Society aims to run at a surplus in order to have funds to commit to projects in support of the School. But I am happy to announce that, since the loss is so small and we already have ideas to offset it, theAGM decided unanimously not to raise subscription rates this year: we have been stable at £10 a year since before the 400th anniversary year 2008.

Every spring the Society holds its annual quiz, and this year it will be onWednesday 30th April at 7.30 pm in the Almondbury Conservative Club (article: page 39). All members are welcome to form teams of three and compete for the magnificent trophy, which for the past three years has been held by a team representing the 1970s: come and have a go, it’s time we were beaten. It is always a friendly evening, and this will be the 37th year the trophy has been contested.

One of our hardest challenges as times keep changing faster than ever is keeping up a living connection with the School and attracting younger members to secure the future of the Society. But for a Society such as ours to remain active and vigorous is quite an achievement in these days when social networking has taken over as a means of keeping people together.We offer a sense of continuity which is perhaps becoming a rarity, but is none the less valuable for that.

OLD ALMONDBURIANS’ SOCIETY CALENDAR service will take place on Sunday, 23rd November 2014. Further details will be announced in due course.

DATES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, 2014 The Executive Committee of the Society meets upstairs at the Woolpack in Almondbury, at 7.30 pm. Dates for this year (all Mondays) are: 3rd March; 7th April; 12th May; 2nd June; 7th July; 1st September; 6th October; 3rd November; 1st December.Any member of the Society who would like to attend one of these meetings will be made most welcome.

FOOTBALL The Old Almondburians’ Society has two teams that play in the Yorkshire Amateur League. Report: page 41.

CRICKET The club Presentation Evening will be held on Saturday, 8th March 2014 at ‘Grappolos’ restaurant, Lockwood, 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm.

Further details: page 42.

ANNUAL DINNER This year’s Annual Dinner, again at the School, will be held on Saturday, 22nd November 2014.The price is likely to be pegged at last year’s figure of £27.50.

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.Anyone else who takes a notion to do so, should consider starting to organise their class re-union earlier rather than later.

GOLF Gothard Cup:Woodsome Hall Golf Club on Friday, 27th June 2014 followed by Dinner.

Further details including report on last year’s event: page 44.

BADMINTON Badminton continues at the School on Thursday evenings from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

FOUNDERS’ DAY SERVICE The annual Founders’ Day procession and

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When we had fun at the fleapit Years ago,we had two dozen or more cinemas.Today,the town centre can only boast a multiplex at the John Smith Stadium.Our writer laments their passing

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REGGIE BYRAM (1946 - 1954)

LMONDBURY did not have one. Neither did Longwood, Outlane, Lindley or villages such as Thurstonland and Farnley Tyas.

I am unsure about Honley and Meltham. Most other areas around Huddersfield were served, if that is the right verb, by a cinema; the centre of town had a wide choice. At the risk of boring the pants off those under a certain age, here are the names of the cinemas I remember, and all of which I

attended at least once in my childhood and youth.

The Cosy Nook at Salendine Nook, my local, where I went at least once a week.The Savoy at Marsh, which later became a Lodge’s Supermarket, and where I watched High Noon, a movie that changed my political opinions. On Wakefield Road were: the Lyceum at Aspley, where I often saw JohnnyWeissmuller, Olympic swimming champion, and everyone’s favourite Tarzan; the

It’s a dark, wet evening in 1942 as future US President Ronald Reagan appears in both Kings Row and Code of the Secret Service at the Empire.Today, the building is a Home & Garden centre.

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The Ritz was once one of Huddersfield’s most prestigious cinemas.Today, the site is a Sainsbury’s supermarket.

Regal in Moldgreen, of which I remember nothing; and the Waterloo, which also became a Lodge’s supermarket for a time. On the other side of town were the Regent in Bradford Road, now an Indian restaurant, and the Rialto in Sheepridge. In Birkby, there was the Carlton in Blacker Road, now a mosque. In Leymoor Road, near Golcar, the Leymoor cinema – not all places had classical names – and the Premier at Paddock Head, while further down Lowergate there was the Milnsbridge Palace, an Aldi supermarket today, where I had my first shy date with Shirley. (I wonder what became of her.) On Lockwood Road, near a busy junction, there was also a cinema, while the Plaza in Thornton Lodge, also thrived. In the ’30s and ’40s, all cinemas thrived, and there were often queues, especially for the two showings on Saturday evening.

For those prepared to walk, or catch a trolley bus, there were cinemas further afield: the Star in Slaithwaite, and the Electric in Marsden. I watched

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War and Peace at the Star, a good film scripted by Bridget Boland, an excellent playwright, and starring, as they used to say, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, and the delectable Audrey Hepburn.

Brighouse, the small woollen town where I was born – in the year when George V was still kingemperor, and Ramsay Macdonald was Prime Minister – there were three cinemas, all on Bradford Road: the Albert, now a down-market eating joint; the Savoy, which I attended with my grandfather, and where I first fell in love with Ingrid Bergman, a love that survives her death in August 1982. On one Saturday, I was allowed to attend all cinemas: the Albert for the matinee, the Savoy for the first showing (the first turn, as we said,) and then the Ritz for the second turn. The movie at the Ritz was Song of Russia, starring Robert Taylor and Susan Peters. It was a 1944 movie heaping praise on our brave Soviet allies, before the Americans came to their senses and remembered the atrocities committed by Stalin. Robert Taylor, a big name in his day, was born Spangler Arlington Brugh. It must have come as a relief when the studio bosses changed his name.

The curious among you, and there must be a few, will be wondering why a

child of nine was allowed to go to the pictures, unescorted, three times in one day. The reason was, that I was being protected. My grandfather was in Bradford Hospital, dying of cancer, and nobody told me. It was the same with the many funerals that our family had in those years, done by the Brighouse Co-op. It was all kept from me, as they thought, but I picked up moods, and modes of dress, and became quite interested in death.

The centre of Huddersfield had, you would have thought, enough cinemas, but such was the popularity of the movies, there were usually queues. Near where Tesco’s stands in Viaduct Street was the Majestic cinema, and round the corner the Empire. The Princess,

In its day, the Majestic in Viaduct Street was a popular town centre cinema.

Today it stands forlorn with the traffic of Huddersfield bypass speeding past within a few yards of its front entrance.

The auditorium is now used as a garage and MOT centre while the offices are occupied by a web design company.

However, the projection room (right) with its two ancient Simplex 35mm projectors with their ‘Peerless Magnarc’ high intensity lamps has been lovingly preserved by the present owner.

in Northumberland Street, had a restaurant, as did the Ritz/ABC, in Market Street. Down Ramsden Street, next to the Theatre Royal, was the Picture House, and further down the Tudor, which later became the Essoldo. On Buxton Road – for some reason now a part of New Street - was the Ranch House. Its name was the Hippodrome but it showed mostly Westerns and B- movies, which must

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walk close to the back of the screen.The shadows frightened me.

Until recently, my wife and I still attended the Showcase at Gomersal. Now we have stopped going. The sound is always too loud, the advertisements and trailers are an insult to the intellect, but it is the pictures themselves that have driven us to the sitting room. Mainstream movies, especially from the United States, are in trouble. Movies these days are made primarily to appeal to children or to adolescents. This The Grand Picture Theatre was designed in the French means dumbing down.

Renaissance / Greek Revival style by the architect Clifford Hickson and opened in 1921. It closed as a cinema in 1957 but Spectacle and animation was used as a rock venue and then a night club until the early 1990s. Subsequently the interior of the Theatre was demolished are the order of the day. and only the elegant listed frontage stands today. Clifford Marvel Comics heroes Hickson also designed the Empire and Grand cinemas – and are everywhere. Iron the ‘De Stijl’ house of former KJGS French Master Reg Addy in Man, to mention only one Sharp Lane,Almondbury. series, is a self-referential digital slam, a seemingly endless battle of excited and exacerbated pixels.

These movies are bizarre.

The characters are not real in any sense and so our interest and sympathy are forfeited.

But enough! This evening I am going to watch The Maltese Falcon for the umpteenth time. I shall watch alone: for some reason, my wife cannot abide Humphrey Bogart. Tomorrow, she will insist on watching In the Heat of the Night.

She has always had a thing about that Sidney Poitier.

have been cheap to hire, and attracted younger, noisier people. Did you know thatWilliam Boyd, old Hopalong Cassidy, was the only Western hero who wore black? And did you also know that Robert Mitchum, one of the finest film actors, started out playing villains in Hopalong quickies? (Yes, I am addicted to movie trivia. There are worse addictions.) Finally, at the top of Chapel Hill, just on Manchester Road, there was the Grand.

In order to reach the toilets, you had to

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TERRY’S TEASER NO 11 Compiled by Terry Buckley (1948 - 1953)

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Prize: 12 months free OAS membership

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36. Sit out in a storm for private lessons (8) 37. A bison roaming wild in Southern Europe (6) 38. Getting there direct, avoiding jail (5,8)

DOWN 2. Warning on A506, Carol (8) 22 20 20 20 23 24 3. Manual with old and new evidence? (5) 4. Candle snuffer makes garden furniture (6) 20 20 20 25 26 20 27 20 20 5. Get one over one about capital (5) 28 29 20 30 31 20 32 6. Paper processor (6) 7. The cleric that day wandered round, say, 20 20 33 34 35 20 20 Ripon (9,4) 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 8. The A1 is in an intractable jam - yet 36 37 germ free! (13) 11. Story about a girl in the Middle East (3,4) 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 12. Unseaworthiness leads one to defection ! (3) 20 38 20 13. Measure of infinity in main thesis (3) 14. In Preston, I ask for a place in Northern ACROSS Europe (7) 1. Result of combining a prism, the sun - 22. Sleeve Castle (6) 19. Wholesome ? (3) 23. An architectural type, one got hiccups 21. Since the word was discerned back in and rain! (7,6) inside (6) 9. Say, loudly, “A figure of speech!” (6) Hogarth’s time (3) 10. North American, intoxicated, and, in the 25. See that I’ve got beans, for example (3) 24. Flower girl (8) 27. Relative heard of newspaper (3) best of health, able to get about (8) 26. US female backs prisoner (3) 11. Energy centre confuses comic poet (7) 28. Italian fifty bend a soldier (5) 27. Adjust the scenery (3) 30. Former president is back in the bank (3) 29. What am I doing? Mixing a colour (6) 15. Deport to East 1049, note (5) 32. Characterless in a new development 16. Reflected in extraordinary skill (3) 31. Hospital visitor's accomodation ? (3-3) inside (5) 17. Scour the rough terrain (5) 34. Is adjacent, back inside, becoming no 33. Found in the Mediterranean, thanks to 18. Set destiny (3) laughing matter (5) the manservant (7) 20. Found on top of wardrobe (3) 35. Support in the stand (5) 15

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Name Email Tel

The winner of Terry’s Teaser No 10 (November 2013) was Tony Sykes (Holmfirth)

Across 1.Aerodynamically 8. Enamels 11. Realm 13. Hex 14. Eli 15. Opal 16. Ire 17. Okapi 19.Addressees 21.Ayes 22. Kale 24. Montenegro 27. Resin 29.Vie 30.Weir 31. Dam 33.The 35. Capri 37. Ophelia 38.Walking the plank Down 1.American know-how 2. Orme 3. Nose 4. Marionette 5. Cha 6. Lumpily 7.Yellowstone Park 9.Ahead 10. Exude 12. Lop 18.Astounding 20. Rue 21.Ate 23. Lyrical 25. Neath 26. Gavel 28. Era 32. Moth 34. Heel 36. Phi

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Annual General Meeting

6 Januar y 201 4

The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at the‘Woolpack’,Almondbury,on Monday,6th January,2014,at 7.30 p.m.

