The ALMONDBURIAN T H E MAGAZINE O F TH E O LD AL MONDBURIANS’ S OCIETY
March 2016
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IN THIS ISSUE
A word from your Chairman Old Almondburians’ Society Calendar Giving scholars a firm foundation Sudoku Annual General Meeting Poacher turned gamekeeper Terry’s Teaser Annual Dinner 2015 Founders’ Day Address: Rev Ron Lancaster MBE Dinner attendees The Almondburian Poets Ellis lands role in BBC TV play Back to the drawing board I turned to a life of crime Tram horror crash family link A harrowing tale of unrequited love Every picture tells a story Farnley Lines The trolleybuses of Huddersfield Trolleybus reunion Classroom commentary Sports notes Postbag Obituary
(Opposite): The ‘old kitchen’ entrance to the School Drawing: Brian Littlewood
The ALMONDBURIAN Editor: Roger Dowling
November 2016
The magazine of The Old Almondburians’ Society
A word from your Chairman
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PAT R I C K O’ BRIEN
Y year as Chairman has passed very quickly and the OAS is still in existence! Financially the Society is sound, even though it has contributed over £1500 towards the Archive Room project.At the recentAGM it was unanimously agreed to maintain OAS subscriptions at their current rate for the tenth consecutive year. Both theAnnual Quiz (held in the Conservative Club) and the Dinner (held at the School) were well
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attended and comments from members were positive. Besides the Chairman and Head Boy, speeches were made by Robert Lamb, recently retired Principal and Ian Rimmer, newly appointed Principal. Presentations were made to Robert and Angela Melling, who has retired from the School because of ill health. A full report on the Dinner and Founders’ Day appears on page 19. The new Archive Room was completed
ture direction of the Society. There were a number of good ideas proposed to maintain or increase the membership, particularly among younger Almondburians. I have no doubt that this will be a topic for discussion at Executive Committee meetings in 2016. Finally, I have retired as Chairman of the Society. I have enjoyed my year in office and it has been a great privilege to serve the Society. I will continue to be a member of the Executive Committee – in fact, as a former Chairman, I have life-long membership! At the AGM, I was delighted that Walter Raleigh agreed to serve as the new Chairman. He is, of course, known to many Almondburians, of all ages, and served as a teacher at the school for 33 years and in later years was a school link member of the Executive. He will do an excellent job and I, with all otherAlmondburians, wish him well.
at the end of last year and a group of Almondburians are now keen to start setting up the many different varieties of records of the school. Much work has been done by a small group over the last year and, on behalf of all Almondburians, I would like to thank them. I am sure that we are all delighted to know that the historical records of the school will be safeguarded for the future. I am also pleased to report that the Executive Committee once again has a school link member, Jenny Sanderson, who is in charge of the Library and Independent Learning Centre at School (the Big and Small in former times). Jenny’s knowledge and skills in social media will, I am sure, become very important in the near future. At the final Executive Committee meeting of 2015, which was attended by OAS President Ian Rimmer, there was a very useful and constructive discussion about the fu-
OLD ALMONDBURIANS’ SOCIETY CALENDAR
DATES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, 2016 The Executive Committee of the Society meets upstairs at the ‘Woolpack’ in Almondbury, at 7.30 pm.Any member of the Society who would like to attend one of these meetings will be made most welcome on the following Mondays: 7th March, 11th April, 9th May, 6th June, 4th July, 5th September, 3rd October, 7th November, 5th December.
ANNUAL DINNER This year’s Annual Dinner will be held on Saturday, 26th November. Full details, together with an application form for tickets, will appear in the next magazine, which is due out in July. It is always good to see members making a special effort to stage a re-union of their year at the dinner and such occasions are always enjoyable, so those with a special anniversary this year, members of the classes of 1946, 1956, 1966, 1976, 1986, 1991, 1996 or 2006 for example or, indeed, anyone else who takes a notion to do so, should consider starting to organise their class re-union earlier rather than later.
QUIZ EVENING An Old Almondburians’ Society Quiz will once again be held in the Conservative Club,Almondbury, this year on Wednesday, 27th April, at 7.30 p.m. Generally, the contest is between around eight teams of three people. Members and their guests can enter their team in advance, or they are welcome to turn up on the night and participate in what is always very enjoyable evening. Quizmaster, as always, will be Keith Crawshaw.
FOUNDERS’ DAY The Traditional Founders’ Day Service will be held the day after the Annual Dinner, Sunday, 27th November, as usual. Full details will be announced in a later magazine.