Attendance Nick Briggs (chair) Andrew Haigh Bryan Hopkinson Maria Lijka

RichardTaylor Nicky Murphy Keith Crawshaw

Apologies for Absence Apologies were received from Roger Dowling, John Ridings, Michael Haigh, John Sharp, Geoffrey Steedman (celebrating his birthday), Peter Tracey (in the Czech Republic), Ken Shaw (unwell), Clare Barlow, John Broadbent and Angela Melling (unwell).

The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Monday, 7th January 2013, were read and approved and there were no matters arising.

Chairman’s Report Nick Briggs opened his remarks by commenting:“Hasn’t it flown by?” He went on to observe that it has been a very good year for the Society. He noted that there had been some scepticism about moving the dinner back to the school, including his own, but it had been a fantastic success, thanks largely to ChrisWest. Founders’ Day was also a great success this year, involving music students from the school, which meant that some parents attended as well, and thanks for that are due to our Chaplain, Rev Stuart Roebuck, who did a fantastic job. Nick ended by saying that we should all be very pleased with such a good year.

Treasurer’s Report Keith Crawshaw presented the accounts for the financial year ended 31st August, 2013 and noted that the cost of producing and distributing the magazine has increased by 12% this year, largely due to the increase in postage costs.This has contributed to a loss for the year of £245.97. However, he did observe that, if the weight of the magazine can be kept down to that of the last issue, then the situation would be much improved.There were no dissenters to the accounts as presented and the Chairman thanked Keith for doing a fantastic job, as ever.

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Membership Secretary’s Report Andrew Haigh reported on a reasonably stable membership situation, the membership having decreased just slightly by seven since last year’s Annual General Meeting, largely due to a number of deaths. He noted that a perennial problem is losing contact with members who move and fail to notify us of their new address and he said that we have a number of members who are still paying their subscription but who no longer receive the magazine because we don’t know where they are. However, the Society now has the facility to send out an enewsletter with information of a more pressing nature and he had used it for the first time to remind members about this Annual General Meeting, notification of which had originally been given in the November issue of the magazine.This had already prompted a response from two members with whom we had lost contact, one lapsed and one fully paid-up, so he felt that this is very encouraging.

Subscription rate for the Financial Year commencing 1st September 2014 The Treasurer said that we are getting to the situation where we are spending most of our subscription income on producing and distributing the magazine.

However, by managing the number of pages in the magazine, we could significantly reduce the cost of distribution, which may be the way to control it for the time being and it may not be appropriate to make any changes for next year. However, international postage costs are significantly higher again and it costs more than £10.00 per year just in postage to send the magazine abroad.

Other organisations do have overseas subscription rates, so that is also something that we should, perhaps, consider.The Secretary noted that a couple of overseas members do pay an additional amount each year entirely voluntarily, precisely because they recognise this to be the case. Keith Crawshaw went on to say that we have already decided to reduce the number of copies of the magazine that we send out free to new leavers from three copies to one copy, so this will also help. He went on to say that, despite our small loss this year, he would propose that we maintain the subscription rate at its current level of £10.00 per annum for 2014/15, since any change creates a lot of hard work and so shouldn’t be done until absolutely necessary. He suggested that we monitor the situation during this year, particularly in regard to overseas postage.There were no dissenters to this.

Election of President The Chairman proposed that Robert Lamb should be invited to continue as president of the Society. He was elected nem con.There were no President’s Remarks, due to his absence from the meeting.

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Election of Executive Officers for 2014 The Chairman then moved onto the election of Officers, going through the list of those who were nominated for office at the December meeting of the Executive Committee: Chairman Bryan Hopkinson Archivist Nich Briggs Vice-Chairman (Vacancy) Deputy Archivist Walter Raleigh Honorary Secretary Andrew Haigh HonoraryTreasurer Keith Crawshaw Ordinary Emily Briggs Media Editor Roger Dowling Committee Martyn Hicks Chaplain Rev Stuart Roebuck Members Maria Lijka School Representative Angela Melling Gerald Stead (NB Angela is unwell at the present time and unlikely to be filling the role of School Representative for some time,so we need to approach the school for someone who could help out in the meantime).

The nominated officers were all elected unanimously and Bryan Hopkinson then took the chair.

Any Other Business Date of next Executive Committee Meeting The Secretary asked that the date be fixed for the next meeting of the Executive Committee.The first Monday in February is the norm and Monday, 3rd February 2014 was agreed.

Quiz Evening Keith Crawshaw asked that the date be fixed for the Quiz Evening.Wednesday, 30th April 2014 was agreed.

Cricket Section RichardTaylor mentioned that the Cricket Dinner will take place on Saturday, 8th March 2014 in a private room at Grappolo’s restaurant.

Annual Dinner The Secretary read out an e-mail from John Sharp, asking that the Executive Committee consider holding the Annual Dinner at the school again next year. He said that his table and no doubt others thought that the arrangements this year were first class and gave the Committee a mega vote of thanks. He ended by saying that those members who make the pilgrimage back to Huddersfield, and Almondbury in particular, owe the good folk of the Executive Committee a huge debt of gratitude.

The Meeting closed at 8.44 p.m. and was followed by the customary pie and peas supper.

Opposite:Annual accounts presented by (Signed)_: A M Haigh (Honorary Secretary)

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N Briggs (Chairman); K Crawshaw (Treasurer); J A Swift (Independent Examiner)

I INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2013

2012

2759 1603 378 25 60 95 27 — 126 94 187

5354 2012

2012

Printing, Stationery & Postages: Magazines Printing 3149.45 Magazines Stationery/Postage1741.57 Other Stationery/Postage 234.51 5125.53 Jessop Prize 25.00 Young Old Almondburians’ Prizes 60.00 Sundry Expenses 117.00 Paypal Charges 36.32 Loss on Quiz Evening Supper 18.22 Loss on Annual Dinner 62.08 KJS Contribution: 400th Anniversary Gates — Excess of Income over Expenditure —

5444.15

1871 2065 250 110 523

13953

Subscriptions 5049.00 Transfer from Life Membership Account 21.75 Interest Received 99.26 Surplus on Sales of Prints 20.00 Surplus on Sales of DVDs — Surplus on Sales of Ties 7.34 Surplus on AGM Supper 0.83 Excess of Expenditure over Income 245.97

5354

5444.15

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST AUGUST 2013 2012

Accumulated Fund Balance at 1 Sep 2012 8802.19 Less Excess of Expenditure 8802 over Income 245.97 8556.22

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5245 22 82 — 4 — 1 —

18 Trophies 15 Stock of Ties 175 Stock of Prints Stock of ‘Morning Assembly’ Books 734.00 734 Less Sales 590.00

Life Membership Account Balance at 1 Sep 2012 332.31 Add Interest 2.82 335.13 Less Transfer to Income & Expenditure Account 21.75 313.38 KJS Development Fund Balance at 1 Sep 2012 1870.71 Add Interest 15.90 School Histories 10.00 KJS 400 Merchandise 141.50 Donation 100.00 2138.11 Pavilion Appeal Fund Balance 210.00 Net Annual Dinner Receipts in Advance 1040.63 Subscriptions in Advance 130.00 Sundry Creditors 493.98

12882.32

18.00 7.66 170.00 144.00

Life Membership Account 332 Nat West Bonus Saver Account 313.38

KJS Development Fund 1871 Nat West Bonus Saver Account 2138.11 Cash and Bank Balances National Westminster Bank: 10708 Bonus Saver Account 8577.09 53 Current Account 999.79 2 Paypal Account 479.41 45 Cash in Hand 34.88 10091.17

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13953

12882.32

SPECIAL REPORT: Part 1

Graham Gelder: his life—and death

Carl Goldsmith’s article ‘My friend, Graham Gelder’ in 2010 attracted a great deal of interest. The Almondburian looks further into the sadly foreshortened life of a former Head Boy of King James’s Grammar School

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N 19th December, 2013 a new Andrew Lloyd Webber Stephen Ward—the musical opened at the Aldwych Theatre in London. It was based on the real-life events of 1963 when socialite and osteopath Stephen Ward was famously involved in a visit to the Cliveden estate in Buckinghamshire by the War Minister of the day, John Profumo.There, Profumo had a dalliance with showgirl Christine Keeler who was also consorting at much the same time with Captain Yevgeny Ivanov, a Soviet naval attaché in London.

Initially, Profumo denied any impropriety but subsequently admitted that he had lied to Parliament.The events that followed rocked both the Establishment and the government of Harold Macmillan.Ward himself was accused of living on the proceeds of prostitution and in despair committed suicide.

The connection between the Stephen Ward affair and King James’s Grammar School is

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that the next occupant of Spring Cottage was the charismatic and hugely influential former KJGS pupil and Head Boy, Graham Gelder. Moreover, within three years of the suicide of Stephen Ward, Gelder also died under mysterious circumstances – a completely unexpected event that shocked his many friends and school associates.

In the March 2010 issue of The Almondburian, we published an unsolicited article about Graham Gelder by his school friend Carl Goldsmith. It included a veiled suggestion that Gelder’s death – officially ‘misadventure’ as a result of drowning while washing his hair – may not have been all that it seemed and that Gelder might have been deliberately drowned by an intruder yet to be identified.

Goldsmith was a successful solicitor who would no doubt have chosen his words carefully. Sadly, he died soon after the article was published.

The article aroused considerable interest amongst those who remembered Gelder. It also led some months ago to lengthy correspondence which has resulted in The Almondburian establishing contact with Gelder’s

son, who was born in April 1966, just before his father’s death a month later. Until the article in TheAlmondburian, his son knew nothing about his father and like us he is anxious to know more about him and his colourful but ultimately tragic life.

In this issue, we will be covering Gelder’s early years and in particular his prominent and extraordinary school career; in this we have been greatly helped by a number of his former school colleagues. In our July issue, we will explore further Gelder’s career after leaving school and in particular the strange events at Spring Cottage on the Cliveden estate fifty years ago.

successful in gaining a place at King James’s Grammar School.

In later years,Walter clearly decided to better himself and he made the big decision to become a publican. His pub was The Black Bull at Lindley, a lively ‘local’ about two miles from the centre of Huddersfield still doing good business today.This was Graham Gelder’s home at the time of his marriage in 1962.

Gelder’s grammar school career started modestly in 1947. Sport – in which he would excel in future years – was a nonstarter in his first year as he was still recovering from rheumatic fever and was banned from Games.“We used to pull his leg mercilously about this,” recalls Tony Copley who, with Carl Goldsmith, was to become one of Gelder’s closest schoolfriends.

Early days Graham Gelder was born on 3rd March 1936 in the Huddersfield Royal Maternity Home in Greenhead Road. He was the only child ofWalter andWinifred Gelder.Walter was a dyestuffs and chemical labourer and the couple lived at 3 Gorse Road, Marsh.

Later, the family moved to South Street and then toTownAvenue in Huddersfield town centre. It was no doubt of great satisfaction toWalter andWinifred when their son was

The rebel In fact, rather than concentrating on his studies, Gelder’s main preoccupation in his early years at School was to devise ways of rebelling against the system, often resulting in him getting into hot water.

The School Social Survey Society set up in 1951 was a typical Gelder wheeze. Privately, the aim of Gelder and his group was to devise a way of escaping from the school grounds at lunchtime in order to explore the pleasures of Almondbury village.Aided and abetted by Copley (who would become Honorary Secretary), they somehow persuaded Leonard Ash and Fred Hudson that they should set up a ‘Social Survey Society’ which 15

The Black Bull at Lindley, designated a listed building in 1978

Year 1949 1950

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1951-2 1952 1952-3

Event 2nd 1st

2nd 1st

1st 1st

1st 1st 1st 1st

1st

1st

1st

1st 2nd 2nd

1st

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100yds 220yds 440yds 880yds Mile Shot Discus Cricket ball High jump

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Missed School Sports: because of injury September: Appointed Deputy Head Boy

Gerald Stead

Awarded Victor Ludorum Represented Corps at National Cadet Sports at Uxbridge Awarded School Colours for Cricket September: Appointed School Prefect Ran half-mile leg for England ATC v Welsh, Scots and Irish ATC at Hampden Park, Glasgow (England 2nd in relay)

Best GCE ‘O’ level results in 5 alpha Soccer First XI goalkeeper most of season Air cadet in School ATC Corps

Mile handicap; one of the youngest entrants at Bradford Fifth Form Public Speaking: First Prize

Junior Mile winner in time faster than Senior Mile winner;

Soccer First XI goalkeeper until injury Finished 3rd in form

Chairman of Social Survey Society

Won Junior Chess Trophy

Junior Champion (second former against third former)

Notes/Other achievements

Graham Gelder’s Grammar School career in summary

School Sports v Hudds College

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School Sports

School Sports v Hudds College

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School Sports v Hudds College Bradford Junior Police Sports

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Sports 6th Form vSchool Hudds College

School Sports v Hudds College 6th Form Yorkshire Schools Senior Air Training Corps Sports

1954

6th Form School Sports

1953

1955

February: Appointed Head Boy Awarded Victor Ludorum again Awarded Cap and Colours for Cricket GCE ‘A’ level: Physics, Chemistry, Biology (distinction) Awarded Borough Scholarship

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Prefects in 1955 (back row, left to right): I S Clelland, R I Galloway, J Earnshaw,T A Blackburn, M Hoyle, P A Shaw (Front row, left to right): J M Binns, P Valder, Graham Gelder (Head Boy), Headmaster HarryTaylor, C S Goldsmith, M S Brigg, G Stead

would compile a booklet about the ‘social life ofAlmondbury’.It started well but sadly came to grief when one its members got a little too enthusiastic and started to interrogate an indignant shopkeeper about the level of her weekly takings. Word got back to HarryTaylor and the activities of the Social Survey Society were swiftly curtailed.

Another famous episode took place one snowy winter when Gelder organised an army of associates who prepared an enormous arsenal of snowballs with which to deliver a fusillade on unfortunate pupils making their way round the back of the school for the second sitting of school dinners. Following the subsequent high level enquiry, Gelder readily owned up and suffered the inevitable visit to Harry Taylor’s study for remedial punishment.

Another bright idea was to suggest to a few of his fellow pupils that they should set up a comb-and-tissue paper musical group which could entertain the local citizens.

Surprisingly, Copley reports that the idea got as far as a discussion with HarryTaylor but it is sad to record that the Headmaster did not think that the musical reputation of King James’s would be enhanced by the new Gelder initiative.

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The sportsman It was in sport that Graham Gelder really excelled, both in these early years and in the years that followed (see table opposite).There can be few King James’s pupils who have shown distinction over such a long period in so many different fields of athletics – he could turn his hand to field events such as shot and discus just as well as the track events in all distances.Twice he becameVictor Ludorum. In the Fifth Form, his time for the Junior Mile (4m 54s) was actually faster than the Senior Mile winner (5m 10s) – shades of his idol Derek Ibbotson who had left King James’s the year after Gelder arrived.

Chessmates: Gelder (centre) looks on as D H Anderson makes his next move and J M Binns studies the board

achieve third place in the 5 alpha examinations.

It was therefore with some surprise that his friends heard him announce one day that he had decided to become a doctor.

“We thought at first that it was another of Graham’s jokes,” saysTony Copley.

But Gelder was indeed intent on studying medicine and suddenly started to take his academic studies more seriously. The change of attitude was clearly noticed by Harry Taylor, whose previous encounters with the young Gelder had been less than encouraging. A perceptive Headmaster, Taylor had always sensed Gelder’s potential beneath the camouflaged image of popular showman. He now saw that he could utilise and manage Gelder’s talents to the full. In September 1954, when he was already Captain of Football and Captain of Siddon, Gelder was appointed Deputy Head Boy.A few months later, on the departure of J T Green to take up a Civil Service appointment, he became Head Boy. Graham Gelder took his GCE ‘A’ levels in 1955. His hard work paid off with a Distinction in Biology and passes in Physics and Chemistry.A Borough Scholarship enabled him to take up his further studies at the University of Sheffield. He was on his way.

As School and Siddon goalkeeper,he was regarded as a a leaping giant.“One memory is of him picking up the lace of the leather football with his teeth and running the length of the field unopposed to deposit it across the opposition goal line,”recalls John Dyson.

At cricket, he was a good First XI wicket-keeper and intelligent attacking batsman back in the days when the School played regular Saturday afternoon matches.

Away from the sportsfield Gelder had a first-class mind in addition to his athletic skills. Chess was very popular at the School thanks to the efforts of chessloving Senior Maths Master George Beach.

Gelder played endless noisy games with his soulmate Carl Goldsmith and both became members of Beach’s highly successful teams. In 1950, Gelder became Junior Chess Champion. Later, bridge began to replace chess in the Prefects’ Study.

In the Fifth Form, Gelder won the Fifth Form Public Speaking Prize and he also became an active member of the Jacobean Society for which his active and perceptive mind was well suited.

Gelder gets serious As we have noted, Gelder did not put his mind to much academic use in his early years at King James’s. His name does not appear at all in The Almondburian roll of honour until 1952, when he managed to

In our July issue: Graham Gelder becomes a doctor; and what really happened at Spring Cottage on the Cliveden estate in May, 1966.

The Almondburian would like to thank

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the following Old Almondburians for their contributions and memories:Ian Shaw,Tony Copley, Gerald Stead, David Anderson, Fred Shaw, David Earles and John Dyson.

Every picture tells a story

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The home of the man who helped to create King James’s Grammar School

HIS photograph was probably taken around 1880 when photography was still in its early days.The viewpoint is Westgate in Almondbury, opposite the Parish Church at the junction with Fenay Lane and Westgate. Just out of shot on the right is St Helen’s Gate and beyond, it down the hill, is King James’s Grammar School.

For over 400 years, pupils and masters must have passed this house or its successor – both known as the Pent House – on their way to and from School.

Few, if any, would have given it a second thought.

But they should, for this was the former residence of Robert Nettleton, one of the six governors – the ‘six honest men’ – who through the Charter from King James in 1608 were responsible for creating the School as we know it today.

The original house may have started life as a hostelry on what was then an important route from Wakefield, before Wakefield Road was built many years

later. It was sold by Queen Mary (15531558) to William Fenay and then passed into the ownership of Robert Nettleton, a notable local benefactor who set up the Nettleton Charity. Nettleton died in 1621.

The sign next to the upstairs window reads ‘Almondbury Local and Burial Board Office' with a finger pointing to the right-hand part of the building. Burial Boards were set up around the country 19

Continued on page 23

MEMORIES

But how modern everything is now!

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TONY CAPE (1963-1969)

An Old Almondburian living in the US is made welcome when he makes a nostalgic return visit to the School. He finds much to interest him.

HE midlife rites of divorce

to the Scottish Highlands in the mythical town in which I had grown up.

Regrettably, Old Mates were thin on the ground in late June, although the munificent Doug Norris loaned me his spacious Lascelles Hall quarters while he frolicked in the Canaries. I had taken the precaution of alerting the staff at King James’s School that we might drop by on the morning of Monday, July 1, lest, prowling around the grounds unannounced, we be mistaken for persons of nefarious intent.As if appeased, the guardian spirits of King James’s School welcomed me back with what felt like a most gracious, even loving gesture.

The first thing you notice when you return to the school after a long

and remarriage have their tribulations, but also happier, unexpected outcomes. In my own case, among these has been to learn that my early biography is fantastical and exotic. (What was the name of the town? Is that a real place? How old was the school you went to?). My second wife Karen grew up in Oregon and California, thus anything redolent of the Old World is necessarily quaint and remote.

The specifics of my own mid-century boyhood in Huddersfield, however, strike her as improbable, perhaps even fictional.Thus it was last summer, during our first trip to the U.K. together, that she insisted that we break our journey from London

Tony Cape (www.tonycape.com) played defensive midfield for the triumphant KJGS Second XI in the 1968-69 season, alongside such titans as Robert Beecroft and Charles Poole. He then attended Cambridge University and later worked as a journalist in Northern Ireland and suburban London. In 1977 he moved to the United States to study meditation and writing at Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. He has also lived in Vermont, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. He has taught writing at Bard College and Yale University and now teaches English and drama at Hartsbrook Waldorf School in Hadley, Massachusetts. He is the author of four works of fiction and a memoir Diamond Highway, published in 2013.