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HISTORY
Giving scholars a firm foundation A Foundation Scholar from the‘ancient parish’in 1955 explains how the system originally came about and wonders if the idea has perished over the past 60 years
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PROF EDWARD ROYLE (1955 - 1962)
T its foundation by Royal Charter in 1608 ‘The free Gram’ar Schole of Kinge James in Almonbury’ was obliged to offer free tuition in Latin and Greek grammar to at least some of its scholars, provided their parents were poor enough. The school was intended for the township and parish of Almondbury so the Statutes specified that such poor scholars should have been born within the parish.This represented a large area to the west and south of the school. The northern boundary of the parish was the river Colne, beyond which lay Huddersfield. So distant townships and villages such as Meltham and half of Marsden were in Almondbury, but the nearby settlements of Dalton and Lepton, being in Kirkheaton parish, were excluded from this catchment. These rules were applied, with more or – usually – less efficiency, for the next quarter of a millennium during which the school passed through hard times and survived on a slender endowment income and the fees charged to those better off parents who considered an education at the school worthwhile. Revised statutes in 1860 laid down that there should be twelve free scholars, four chosen by the trustees of Wormall’s Charity and eight by the governors of the school, with one additional free scholar for each additional £10 of rental income above £120 a year. In 1877 there were 27 5
After leaving King James’s Edward Royle went to Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he studied History as an undergraduate and PhD student. He then went to Selwyn College as a Fellow for four years until moving to the Department of History at the University of York in 1972. He remained there, working his way upwards from lecturer to Professor (including a period as Head of Department) until he retired in 2004. Since then he has been Emeritus Professor at York and he continues to publish and give talks on history. He is President of the Wesley Historical Society (the Treasurer is also an Old Almondburian and the Secretary is a former member of the teaching staff!) and has been a Methodist local preacher for 50 years.
After Robert Brook
Golcar Slaithwaite
Linthwaite
Almondbury Castle Hill
Armitage Bridge
Netherton Meltham
Marsden
Kirkheaton
Huddersfield
Lepton
Flockton
Kirkburton
Honley
Holmfirth
Cumberworth
The Ancient Parish of 0
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2
3
4
5
Almondbury and surrounding districts
miles
boys in the school, 21 of whom lived in the ancient parish of whom 4 were free. Four years later a further modification saw the amalgamation ofWormall’s Charity with the School Charity: there were to be six King’s Scholars and six Wormall’s Scholars (known collectively as Foundation Scholars), all chosen from boys living in the parish. Fees for the rest ranged from £5 to £10 a year tuition and £35 to £45 a year for boarding. Some maintenance and travelling grants for boys from the remoter parts of the parish were also provided. By the end of the nineteenth century the school was also in receipt of grants from the Science and Art Department in London and the West Riding County Council. Huddersfield County Borough made no contribution to the school before 1904. In that year the school admitted 13 boys from Huddersfield, 5 from Dalton, 16
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from Almondbury within the borough of Huddersfield and 15 from the ancient parish outside the borough boundary, and 4 from Kirkburton, also outside the borough boundary. The West Riding annual grant supported four free scholars. In 1909 the school accepted further financial support from Huddersfield in exchange for greater local authority control and the school became, in effect, the grammar school for boys in Huddersfield with some residual catchment from the ancient parish and designated parts of the wider West Riding. All this was to change on 4th August 1922 when the perennial financial problems of the school were finally resolved and the school was handed over entirely to the Huddersfield LEA. The results of this change can be seen in the minutes of the Huddersfield County Borough Education Committee which turned down a request for maintenance al-
lowances from the parents of two holders of Foundation Scholarships, who were from the ancient parish but not from one of the designated areas of the West Riding with which Huddersfield had an agreement. It was reported that new admissions in 1922 comprised 15 Foundation Scholars, 2 Huddersfield free place scholars, 1 West Riding minor scholar, and 23 fee-paying scholars, a total intake of 41 in a school of 245. The followingApril it was resolved that there should be three Free Place Foundation Scholarships annually for ‘boys resident in the West Riding ofYorkshire who have for the preceding two years attended Public Elementary Schools, with a preference for those resident in the ancient parish of Almondbury’.There were to be other Free Place Foundation Scholarships, not more than five in total at any one time, for‘boys resident in any part of theAncient Parish other than the AncientTownship of Almondbury’. The first two Foundation Scholars, mentioned in the minutes of the preceding November, were Jack Oldfield andWilfred Hoyle*. The story of the school’s Foundation Scholars after this date is yet to be researched in detail.The school archives may yield some answers. So may the memories of OldAlmondburians. I shall welcome all suggestions to show how we got from 1922 to the situation as I recall it when I became a Foundation Scholar in 1955, and also any news of what the situation is now. * Jack Oldfield (1922-25) was from Berry Brow andWilfred Hoyle (1922-27) was from Newsome.