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absence is how modern everything is. An official car park (entrance on Arkenley Lane) awaits the visitor, usurping the land below The Bunk that was once a tangled warren and then, briefly, tennis courts.

The Bunk’s cinder-lined hell-track is now a gentle sward bearded with steps and handrail, which usher the visitor past the site of the (brutally supplanted) Belovéd Tree toward what I’ll call the Old School, for want of the correct term.

I then entered by the same Old Kitchen portal I used as a Sixth Former, no longer giving way to Dickensian gloom but to the sleek counters, glowing screens and Scandinavian furniture of The Administrators. If such modernity seemed foreign and disconcerting to me, the warm welcome of the current head teacher, Mr. Robert Lamb, was immediately familiar and reassuring. I was delighted to learn that he would convey us on this tour himself, and was not too busy with correspondence to sign or

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young men to flog.

First stop was the panelled glory of the ODH, which in my latter years had been appropriated as the Sixth Form Common Room.

Herein were still displayed some frippery and bunting from the 2008 celebration of the school’s 400th anniversary (which unfortunately I had to miss).

Imagine my thrill when one of the historical artifacts on show turned out to be the Jessop House Book (left) from the 1960s, for which house your correspondent was progressively cub reporter, minor athlete and eventually House Captain. This musty tome served to dispel any lingering doubts my spouse may have had that I had invented my whole story, and fortified my spirits in an important way for the next stop—the Gaffer’s study.

I must have been ushered into this ancient room and Harry Taylor’s august presence on many happy occasions. If so, all memory of them is lost. My knees buckled as I was propelled back through the decades to

The last names on the Dartmouth Medallists board: Tony Cape and his friend Martin Harrison

confront my adolescent, miscreant self, on the carpet yet again. Mercifully, I never suffered The Whack, although there were at least a couple times when I deserved it. These memories seized my heart and I must have turned quite pale. Mr. Lamb inquired jauntily whether I’d like to see the Gaffer’s bamboo cane—he keeps it as a souvenir. No, I pleaded. Can we keep going? It was the one place in the school I felt uncomfortable. As I tap the computer keys months later, my fingers tremble slightly.

Next stop was The Big, in my day the school library, fount of many happy memories, foremost among which are Jacobean Society meetings.

The reliable highlight was always the reading by the secretary of the previ-

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ous meeting’s minutes.These had nothing to do with an actual record of the event, and everything to do with scorching satire, usually directed at the brave masters who chose to be members.

Not that the jibes were all in one direction. I recall once reading a love poem to the assembly that contained the line: “I wallowed in her overwhelming presence.”

Harry Taylor commented that perhaps I ought to suggest my companion try a new deodorant.

Last time I visited the library, about twenty years ago, my best friend Martin Harrison and I were galled to discover that the board commemorating the winners of the Dartmouth Medal, the school’s academic prize, stopped in 1968, the year before we jointly won the last of these awards. I recall that we complained loudly at the time to Dave Bush and left the matter there. As the accompanying photograph confirms, the board was later updated to include our names! A pleasant surprise indeed.

I should apologize if my photographs seem a tad self-referential, but at the time I had no thought to memorialize the visit for this magazine.

That was the result of an injunction from Dave Bush, of which more later.

The tour continued past The Bogs

and along the corridor leading to the former(?) staff room and where detainees like me were regularly required to stand for up to an hour after school as punishment for misbehaviour. Mr. Lamb was clearly appalled by this practice, but I had an ace up my sleeve. In the old gym, which was also our performance space and morning assembly venue, I pointed out the spot where I was once floored by a right hook to the jaw by a particularly (to me) odious member of staff. I will say no more about this humiliating experience.

The truth is I loved my years at King James’s School and consider myself fortunate to have attended during the Golden Age before the successive waves of restructuring.

Thanking Mr. Lamb, I left that morning with a buoyant heart for the drive North and later wrote to Mr. Bush about my delightful visit. He suggested that I write an account for this magazine, and when I hesitated slightly, he added the kindly encouragement “Get it written!” Since I re-

gard resisting this guy’s admonitions as a matter of principle, I have held off for several months.

Which leads me to a final reflection. As is clear from his frequent jeremiads from his Welsh exile, Mr. Bush reads much of what he reads (and certainly everything I write) with a red pen poised to strike down any (perceived) errors of usage.The gall of the man! As a former writing instructor atYale University, I think I can claim to outrank the blighter in this department. Yet I continue to submit to such scrutiny with scarcely a whimper.

I am thus reminded that the pattern of relationships formed between teachers and adolescents remain ossified for life. No doubt these latest words of mine will suffer a similar fate. Quomodo faciam, magister?

(Postscript: Having been granted a preview of the above, the Sage of Porthcawl responded: “Optime fecisti, mi discipule abhinc annos multos!” and pointed out a couple of misspellings).

Every picture tells a story Continued from page 19

served as the surgery of Dr Harry Maffin, who himself attended King James’s Grammar School from 1894 to 1898.

The lady posing at the door on the left may be the wife of Mr Isaac Eyre who is known to be the occupier in 1882.

Although it was fortunately a sunny day, she would have received strict instructions to stand still to avoid blurring during the lengthy time exposure.

following the passing of the Burial Act in 1853 which enabled local parishes to administer their own cemeteries.

Part of Pent House was also used as a doctors’ surgery, and it was a Dr Draper who was responsible for demolishing the house in 1893 to make space for the present house (still known as ‘Pent House’) and for road improvements.

In more recent times, the house Our thanks to Huddersfield Library Local Studies

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A LIFE IN THE DAY

How languages became my life

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RUTH AINLEY (1979-1984)

“King James’s had three of the best possible language teachers who instilled in me a love of all things linguistic which gave me so many opportunities.”

’M an early riser. Most mornings I’m out of bed by 5.00 am and after a quick breakfast I’m soon on my computer. I find it’s a great time to catch up with emails and prepare for the day, with one’s mind nice and fresh.

The headmaster at the school where I work is another one who makes an early start so it’s not unknown for us to be exchanging emails soon after 6.00 am.

‘School’ is The Read School at Drax in North Yorkshire where I’ve been teaching since 2010. It’s a small independent boarding school which has a long history, like King James’s – we’ll be celebrating our 350th anniversary in 2017.

I started at King James’s in 1979, just three years

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after it had become a co-educational comprehensive school for the age group 13-18. I was always very keen on languages – how could I fail to be with Mr Gregson (French), Mr Field (German) and Mr Bush (Latin) as my teachers? I felt very privileged to be a member of a small group being taught by such enthusiasts.Alan Conley was headmaster and he encouraged me to “put all my eggs in one basket with languages” and they have been my life ever since.

After my ‘A’ levels, I had a gap year teaching English in Germany.

Then, encouraged again by Alan Conley, I managed to get a place at St Peter’s College, Oxford to study Modern Languages – French and German. I was actually the first girl from

Friends reunited: Ruth shares a few memories with her former German teacher Bob Field at the 2013 OAS Dinner

King James’s in 376 years to go to Oxford.

I haven’t always been a teacher. In fact, my father – himself a teacher – gave me no encouragement at all to follow in his footsteps. So after the gap year, my first unlikely job was with a small engineering company that specialised in online weighing systems for the poultry industry. I became marketing manager there and after three years they transferred me to their US branch in North Carolina.

That was the start of 13 wonderful years in the United States. I became marketing manager at Kay Chemical (part of Ecolab Inc) supplying speciality cleaning chemicals to the food industry.

I managed a global marketing team which gave me extensive globe-trotting opportunities to places as obscure as New Caledonia, Tahiti and New Brunswick. Never let it be said that French does not take you places!Then, in 2005, I was relocated back to Europe to look after business in 26 countries all over Europe. Having languages in my portfolio opened many doors for me.

In 2009 came a dramatic career change.To the incredulous reaction of my father (“You’ve got to be JOKING!”), I decided that I wanted to be a teacher after all. So I took a year’s

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sabbatical to re-train at the University of York to start all over again and become a teacher.

The Read School is much smaller than King James’s with around 250 pupils in the age group 3-18. It was Drax Grammar School until 1967 when, like King James’s, it faced the prospect of becoming a comprehensive but chose a different route by becoming independent.

The school was founded in 1667 through the will of local lawyer and philanthropist Charles Reade. Don’t ask me what happened to the‘e’ when it becameThe Read School – no-one seems to know! We’re delving into the early history of the school as part of our runup to the 350th anniversary, so we must look into that. King James’s is so lucky that its history has been so well recorded over the years.We also envy you your Old Almondburians’ Society which is a great way of keeping in touch with former school friends. That’s one reason why I enjoy theAnnual Dinner so much, and how pleasing it was to be back at the School for the 2013 dinner.

My life at Read School, where I am

The Read School in Drax was founded by Charles Reade in 1667.The school’s History Club is trying to track down the missing ‘e’.

Head of Key Stage 3 (age 11-14), is pretty busy. I’m also involved in the School Council, the History Club and the German Club. I also run a ‘Knit & Natter’ Club which I bet they don’t have at King James’s.

We’ve established a French exchange programme with a partner school in Bordeaux and we’re currently setting up work experience programmes for older pupils. I’m really pleased that one of my pupils has just received an offer from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, my first Oxbridge success, so I’m now hoping for many more.

I have a busy family life too, with husband Andy, children Hannah (15), Luke (11) and Mary (7), and a lively dalmation ‘Blue’. Luke and Mary both attend Read School. Poor Luke, having just startedYear 7, is having to get used to life with mum as his French teacher and Key Stage Head.

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As if that were not enough, I’ve recently launched my Linguacook project which combines my love of cooking and languages. The idea is to enable small groups of children from 5-17 to create their own culinary masterpieces while at the same time improving their language skills.The classes, in French, Italian and German, are held at school on Saturday mornings and are proving very popular.

I’ve always been keen on cooking and in what little spare time remains I like to go running to counteract the effects of the cooking. I also enjoy gardening and rock music.Andy and I also like to keep up to date with the latest good films at the cinema.

But I must confess that my idea of a perfect evening after a hard day’s work is to have a nice meal and a couple of glasses of wine.Then it’s a family joke that I will slump out on the sofa before, around 11.00 pm, dragging myself upstairs to bed.

There, I will stay awake for 30 seconds before embarking on happy dreams about the dramatic growth of Linguacook all over the world.

REVIEW

Vernon Scannell: walking wounded

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SUSPECT that the name of poet experience the bitter 1943 assault on and authorVernon Scannell will be Wadi Akarit where he was shocked by the unknown to many Old Almond- sight of fellow soldiers looting corpses, burians. If so, they will be in good com- both British and German. pany: the name was unknown to Vernon It is clear from Andrew Taylor’s acScannell himself for the first 20 years of count that Scannell’s often bizarre posthis life as he was born Vernon Bain, one wartime behaviour was the result of what of two sons of photographer James Bain. is now recognised as post-traumatic After a childhood in which the boys stress disorder. However, his writing lives came to hate their sadistic father – who on: he received the Heinemann Award used his leather strop less to sharpen his for Literature in 1961 and the Cholrazor than as an instrument of corporal mondeley Award for poetry in 1974. He punishment – he joined the army to serve was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society as John Bain. of Literature in 1960 and granted a Civil He was not a good soldier, having a List pension in recognition of his services total disregard for officialdom and mili- to literature in 1981. In 1987 he received tary discipline. HisWorldWar 2 wartime the ultimate accolade: he became a castcareer in North Africa was one of multi- away on BBC Radio’s long-running prople desertion. gramme Desert Island Discs*.

Still on the run, he acquired the name This is an outstanding book which once ofVernon Scannell from a friend who had started is not easy to put down. RD apparently himself obtained it from a *The recording can be heard on the BBC iplayer brothel-owner. There followed an ex- website at http://tinyurl.com/ngq9yav. traordinary life in which Scannell became WalkingWounded is one of five nominations for – at various times – a boxer, a brawler, a the 2013 Duff Cooper Prize for non-fiction writing. womaniser, a woman-beater and above all a dedicated poet.

WALKING It is an extraordinary tale, told by WOUNDED Old Almondburian AndrewTaylor with The Life and Poetry panache and with a considerable eye of Vernon Scannell for detail. Discovering the truth about by Vernon Scannell was clearly not an easy James Andrew Taylor task. Scannell often lied about his war Oxford University Press record, writing several moving poems £25 RRP $35 USA about the decisive 1942 battle of El ISBN 978 0 19 960318 3 Alamein, even though he didn’t arrive in North Africa until later. But he did 27

Farnley Lines

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DAV E BUSH

O the last of The Old Guard has gone to the celestial staff room.

Having spent some most enjoyable hours in Jim Toomey’s company in the summer and despite knowing that he was not in good health it was still a very sad moment when I heard of his death (obituary: page 36). Jim was my Head of Department when, freshfaced and enthusiastic, I arrived at King James’s in September 1961 to take up a full time appointment. (I had done some teaching practice there the previous year). I have to say I was in awe of him and of his colleagues – Addy, Beach, Anderson, Hudson et al. Jim was a true academic who, in his own words,‘did not tolerate fools easily’. He soon had me enrolled as Assistant Scout Leader and so through scouting and Latin we spent many hours in close proximity. He never shared my passion for football but loved his cricket. He did turn out for Parents V Scouts but tried to hit every ball to leg; I think he invented the ‘switch hit’ many years before Kevin Pietersen employed it. Over the years he seemed to mellow.

As Andrew Taylor so neatly put it, ‘he became a twinkly old gentleman’.

The New Old Guard With Jim’s passing, The Old Guard moves down a generation. To be a member one has to stay at King James’s for probably at least fifteen years and establish a reputation of some kind; at

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least those are my parameters. As I gaze at a staff list from the early ’60s I am somewhat alarmed to realise that Jack Taylor and I are the only ones who qualify for this distinguished club.There’s Roland Wearing, Dick Knight, Ray Bishop and Peter Bacon but they were short stayers. I have no means of knowing even if they are still alive. I have regular contact with Peter Heywood 1st (French) but he did not fulfil the time qualification. So Jack, let’s hope – as numbers 10 and 11 – we can hang around the crease for a little longer.You certainly had plenty of experience in that position.

Now he did not boost my confidence when I heard that he had had a heart attack. I nearly had one when I received the news. Jack ‘Peter Pan’ Taylor, The Marcher-over-the Moors, the Runnerup-Red Hill. Impossible… but true. I gather he was voted Calderdale Hospital’s ‘Worst Patient of the Year’ as such an active man hated being confined to a hospital bed. I was delighted to be able to spend three precious hours with him before driving over to Almondbury for the Annual Dinner and even more delighted to see him clearly making an excellent recovery. Equipped with pace maker and stents and strengthened by regular rehab sessions he looked encouragingly well. He was sad not to make the Dinner but is determined to be there in 2014.

Police apprehend Halifax tearaway Which reminds me: the most sensational news and I nearly forgot it.

My dear friend Jack is not the speediest of drivers. It is rumoured that he broke his journey to visit us in Porthcawl with an overnight stay in Tamworth; that he has been seen stopping before mounting the speed humps in Almondbury village; and that his grandchildren say, “Granddad passed a bus this morning; it was parked.” With this background imagine my shock when Jack informed me he has had a speeding fine. I can only presume that he was travelling steeply downhill with a howling gale following. Never mind, Jack, your street cred has rocketed.

between School and Society. I believe she is making a steady recovery. Let’s hope she too is at the 2014 Dinner in November. I hear that our former colleague Marjorie Faragher is keen to attend and I am optimistic she might gather some of her vintage around her

Annual Dinner and Founders’ Day I felt that returning the Dinner to the school was an outstanding success. The meal was so superior to those at the McAlpine/Galpharm/John Smith’s Stadium – it may well have changed its name again by the time this appears (can’t we just say ‘Leeds Road’?).The speeches were brief and well delivered and the general atmosphere so convivial. Those present must feel such gratitude to those who had the courage to make the move. I know Roger Dowling, Andrew Haigh and in particular ChrisWest were prime movers.

I was very impressed by Headteacher Robert Lamb’s review of his ten years down St Helen’s Gate. Initially I was shocked when in his blunt Lancastrian tone he described the school on his arrival as‘a dump and in need of a cull of staff’. However, he was proved correct as borne out by exam results, the school’s being vastly oversubscribed and above all by the décor. I accompanied Andrew Haigh in another of his KJ roles, this time as Chief Locker Up, on a post prandial tour of the whole site. If you have not been round the

Angela makes good progress Another notable absentee from the Dinner was Angela Melling who had suffered a stroke the day before Autumn Term began.A real shock, for my abiding picture of Angela is of a young, bouncy and enthusiastic teacher doing so much at such a pace. She has contributed enormously to KJS over many years and has been an excellent ‘liaison officer’

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On the mend:Angela Melling and Jack ‘Stirling Moss’Taylor

Catching up with the gossip at the Dinner: Nicky Green, Richard Green amd Walter Raleigh with former school secretary Doreen Hinchliffe

old place recently then make the effort to do so. I wrote to Robert to say I would give the school an Ofsted Inspection ‘Outstanding’ on appearance alone. I have suggested that if the Dinner is held at the school again next year then would it not be great if, from say 5.00 pm onwards, senior pupils could conduct those attending on guided tours? Perhaps these guides could then stay on as guests at the dinner.

The only matter which, I feel, does need a rethink is the clearing away and locking up. I shall not mention names for fear of omitting somebody but I was most impressed by that small group who stayed on to clear tables, stack chairs and generally restore order. ‘Optime fecistis!’ As Andrew and I swung the last barrier into position across the Old KitchenYard it was 1.15am.

This perhaps was why the following morning we missed the departure of the party making the traditional walk up the

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hill to the church. By the time I reached the top of St Helen’s Gate I was somewhat breathless. The pupils now whisked away by fleets of buses cannot appreciate that those who spent seven years at KJGS made that uphill slog around 1,400 times. My breath was almost taken away again when I entered the church and saw the excellent attendance. A school choir, parents, many Old Almondburians and a service beautifully led by Chaplain Stuart Roebuck made for a memorable occasion.We can and must build on this.

Just time to be wished “Good Morning” by writer Joanne‘Chocolat’ Harris at the top of Sharp Lane, lunch chez les Haigh (NB no ‘s’, editor) and a long but smooth run back to Porthcawl. How many more years can we make this trip? This year’s was certainly worthwhile.

My next exotic trip is only eight weeks away and there could be an Old Almondburian connection. Be patient!

Annual Dinner/Founders’ Day

A

GREAT SUCCESS! That seemed to be the general )verdict on the 2013 Annual Dinner which returned to the School after several years at the former Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield.The dinner marked the 100th anniversary of Taylor Dysons’s arrival at the School in 1913 and the arrival of present Head Teacher Robert Lamb ten years ago.

Addressing over 100 Old Almondburians and guests, Robert Lamb said that the School – now an Academy – was on the crest of a wave.

“In July 2002, I had one of the best birthday presents of my life – I was appointed head teacher of King James’s School”, he said. “It was the kind of job you dreamed about. So when the job was advertised I just had to apply. I came to look at the school and as soon as I saw it I fell in love with it. I have been the Headteacher now for ten years and I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of it.

“It has been a great ten years with so many memories and so many crucial landmarks. Achieving Science College

OAS chairman Nick Briggs presents Robert Lamb with a framed print to mark his 10 years as head teacher

Status – and the extra finance it brought – allowed us to develop our science facilities and give us the best Science and Mathematics departments in the area.

Five years ago we celebrated the school’s 400th anniversary with a Royal Visit, a great fireworks display and a BBC Radio 4 broadcast of Any Questions live from the School – all bringing positive publicity.

And now we have Academy status, a vital move which has guaranteed the long term future of the school.

“Throughout the period the reputation of the school has grown.We used to have spare places but now we are bursting at the seams and are the most oversubscribed school in Huddersfield.

Our GCSE results which were once‘iffy’ to say the least are now consistently in the top three in the whole of Kirklees.”

Other speakers at the Dinner, on 23rd November, included former Old Almondburians’ Society chairman

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Michael Dyson, Ron Edwards, Graham Cliffe and present Head Boy Daniel Stalmach. Former pupil Rebecca Addy also gave an account of her expedition to Nepal, for which she had been awarded a £1,000 bursary by the Society.

A warm tribute was paid to ChrisWest who, with Andrew Haigh, played a large part in organising the Dinner.

Bible readings, underlining the belief that how we treat one another is of supreme importance.

The highlight of the Service was the participation of current students of the School. Head boy Daniel and Head girl Emma read Bible passages, and music master Ben Wilson kindly brought excellent soloists on violin and piano, plus a choir of about 15 of his students who sang in the Service. It was an encouraging sign that the School’s musical tradition is alive and well.

As the Service progressed we remembered our School Founders, prayed for sick friends and followed the tradition of singing ‘For all the Saints’, the School Song and the National Anthem.

We are grateful to all who helped to make the Founders’ Day Service such a happy occasion, including the Church organist and members of his choir and those who provided tea and biscuits afterwards.

Same time, same place, next year?

OAS Chaplain Stuart Roebuck writes: The annual Founders’ Day procession and service took place on 24th November.

It was decidedly Novemberish – dull, cold, beginning to rain – as about 60 Almondburians gathered at All Hallows on the last Sunday of the month for the annual Founders’ Day Service. By contrast, however, the Church inside was warm, bright and cheerful, as was the welcome from the Rev. Dennis Handley and churchwarden Mrs. Hilary Pollard.