Not to be confused…
So-called ‘Foundation Scholar’ grants are not directly related to the presentday grants awarded by the King James’s School Foundation to ‘promote the education of young people under 25.’ These are available to applicants from the ‘ancient parish’ whether or not they are or were students of the School. Chairman of the Foundation Graham Cliffe writes: “When the OAS discovered in about 1994 that the Trust Fund had been neglected and mis-used by Kirklees Council we reported the matter to the Charity Commission and, after an investigation, new Trustees were appointed in 2001.The new Scheme for administering the Trust gives the Trustees the right to support young people under the age of 25 who reside in the ancient parish of Almondbury. We have made grants to several individuals over the years.A number of students have received help with travel costs when they have been going abroad to do voluntary work overseas; and we helped to fund the training costs of a pupil who was an outstanding swimmer and was invited to train with the National squad. However, we do not make annual awards to particular students.” For more information about the King James’s School Foundation, see www.oas.org.uk/foundation.php.
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Sixty years ago there were two Foundation Scholars admitted each year from the ancient parish, whether they lived within or without the borough boundary. The eleven-plus was used as the entrance examination, with schools in the parish beyond the borough being invited to enter a pupil for the Huddersfield examination (in addition to the West Riding eleven-plus). There was no clash of timetable for in those days the Huddersfield examination was taken on Saturday mornings.The top two boys from the parish were admitted to
mouth Medallists – which says something about the initial selection process if not about the ‘added value’ attributable to the school! But what has happened since? With the abolition of the eleven-plus in the Colne Valley part of the West Riding in 1956 and in Huddersfield in 1973 there has been no available entrance examination; and with the creation of the Kirklees Metropolitan Authority in 1974 the distinction between the borough LEA area and the ancient parish was abolished. So did the idea of Foundation Scholarships perish, along with much else, amid these changes or have they survived as curious historical relics? Do they – or should they – still have a function today? The school is oversubscribed, and Academies have some control over their intakes provided they are not academically selective. So is preference still given to students from the ancient parish? Is the boy or girl from Meltham or Marsden to be preferred to the boy or girl from Birkby, Dalton or Lepton in deference to our ancient Charter and Statutes?
King James’s as Foundation Scholars.Thus in some years both might live in part of Huddersfield; in other years both might live outside Huddersfield. Presumably this arrangement had come into being with the eleven-plus in 1945 and some other plan was followed before that. There were few financial implications. I doubt that Huddersfield gave extra grant to the school in lieu of fees, though the West Riding may have had to give Huddersfield something for educating one or two of its boys. I do know that, in my case, I was able to claim my travelling expenses back from the West Riding. It would be interesting to build a list of who our Foundation Scholars have been since the days of Messrs Oldfield and Hoyle. I know that in 1955 my fellow Foundation Scholar was Alan Lodge of Newsome. I also know that in 1951 David Morphet came from the same junior school that I was to enter from four years later – Linthwaite County Junior School, of the parish but not in Huddersfield. All three scholars named here became Dart-
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Annual General Meeting
4th Januar y 201 6
The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at the ‘Woolpack’, Almondbury on Monday, 4th January 2016 at 7.30 pm. Attendance Patrick O’Brien (chair) Richard Taylor Andrew Haigh John Broadbent Keith Crawshaw John Goodall Walter Raleigh Jenny Sanderson Stuart Roebuck Chris West Graham Cliffe
Apologies for Absence Richard Hughes, Michael Haigh, Paul Grant, Mark Earnshaw, Paul Balderstone and Roger Dowling. The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting The minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 5th January, 2015, were read and approved.
Matters Arising John Goodall said that he had tried a number of times to contact the Archivist, Nich. Briggs, but had received no reply and he wondered if the Society is happy with this.Walter Raleigh explained that we had to clear the archive out of its old location at the school and Nich. had taken it home, where it is currently stored in plastic boxes under his bed! Whilst it has been there, he has done a lot of work cataloguing it, but ease of access has been a problem. We now have a new designated space in the cellar at school, which is almost ready and the archive is due to be moved back very shortly.Walter said that he and Nicky Green are also going to be involved and it should soon be much more accessible. John Broadbent said that he had been notified by the University of Huddersfield, where the Taylor Dyson Library was moved, that the books in the collection are now on digital display, which is absolutely fantastic. He said that the University is keen to continue an archive service to the school. The Chairman wondered if we might be able to have digital access to the University Archive from our new archive room at the school.