The theme of the Service was to reflect on what lies at the heart of real religion, aided by appropriate hymns and

SUDOKU

3 9 5 2 3

Difficulty: medium

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

4 8 32

2 8 6 1

7

6

4 3 6

1

6 3 8

9

7

5 3 2

Top table guests – Back Row (left to right): Brian Stahelin (Chairman of Governors), Robert Lamb (Headmaster), Richard Brewster (Head of Geography, Greenhead College), Rev. Dennis Handley (Rector,All Hallows Church,Almondbury).

Front Row (left to right): Jack Medley-Hill (Deputy Head Boy), Daniel Stalmach (Head Boy), Emma Appleyard (Head Girl), Megan Taylor (Deputy Head Girl),Ann Walker (Daughter of Fred Hudson), Rebecca Addy (Bursary Winner).

OAS Dinner 2013

Pictures: Andrew Haigh

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Clockwise from top: Robert Lamb addresses OAS members and guests; Rebecca Addy tells Roger Dowling more about her expedition to Nepal; Graham Cliffe updates members on the pavilion project: Michael Dyson shares a memory of Taylor Dyson; OAS Chairman Nick Briggs welcomes members and guests; Head Boy Daniel Stalmach responds to a toast Photos: Andrew Haigh

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PAV I L I O N

We get the green light – official

MARTYN HICKS

W

It’s taken a long time, but we’ve finally received planning approval from Kirklees Council to demolish the old pavilion and erect its replacement HEN I walk around HuddersfieldTown Centre I am often struck by the bravery and vision of previous generations of borough architects supported by a strong and influential Ramsden family. Need a Town Hall? Bish, bash, bosh and four years later there it is. Need a railway station? Kazam! …and it’s done.

Move forward in time.Almondburians submitted plans for a Pavilion in May 2013 and none of the locals objected. Kirklees Tree Man offered a few comments and Bat Survey Man sought but could not find a bat.

Eight months later we were still chasing a decision.After chasing, cajoling and almost threatening we can finally announce that full planning permission has been granted So we are up and running. Graham Cliffe and I presented the vision to the great and the good of King James’s School governors, a meeting that was long overdue and was pre-judged by an interesting game of Chinese whispers suggesting that the School was perhaps cooling towards the project.But it’s good to talk and the governors came through with a 14-0 vote confirming their support for the project.

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So an appeals committee is in the process of being formed; but first we are in an information-gathering phase.We are contacting The Football Foundation and Sport England to arrange informal pre-bid onsite meetings before submitting formal bids for financial assistance.

Early signs are good: we have security of tenure, a supportive governing body and a substantial financial commitment already in place – three positive steps and therefore three boxes ticked, which many applicants cannot claim.

Funding for sport in 2014 is all about ‘increasing participation’. and it is to this we must swing the spotlight and address in a positive light.We must also assess the possibility that Almondbury may have an ‘oversupply of facilities’; it hasn’t, but we need to prove the case.

Meanwhile coming up the rails is a funded geological survey which will investigate whether the upslope at the top half of the ground can be eliminated to produce a level playing field …literally.The survey will be carried out in the near future.

So, we progress slowly yet thoroughly – steadily and with purpose.

O B I T UA RY

Jim Toomey: a master of Latin

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JimToomey died at the age of 84 in October.A superb teacher who also played a leading role in scouting at King James’s Grammar School,he will be sadly missed

ITH great sadness we record the death of former Latin master Dr Jim Toomey on 6th October 2013, after a long illness.

Jim Toomey came to King James’s in 1953. He had studied at Manchester University where he had taken a BA degree in Latin withAncient Greek andAncient History.This was followed by teacher training and two years of National Service, first as an infantryman and later running the education centre at Catterick.

It was at Manchester that he met his wife

Betty, who was reading Latin and English.

They married in 1952 and went on to have 11 children – six girls and five boys. Born in Redcar, he was himself one of a family of eight.

JimToomey was a‘no-nonsense’ type of teacher who controlled his class effortlessly by demonstrating his complete mastery of his subject. He also became a Form Master, and many Old Almondburians will remember him requiring each pupil in turn to chalk up a slogan for the day – in Latin, of course – before he arrived to commence registration.

46th Huddersfield Scouts and Senior Scouts in 1967.

Back row (left to right): M J Warwick, D Hames, M R Longley, He also took a keen inC R Stanley, D Moorhouse,A C Partridge, S H Moorhouse, terest in Scouting, runJ M Cook,A Torbett, R D Jenkinson, R A Brook, B Heppenstall, ning the Scout Troop K M Conroy, J T Beever Middle row:A K Brook, J H Cole, I S Hinchliff, M H Sellens, (46th Huddersfield) for R E Partridge.A K Marshall,A Swales, G L Sykes, DTaylor, some years, initially with M Ward, M J Wood, M J Taylor, J H Maloney Front row: N A Mann, P A Cook, D Maner, M V Sykes, Dave Bush, Bill Rennison and later Jim Toomey,A R Trueman,A R Cape, H A C Harkness, with Dave Bush.

R D Beecroft A keen archaeologist, Jim Toomey was a founder member and secretary of the Huddersfield and District Archaeological Society. He directed excavations at Castle Hill and other locations including the Roman fort at Slack.

He also continued his academic studies, and in 1966 was elected to a vis36

iting Fellowship at and followed the forClare College, Camtunes of Yorkbridge. There, he reshire with great searched and lectured interest. He also on the plays of Euripibecame an enthusides. astic member of Jim Toomey left King Worcestershire County James’s Grammar School Cricket Club.As his eyein 1968 to become sight failed during the past Deputy Head and teach year, he became a keen lisLatin at ColneValley High School.Then, in tener on the radio.

1970, he moved to the Midlands to take up Jim was also an avid writer of the post of Deputy Head of Bromsgrove letters to TheTimes, and his wit and erudiCounty High School, a grammar school of tion resulted in a particularly high success over 1,000 pupils. He taught a very large rate. His last letter, published on 11th June, sixth form and administered the school as described how he smoked a pipe while he – like King James’s – it became a compre- was at Manchester University which forhensive. However, he never lost his affec- tunately gave an adequate air of glamour tion for King James’s and was in recent and maturity to attract the attention of his years, as a long-time member of the Old future wife.

Almondburians’ Society, a frequent conThe involvement of Jim and Betty in the tributor to The Almondburian.

Catholic lay community was central to He retired in 1989, only to commence their lives. He was a founder member of work on a new project: to study and trans- the Kidderminster Circle of the Catenian late medieval documents relating in partic- Association – an international body of ular to the manor and parish of Hanley Catholic laymen – and was President in Castle inWorcestershire.This work earned 1992-3 and again in 2007-8. He was also a him a PhD from Birmingham Eucharist Minister and lay University in 1997; his book reader, and was Chairman of on the subject was published the Parents’ Association of Sir, In the late 1940s there was an inby the Worcestershire ArHoly Trinity Convent flux of ex-Servicemen into the universities, who often became chaeological Society in 2001.

School where Betty taught teachers, especially in grammar schools, which had struggled to At the time of his death, he for ten years and where find staff during the war (report, June 7; letter, June 10). Alongwas awaiting the proofs of a some of his daughters were side the men from the Services those like myself, who further academic work involv- were educated. went up straight from school, doing National Service later. A ing medieval Latin documents: He will be very sadly disadvantage for us was that women students preferred the the account book of the Duke missed by his family and his older men with the glamorous past.

Thankfully my future wife of York and future King many friends.

thought I must be former Service since with all the affectation of HenryV.

A 2006 interview with callow youth I smoked a pipe.

J. P. Toomey JimToomey can be heard at Outside work, Jim Toomey Dr Stourport on Severn, Worcs http://tinyurl.com/kvghsaq had a lifelong passion for cricket 38

OA S QU I Z

A history of Almondburian quizzing

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KEITH CRAWSHAW (1964-1971)

The current quizmaster reviews the history of the annual OAS Quiz which was inaugurated in 1978.

INE different names appear on the Almondburian Quiz Trophy (right), first played for 36 years ago. The Staff team took the honours then and, although their support has not been so committed over recent years, they hold the record for the most victories with nine. All the winners of the 34 tournaments to date are as listed overleaf.

Whilst the quiz has always essentially been for Almondburian-related teams of three players, there have been changes to the venue, style of evening and quizmaster over the years as required.

The inaugural competition took place at School on 13th April 1978 with just three teams (OAS, School and Staff).The quizmaster, who described himself in his minutes as the ‘new Bamber Gascoigne’ was our then Secretary, John Cole. Tea and biscuits were provided. A similar format followed for the next eight years, although Jack Stott and John Drewery took over as joint quizmasters in 1983. By 1986 up to six teams were regularly competing.

The idea of broadening the appeal of the event by having refresh-

ments and including such things as picture and music rounds was being considered.The result was that for the next four years the evening was held in the gym with the teams on the stage and the parents organising supper and running a bar.

First came an inter-house competition

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Year

1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Winner Staff Staff OAS OAS OAS OAS OAS OAS

Staff Staff OAS

Staff

Year

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Winner Staff OAS

Staff

Football Staff

Badminton Staff

Football

Badminton

OAS Ladies

No competition Cricket

between teams of pupils followed by the usual Almondburian tournament after the break. Quizmasters and question setters included Dave Bush, Mike Thornton, Pat Reid and Clive Watkins. Coincidentally the staff team performed extremely well during this period!

With the parent group less involved, in 1991 the Society was back running the evening with a small bar in the Resource area. Buzzers, which had been introduced in 1989, were used for some rounds. I took over as quizmaster and Francis Bareham’s famous slides made their debut.

For the next 5 years the main‘question’ seemed to be whether to provide refreshments, whether people should bring their own refreshments or whether not having refreshments would encourage competitors to answer quicker to give more time in theWoolpack.All options were tested.

In 1997 the decision was taken to move the competition to the Clothiers Arms at Stocksmoor.This created a better atmosphere, enhanced by a pie and pea supper, and the event remained there for two more years.

There was no play in 2000 (per2002 No competition haps due to the mil2003 OAS lennium bug) but in 2004 Badminton 2001 we moved to 2005 Cricket the Woolpack where 2006 OAS more of our 2007 Cricket younger members 2008 Cricket attended and we 2009 1970s had an excellent 2010 Football buffet supper. After 2011 1970s missing 2002 there 2012 1970s was a top atten2013 1970s dance of 30 in 2003.

The following year saw Francis Bareham’s slide round for the last time due to his age and failing eyesight. Since most competitors were not as well travelled as he was, identifying the locations often proved extremely difficult but provided great entertainment and is sadly missed.

The competition moved from the Woolpack to Almondbury Conservative Club in 2009 and is our current home.

In each post-quiz review the recurring theme of comments in the Society’s minute books, newsletters and magazines over the years has been of disappointing attendances and members promising to bring teams which never materialised. Yet, as can be seen, the evening has built up an interesting history and continues to be enjoyed by those who regularly attend.

As I start to prepare questions for the 22nd time for this year’s competition on Wednesday, 30th April 2014 at 7.30 pm at Almondbury Conservative Club please give your support to maintain the tradition of this established event in our calendar.

Year

40

Winner

Football

MARTYN HICKS

I

Bad weather spoils our early season and our Reserves struggle

T’S rained.We have YORKSHIRE AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 2 TABLE not played a single Played W D L F A GD PTS game since mid-De13 10 2 1 44 18 26 32 Colton Institute cember.We are frustrated.

10 7 2 1 27 13 14 23 The First XI were flying Almondburians 10 7 1 2 43 19 24 22 Grangefield OB Res along and had pulled out a 9 13 7 0 6 27 24 3 21 Old Modernians Reserves point lead at the top of 11 6 2 3 33 24 9 20 Middleton Park Division 2, but Beeston 15 5 5 5 34 27 7 20 Amaranth Crossgates Reserves of Leeds in an 11 6 0 5 33 28 5 18 Huddersfield YMCA attempt to rid their club of 11 6 0 5 35 34 1 18 Woodkirk Valley an unruly element (are not 12 4 3 5 32 35 -3 15 all Leeds teams made up in a Leeds Medics & Dentists IV similar vein?) folded their Woodhouse Moor Methodists 13 3 3 7 20 35 -15 12 First XI which meant their Gilderstone Spurs OB III 15 4 0 11 35 55 -20 12 Reserves had to take on the St Bedes AFC Res 14 3 1 10 19 56 -37 10 fixtures of that team in a Bainbridge 12 2 1 9 20 34 -14 7 higher division.

Sad but true, what does it mean to us? deducted, two Saturdays wasted and our We had beaten them home and away rivals suddenly enthused by what looked earlier in the season, our rivals had not to them like a shortening of the gap.We played them and at the league meeting it need to play.

The Reserves although strong are was confirmed that these fixtures would be null and void. Result: six points suffering a little from not coping with 41

the standard required in a YORKSHIRE AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 3 TABLE higher division following Played W D L F A GD PTS their promotion last Ealandians Res 18 10 4 4 64 43 21 34 season. Division 3 is Morley Town AFC Res 17 11 1 5 56 36 20 34 actually not really that FC Headingley Res 17 10 3 4 40 40 0 33 much more of a challenge 16 10 2 4 40 30 10 32 Old Batelians Res than Division 4, but some 19 9 3 7 53 43 10 30 Norristhorpe opposition players are that 12 8 2 2 37 23 14 26 Middleton Park Res bit more experienced than 13 7 3 3 52 26 26 24 Wheelwright OB last season. Worryingly, it 14 6 2 6 34 30 4 19 Heckmondwike GSOB seems to be a very direct 13 5 3 5 28 23 5 18 Almondburians Res style of football and no 15 4 2 9 33 49 -16 14 Old Modernians III amount of passing seems to 14 3 3 8 29 45 -16 12 stem the sight of a robust Thornesians Res 17 3 3 11 29 45 -16 11 Colton Institute Res launch of the ball which 16 4 0 12 22 51 -29 11 Calverley United Res always seems to land at the 17 3 1 13 31 64 -33 10 foot of an opposition East Ardsley Wanderers striker. He then gleefully relishes the quickly. Relegation is unlikely but freedom of being unmarked with only promotion is disappearing over the the keeeper to beat. We need to learn horizon.

Cricket

JACK TAYLOR

W

Winter nets are now under way plus new rules in the League

HILST the cricket ground at Arkenley has been dormant since midSeptember last season, much planning has gone into preparations for next season. Our groundsman, Steve Fletcher, has informed the committee of his intention to improve the quality of the square by adding loam and seed in early spring. Meanwhile, enquiries are being made to secure a heavier

42

roller, to ensure better wicket preparation.

Winter nets, involving twelve sessions, are under way at ‘Total Indoor Cricket Solutions’ at Thongsbridge, having commenced on 9th January. The practice sessions are on Thursday evenings, 8.00 to 9.00 pm, using two lanes, one with a bowling machine.

There has been a good attendance

has been expressed by Old Almondburian Jonathan Haydock, former Almondbury Wesleyan player.

Our previous Junior teams were successfully pioneered by current players Steve Slack, David Clutterbrook and Tom Cliffe, now at Hall Bower. Further liaison with the School would, hopefully, result from this development.

The club Presentation Evening will be held on Saturday, 8th March 2014 at ‘Grappolos’ restaurant, Lockwood, 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. In a break from tradition, established post-season 1976, there will be a new, less formal, event in deference to the younger players. There will be no after dinner speakers or guest entertainment; the emphasis will be on the presentation of prizes in recognition of player performances in Shame about the haircuts: this is the Staff Cricket team of 1974, the season 2013. precursor of the OAS CricketTeam set up two years later.

(Left to right) back row: Keith Crawshaw, Dave Bush, Bob Field,Alan Hopefully the Thomas Andrew Krusinski, Dave Gregson; front row: John Eaton, Jack coming year will Taylor, MikeThornton,Alan Conley, Gerry Busby see further progress in the realisation of a new pavilion at Arkenley.

OACC founder member and still current player Graham Cliffe spoke at the OAS Dinner to update Almondburians on the details of the current planning application.

in the first couple of weeks, auguring well for a positive start to the season in April.

Our league representative, John Clutterbrook, has informed the committee of two major rule changes, agreed at the League AGM, to operate in the coming season: 1. There will be no Sunday fixtures in 2014.

2. A new points system will operate for league matches: 10 points for a win, 1 bonus point for scoring 125 runs, plus one point for every 25 runs thereafter.

In addition, a rule was passed that umpires shall be the sole arbiters for decisions on light.

There is a possibility that OACC Junior cricket may be revived. Interest

43

Golf: Gothard Cup

A

SIMON RU SSELL

A successful 2013 Gothard Cup – and we look forward to 2014

fter the disaster of the bad a top professional and Ryder Cup weather of 2012 which wrote player.

Who were the others I hear you off so many planned events ask. They were including our own Robert Newsome, Gothard Cup,it was now a well estaba pleasure to arrive lished teaching proat a stunningly fessional in beautiful WoodG e r m a n y, D a v i d some in early July Parry,still a Gothlast year for our ard regular, and twelfth event since Carl Godfrey. If restarting back in anyone knows the 2002. whereabouts of A good turnout Carl please pass it of 20 players all enon to me. joyed a wonderful The 2014 event afternoon and has now been evening,culminatbooked for 27th ing with an excelJune at Woodsome, lent dinner at the tee reserved 3.30 club.

Gothard Cup winner: Richard Brown pm to 4.30 pm.

Richard Brown Please contact me soonest if you was the winner with 38 points winning would like to participate. My contact by two from Robin Merchant.

It should be no surprise that numbers have changed recently so Richard,already a past winner,won here they are: Tel: 01484 685365 again this year as he was one of the Mobile: 07946211169 KJGS Gang Of Four who represented Email: sarussell153@btinternet.com.

Yorkshire Schools in 1971.Throughout Any non-golfers who would like to that year they played many of the main county teams as well as other county enjoy the dinner and of course great schools,even competing against repartee are welcome at just the cost Howard Clark, then England Boys of the dinner which is around ÂŁ20 for

Champion who of course went on to be three superb courses.

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Postbag

YO U WRITE …

Dinner at School was more enjoyable than at stadium

P

From: Stuart Thompson (1949-1956) LEASE could you pass on my sincere thanks to all concerned with the extremely successful OAS Dinner that I attended on Saturday?

The people to whom I spoke were unanimous in their opinion that the event was far more enjoyable than the last few at the Stadium.We had more opportunity to chat with old friends, the food was excellent, and the speeches were expertly delivered and of appropriate length.

One minor point for improvement – the Founders’ Day Service was advertised as starting with assembly in BigTreeYard at 10.30 am. I arrived at around 10.1510.20 and was disappointed to find the car park used on the previous evening was locked. Eventually I drove beyond the cricket field to a point where the road was wide enough to park without causing an obstruction. I decided that I would be too late to join the procession if I went back down to the School, so I made my way to the Church via Sharp Lane.

45

After an inspiring Service, I had coffee in the Church facilities and returned to my vehicle. I drove down to the crossroads, turned left up St Helen’s Gate and noticed that the gates of the main car park were now open, and cars were leaving. Perhaps next year, the magazine could include slightly more detailed instructions about the car parking arrangements?

Our group made an effort to identify persons included in the 1954 school trip photograph in the last issue (see below).

Back row, seventh from left: John Earnshaw Back row, ninth from left: Could be Robert Lee (class of ’49, lived towards the lower end of Somerset Road, below Longley Road) or Peter Shaw (Class of ’48, who

Smith, who, because of his initials, was usually referred to as JAS, pronounced JAZZ) Ringed, below Godfrey Bedford: Myself.

Cheadle, Cheshire

lived near the top of Fenay Lane and became a medic) Back row, fourth from right: Godfrey Bedford Back row, third from right: JA (Tony)

M

My Dad’s 1954 school trip to France

From: Nick Addy (1955-1963)

Y thanks to John Bradley for the photo of the 1954 French trip to Annecy in The Almondburian, and for his interesting memoir and the nice things he says about my Dad’s teaching.

For anyone who's interested, here is some more information about some of the people in the photo (see opposite).

Front left, next to the French coach driver, is Joyce Thomas, wife of Chemistry master Jack, who is in the back row next to Frank Anderson. Joyce at the time taught Biology at Greenhead. The Thomases were great friends of my parents and quite often accompanied the French holiday groups. Jack was a tremendous personality, clever, witty and enormous fun to be with. He had suffered horribly as a prisoner of war, undergoing privations and punishments which were to wreck his health for ever.

Some time after this holiday, the Thomases relocated to Chester, where again they both taught in grammar schools. However, they did not settle happily, and Jack’s health seriously deteriorated. Their return to Huddersfield, where they had bought a bungalow in Bradley Road, coincided with a temporary vacancy at A.G.S. in the Science Department, and Jack for a

46

time was able to resume his former post as Chemistry master. Sadly, his rapidly developing multiple sclerosis was soon to make teaching an impossibility.

Joyce, meanwhile, continued to teach in Chester, doing a horrendous daily commute, driving herself from Huddersfield and back, years before the trans Pennine motorway was even a gleam in McAlpine’s eye. Fortunately, she obtained an alternative post in Huddersfield, at St. Gregory's (now amalgamated into All Saints), very close to their new home.