Chairman’s Report Patrick O’Brien said that the activities of the Society have been much the same as usual. A successful cricket dinner had been held at Grappolo’s in March.The Annual Quiz had been held in April, as usual, and thanks are due to Keith Crawshaw for that. Another successful Annual Dinner had been held in November, at which presentations were made to two recently-retired members of staff; thanks for the dinner are due to Andrew Haigh, who does the lion’s share of the organising. Finally, ten Executive Committee meetings had taken place and thanks are due to all those who attended throughout the year. Patrick said that he is really pleased to have Jenny Sanderson on board as a link with the school, because that is really important. He went on to mention some of the achievements of the year: the idea of an archive room was already being pursued, and this has now been brought to fruition; and the Society has provided the impetus to provide additional disabled toilet facilities at the school. 9
Looking to the future, he is concerned that in twenty-five years’ time we might be reduced to a rump of about fifty members and not many people around this table, so we need to think very carefully about that. Regarding the future, John Goodall mentioned that one of Roger Dowling’s passions is trolley buses. John wondered if it is worth opening up the forthcoming trip to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft to current pupils, so that they can see how their forebears used to travel to school. Richard Taylor thought that this is worth investigating,Walter Raleigh thought that it is a good idea in principle and Jenny Sanderson suggested that this is something that could go out on Twitter.
Treasurer’s Report Keith Crawshaw presented the accounts for the financial year ended 31st August 2015, noting that subscription income has fallen compared to the previous year. However, the cost of printing the magazine has also fallen again, although the cost of postage has risen. In this year, the cost of printing and distributing the magazine accounted for about 62 – 63% of subscription income, which is much better than it has been. The remainder of our income this year was spent on converting the new archive room. The accumulated fund now stands at £10,284.58, effectively the worth of the Society, which is pretty much the same as last year.The Chairman thanked Keith for another sterling job this year and the accounts were approved.
Membership Secretary’s Report Andrew Haigh reported that membership currently stands at 487, ten down on this time last year. Of the members who do not pay by standing order, 26 subscriptions for the current year are presently unpaid, compared to 25 at this time last year.We have once again been saddened to learn of the deaths of quite a number of members during the year; however, on a more positive note, we are pleased to have recruited eight new members in the last year, compared to seven in the previous year.
Subscription rate for the Financial Year commencing 1st September 2016 Keith Crawshaw felt that there is no real reason to increase the subscription rate. He said that it would be better if we could find other ways of involving recent leavers. It was felt that more contributions to the magazine from the school and younger members would help; perhaps the Head Boy and Head Girl could alternate writing a report for the magazine.Andrew Haigh said he had been speaking with the Head Girl’s parents after Founders’ Day and they were saying what a good read the magazine is. He suggested circulating the magazine more fully within school to current pupils and staff, as it used to be, so that those who are interested in the history of the school become used to it at when they are there and perhaps miss it when they have left. Jenny Sanderson wondered if it could even be distributed electronically along with the new school newsletter.TheTreasurer proposed that the subscription rate remains at £10 per annum.This was carried unanimously.
Election of President John Broadbent proposed that Ian Rimmer should be invited to be President of the Society, because he was very impressed by his remarks at the Annual Dinner. Ian Rimmer was duly elected President for 2016.There were no President’s Remarks, due to his absence from the meeting.