Next to JoyceThomas in the photo is our dear friend Susan (Hirst, in those days), who lived at Clough Ings Farm in Lumb Lane (on your right, just before the Dancing Oaks, as you slogged up towards the Molly Carr on the senior cross country course). Sue would have celebrated her fifteenth birthday on the Annecy holiday. She and my sister were, and remain, great chums. Sue had two older brothers, who were both exA.G.S. Next to Susan, in the middle of the photo, is my sister, Judy (for 51 years, now, Judy Winkworth, married to Robin, living in beautiful Shropshire).

At the time of this photo, Judy was just fifteen. From childhood, she often went

a huge worry, especially the Underground and Metro crossings of London and Paris from one mainline station to another, and the inherent difficulties of keeping everyone corralled together in the terrifying, cavernous unfamiliarity of the night ferry. Nobody, to my knowledge, was ever lost or left behind.

I was lucky indeed in my rich inheritance of my father’s vast knowledge of, and love for, French language and culture.Wherever we went in France, he always knew, or seemed to know, exactly the way we ought to be going; and wherever we were, he nearly always seemed to know somebody local to engage in lengthy conversation on any number of topics, but predominantly viticulture.

My thanks again to John Bradley for sharing, and reawakening, some fond memories. I’m so pleased to know that his grounding in Modern Language at A.G.S. had such impact on his professional success. It is both rewarding and humbling to know that in his 38 years at the school my father’s teaching must have similarly influenced so many of his students in so many various fields.

Mirfield,WestYorkshire

with Dad and ‘the boys’ on the French holidays, usually accompanied by one or other of her friends or cousins. It is extraordinary today to think that the girls slept in the open dormitory among all those boys, and nobody, as far as I know, ever raised an eyebrow or gave it a second thought.

We returned to Annecy in 1960, staying in the same boarding school as in John Bradley’s memoir and photograph.

We visited the same impressive places as John mentions. My friend MartinThornton and I wrote a piece about the lovely holiday for the school mag in the autumn of that year.

In my years as a teacher, I organised and escorted so many excursions and holidays for youngsters both at home and abroad, but all with the relative ease of coach travel. Nearly all the travel on my father’s foreign holidays was, on the other hand, on public transport, albeit with all tickets and seat reservations etc arranged in advance through Stanton’s Travel Agents in JohnWilliam Street. For my Dad, getting all the party safely from Huddersfield Station to the French destination and back again, must have been

I

A few more names for that photograph

From: Gerald Stead (1948-1956)

can add a few more names. On the back row, the first six are J R Telfer, C Heeson, David Cliffe, Stuart Ramsden, G Maude and David Hirst. Then, after David Earnshaw, are B Wadsworth, Peter Shaw, Stephen Coward, Peter Clarke, Jack Thomas, Dennis Oliver, Frank Anderson, God-

47

frey Bedford, J A Smith and Michael Thomas.

On the front row in addition to those already identified, the picture also shows Charlie Beresford, M Dodd, David Matthews, Zarko Garkovic, Chris Noden and J N Christie.

Huddersfield,WestYorkshire

R

Teak’s paintings are rediscovered

From: Craig Gray

ECENTLY my mum (Anne Gray) and I have been doing some research into our family tree using resources from a collection of information passed onto ourselves.

Interestingly and by sheer coincidence, my mum searched the internet for some

more information on Edward Akroyd’s parents* and she stumbled upon the March 2013 issue of The Almondburian.

On page 27 there is an article seeking any information on the whereabouts of other paintings and drawings that ‘Teak’ had made. Due to the passing down of family heirlooms, I have a couple of his paintings and I have attached a couple of images of them accompanied by signatures.

I am aware that some of the other family members have some of his work in their possession, but I do not wish to mention them until they have been informed first about the situation. However, I did wish to contact yourselves in order to help provide a contact for information about his work.

I hope that this is at least a useful starting point to help archive the work of ‘Teak’ and to reassure you that there is some of his work out there and it is greatly appreciated!

Aberdeen, Scotland *Edward Akroyd (1891 - 1963) > Patricia Campbell née Akroyd > Anne Gray (née Campbell) > Craig Gray

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Thank you The Almondburian!

I

From: David Micklethwaite (1941-1949)

Having retired in1988 it was before the computer had taken over, and I resisted until I reached 80.This meant that I could then research the Old Almondburians’ Society – and then two years ago I joined.

A welcome to new members in The Almondburian was followed by an email from David Oxley in Australia. It was a real surprise.We had not had any contact since I left school.

Last month he and his wife came to visit Kirkburton and we were delighted that they were able to visit us in Penistone, with 64 years to catch up on.

Thank you, The Almondburian.

Penistone,WestYorkshire

N the 1940s a small number of West Riding students were able to obtain places at Almondbury Grammar School. Our route to school was by bus to Fenay Bridge and a walk up the lane.

For some years there were four from Kirkburton making the trip each day: my cousin and I, Oxley and Armitage. In 1949 I left school and was called up to do National Service.

The next two years were spent in the RAF, mostly in Egypt.Following my demob I joined Woolworths as trainee manager and moved to various parts of the UK until returning to Yorkshire in 1975.

O

The Almondburian Poets

VER the years, while The Almondburian was the magazine of the School and not of the OAS, it printed many poems from current students. Some of these deserve to be remembered and, as an occasional series, we shall be reprinting some of our readers’ favourites.

Email or post YOUR favourites to the Editor (contact details on back cover).

Contributor: Bryan Hopkinson

Outstretched in summer’s warm engulfing haze The school of Alm’b’ry sleeps among the trees.

The lunchtime sun in browsy mood surveys As pin-prick children play in twos and threes.

The velvet Farnley valley rises round And cushions like a jewel in its lap The old school-house and lands which it surrounds Both swathed in sun and deep in history wrapt.

Heat overpowers, and shady schoolrooms rest; Their charges, out of doors rejoicing gay, Whose carefree, open, trusting faces best Reflect the warm perfection of the day.

So trusted nestles here in valley green A summer happy school, contentment’s dream.

‘A Sonnet in St Helen’s Gate’ by S B Sykes,VI Arts The Almondburian, Spring Term 1971 49

Obituaries

G O N E B U T N OT FO RGOT TEN AllenTurner (1962-1968)

Talented sportsman and businessman who also found time to run the Honley Show We are sorry to report the death of AllenTurner from bowel cancer in July 2013.

Allen was born in Huddersfield in 1951.At school, he made his mark as a cross-country runner and he maintained a keen interest in sport throughout his life. In due course he became a captain at Longwood Harriers, competing in the Northern Championships. He took part in the London Marathon in 1985.Allen was also a keen footballer, playing for Holmbridge, Berry Brow and Brighouse Town; he claimed that he played football over five decades. He also helped to run and referee Holmbridge junior team matches.

In summer,Allen supported Hall Bower cricket team where he helped to run the bar; his legendary drinking skills earned him the reputation of being ‘a small man with hollow legs’. His drinking abilities were also admired atWoodsome and Meltham golf clubs, though by general consent his golfing talents were of a lesser order.

For 28 years,Allen worked at Holset (now CumminsTurboTechnologies), a market leader in turbocharger design, for whom he travelled around the world to find and develop new suppliers.Allen was involved for over 20 years in the Honley Show, initially as Show Manager and, since 2009 when he retired from Holset, as President. Under his guidance, the show has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the area’s leading agricultural events. He also found time to become a governor of Almondbury High School where in due course he became Chairman.

Allen leaves a wife Sheila, three sons and two grand-daughters.

Geoffrey Douglas (1936-1943)

Enthusiastic OAS member and former Chairman who was a very gentle gentleman Witty, intelligent,warm, not always‘correct’, sometimes irritated, or even irritating, sometimes private, sometimes cavalier, mostly happy, sometimes not, soft, loving, and caring, Geoffrey passed away when time and ageing had finally caught up with him, on 29th August 2013, at Aden Court Residential Care Home – within a stone’s throw of where he was born, and lived for all his school years, in Ravensknowle Road, Moldgreen, Huddersfield.

5050 50

Married to Margaret, the girl across the main road, Geoff’s life was typical of that close family culture which in later life he nostalgically recalled – a time before aircraft, cars, computers, telecommunications, internet and twitter changed the world for ever. He never rejected progress, but at the same time, like many of his generation, he did not always regard all change as unequivocal progress. Some things may have been better not abandoned or discredited as‘old fashioned’, or plain‘backward looking’.

Inspired by Fred‘Soapy’ Hudson, among several other highly regarded teachers at King James’s, the teenage student developed most of his enthusiasms from his school years, including sports, and particularly, maps, journeys, and all things geographic. Geoffrey’s love of maps only waned as his eyesight began to fail in his 80s, not before he had acquired a detailed knowledge of many towns, counties, cantons, rivers, and landmarks, all over England, the UK, Europe, and even further afield, whether by beloved car, or plane, boat, or train. Only when health finally stole his car away from him did he retire from his endless expeditions, never once having abdicated his exploring ambition to Satnav, or online journey planners.What possible fun could they provide?!

Sport including football (Town and Jimmy Glazzard), rugby (Fartown and Lionel Cooper), tennis (Ken Rosewall), golf (Arnold Palmer), later bowls (‘stars’ like the late Fred Sheard, andWilf Strickland), all grew out of school and were passed on to sons and daughters.To Geoff, King James’s, still then‘a proper grammar school’, was a consistent source of quality experiences and a solid foundation for life skills and endeavour.

As an active Old Boy Geoff remained a constructive and enthusiastic member of the OldAlmondburians’ Society, including being honoured as its Chairman in the 1980s, still attending committee meetings into his 70s, as honorary badminton secretary. He was also, with his wife, a regular traveller on Soapy Hudson’s bus tours of the UK, with many other Almondburian friends (again satnav not required! ) After retiring from the Huddersfield industrial refrigeration company Crowther & Shaw Ltd, some 30 years ago, Geoffrey and his wife enjoyed many years of travel and entertainment before health began to fail, first with Margaret’s devastating stroke in 2010, with Geoff battling on alone at home in Shepley for a year or so, before joining her in the residential care home, in Moldgreen, where it all started all those years ago.As the years took over, Geoff could still summon up strength to visit his favourite local hostelries, The Cock, TheWoodman, and The ThreeAcres where he would still put ‘Cameron’ back on the right track, suggest how the currentTown manager might achieve more, or even any, success, and generally reflect how “it was never like that in my day!”

Geoffrey leaves Margaret, his wife of 62 years, Andrew, Ian and Helen, and a still-growing group of grandchildren.

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Chairman BRYAN HOPKINSON Apartment 206,1535 The Melting Point Commercial Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DN Tel: 01484 469804 Mobile: 07595 175835 Email: bryan.hopkinson@oas.org.uk 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

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