Election of Executive Officers for 2016 The Chairman proposed Walter Raleigh as Chairman for 2016.This was seconded by Graham Cliffe and Walter was elected unanimously. Walter Raleigh then took the chair. 10
The other Officers were then elected as follows: Vice-Chairman Chris West (proposed by Walter Raleigh, seconded by Keith Crawshaw) Honorary Secretary Andrew Haigh (continuing in post) Honorary Treasurer Keith Crawshaw (continuing in post). Keith said that it would be his 44th year, so he thinks that he’s got the hang of it now! Media Editor Roger Dowling (continuing in post) Ordinary Committee Members Rev. Stuart Roebuck* (continuing as Chaplain) Nich. Briggs (continuing as Archivist) Emily Briggs (continuing in post) Martyn Hicks (continuing in post) Samuel Atkin (continuing in post) Michael Powner (continuing in post) One Vacancy Representative of the School Jenny Sanderson (proposed by Graham Cliffe and seconded by Walter Raleigh) *Richard Taylor commented that, since Stuart has been running Founders’ Day, it has gone from strength to strength. Any Other Business Photograph John Broadbent had brought along a school photograph, taken in June 1927, to submit to the archive. Membership Richard Taylor said that he would like us to consider a few possible changes in the coming year: 1. Qualification for membership to include governors, parents and others associated with the school. 2. Change the name of the Society, dropping the ‘Old’, as the cricket and football sections have done. Graham Cliffe suggested that this could be discussed at the next meeting of the Executive Committee and asked that it be included on the agenda. 3. Having a Hall of Fame, as he had suggested previously. 4. Having an Almondburian Bookshelf at school to display any book written by a former pupil to inspire current pupils. 5. Finally, he was a bit worried that numbers had dropped for the Annual Dinner and he suggested that those attending last year should come again and bring at least one other with them. The new Chairman,Walter Raleigh, thanked all the officers for their sterling work last year, especially Patrick O’Brien, who stepped in at the last minute and did an excellent job. 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, 1st February was agreed. The Meeting closed at 9.03 p.m. and was followed by the customary pie and peas supper. Signed:
A M Haigh Secretary
P W Raleigh Chairman
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Overleaf: Annual accounts presented by P O’Brien (Chairman); K Crawshaw (Treasurer); J A Swift (Independent Examiner)
I INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2015
2014
2023 1195 48 25 60 85 30 151
— 1738
5355 2014
Printing, Stationery & Postage: Magazines Printing 1734.43 Magazines Stationery/Postage 1339.44 Other Stationery/Postage 64.89 Jessop Prize Young Old Almondburians’ Prizes Sundry Expenses Paypal Charges Computer Running Expenses KJS Contribution: Archive Room Building Work Excess of Income over Expenditure
2014
5187 22 80 — 29 — — 37
Subscriptions 4840.00 Transfer from Life Membership Account 20.51 Interest Received 26.39 Sales of Magazines 43.00 Surplus on Sales of DVDs — Surplus on Sales of Ties 39.67 Surplus on AGM Supper 3.29 Surplus on Annual Dinner 75.72 Sales of ‘Morning Assembly’ 110.00 Less Transfer to — Harry Taylor Trust Fund 110.00 — — Excess of Expenditure over Income 9.27
3138.76 25.00 60.00 116.36 33.83 119.40
1564.50 —
5057.85
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST AUGUST 2015 2014
Accumulated Fund Balance at 1 Sep 2014 10293.85 Less Excess of Expenditure over 10294 Income 9.27 10284.58
18 8 170 —
Life Membership Account Balance at 1 Sep 2014 294.39 Add Interest 0.73 295.12 Less Transfer to Income 294 & Expenditure Account 20.51 274.61
2201 360 236 130 203
13718
5057.85
5355
18.00 864.00 170.00 60.00
Life Membership Account 294 Nat West Business Reserve 274.61
KJS Development Fund 2201 Nat West Business Reserve
KJS Development Fund Balance at 1 Sep 2014 2201.24 Add Interest 5.46 KJS 400 Merchandise 59.10 2265.80 Pavilion Appeal Fund Balance 360.00 Net Annual Dinner Receipts in Advance 292.34 Subscriptions in Advance 70.00 Sundry Creditors 1741.50
15288.83
Trophies Stock of Ties Stock of Prints Stock of Envelopes
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2265.80
10636 351 4 36
Cash and Bank Balances National Westminster Bank: Business Reserve 10623.84 Current Account 944.71 Paypal Account 31.33 Cash in Hand 36.54 11636.42
13718
15288.83
Poacher turned gamekeeper
PETER H HEYWOOD
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Our contributor was an AGS pupil in the 1940s and a teacher at the School in the 1960s. It has given him a unique insight into pupil-teacher relationships
am now 81 years old and about to had four women teachers, all of whom disdelve back into my past experiences of appeared quickly to make way for the men the School, some going back 70 years. returning from wartime service. Miss How have I come to this pass, rather Couzens was a good teacher of English who than taking my thoughts with me to the left to move to Palestine. Miss Jeffries was an grave? equally good teacher of Geography, and All three 2015 issues of The Almondburian Miss Busfield (who later married English have played a part in my decision to go to teacher Mr Bradbury) ruled our science print.Tony Cape’s excellent speech at the classes with some ferocity. Miss Badger (His2014 OAS Dinner (reported in the March tory) struggled, although we were a fairly 2015 issue) raised the Peter Heywood was a pupil at meek lot of pupils subject of corporal pun- Almondbury Grammar School from Colin’s praise of John ishment, random vio- 1945-51 and he returned to teach Hopton, Len Ash and from 1962-67 when he took lence and bullying. In the French Herbert Blackburn, toover the French Department after July issue, instances of the sad and untimely death of Reg gether with his comstaff cruelty were given Addy. A graduate of the University ments on geography lesof Leicester, Peter later by former pupils of the College sons and the Jacobean taught French and teaching same generation as Tony. methodology at Doncaster College Society, are my views In my days as a pupil, of Education and finished his too. I can add a little to career at Adwick from 1945 to 1951, I was teaching his account of woodwork Comprehensive School, Doncaster a victim of all three is- where he was for eight years in classes. Our first term sues. Turning lastly to charge of all language teaching. He was spent behind the now lives in Filey. Colin Robson (Novemfirst row of benches ber 2015 issue), he is a watching ‘Teak’ make year younger than I and I small tea trays (while share many – but not all giving a running com– of the opinions he exmentary on his work) presses in his detailed and and then taking orders entertaining account of from us pupils as the his time at AGS. I shall weeks rolled by. The restart therefore with some maining two terms of comments on, and addiYear 1 were spent squartions to, his article. ing a piece of wood. In our first year we Moving now to the 13
Form 3A in 1948: Peter Heywood (ringed) with his classmates as they pose with form master Edward ‘Teak’ Akroyd and Headmaster John Baldwin
Teaching staff in 1963: (back row): J C Arragon; R Wearing; P V Bacon; Peter Heywood (ringed); C Hindley; J Taylor; C H Gill; R G Walker; L Mallinson; G W Chapman; D A Bush; K L W Ireland; (Front row): J P Toomey; F Anderson; F J Bareham; H Gledhill; F S Hudson; H Taylor; R Addy; W I Haigh; G L Beach; W Western; Mrs M Hanson 14
History teacher mentioned by Colin, whose performance was improved markedly following assumed advice from the Headmaster. I don’t think he would have been given a ‘final warning’ but he would certainly have been given this good advice: “Hold on to your First Form at all costs and do the best you can with the rest. Repeat the pattern the following year, keeping hold of the new Second Form as you go. Repeat until the fiveyear cycle is complete.” From Colin’s chronology, the dispenser of this advice would have been H V Moore. I remember my History lessons as a mere transcription of notes from blackboard to exercise book; writing was going on so fast that there was little time for misbehaviour. I feel sure that Colin’s description of HarryTaylor as a man looking backwards towards the ethos of a minor public school would have fitted the Heads of most grammar schools of this period. Certainly, Holme Valley Grammar School, which I also attended – a much more recent foundation than AGS – was much the same. I think that Horace Moore looked more keenly towards public school ideals, with a strengthened prefect system and lunches taken in ‘houses’. To conclude the first part of this article, I turn to Dick (Reg) Addy. I am sorry that Colin’s contact with him was an unhappy one and I would like to show another side to him. Like Colin, I was taught French by Len Ash and after five years I had developed a strong liking to him.
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So, I was rather disappointed when I found that Reg was to be my teacher in Transitus. But the fault was mine: I wanted things to go on as before but things had changed. Over the year, I grew to see in Reg another fine French teacher, and I grew to like the man. When I returned to King James’s as a teacher, Reg (whom I now knew as Dick) proved a first-rate Head of Department: always supportive, willing to accept changes such as new text books and open to new approaches with a greater emphasis on spoken French. Turning now to Tony Cape’s references to bullying, I have to return to my own experiences as a pupil in 1945. In the early days of that first year I was subjected to regular name-calling by older boys. Of slim build in those days, I had thought this of little significance, but as I waited – in short trousers – for the trolleybus back to Crosland Moor I became known as ‘Skinny Legs’. I took to using a different bus stop to avoid this abuse, but the damage was done. Nicknames, Tony suggested, are often uncomplimentary and do you no favours. Another of mine was ‘Swot’. Readers may find these of little significance, but they mattered to me at the time. Matters of corporal punishment are on a different level, however. One day, in my second term, there was snow on the ground and we were told in assembly that there was to be no snowballing in the playground but it would be allowed on the playing fields. So, at break, I made my way towards the
Librarian: Reg Addy took over the role from previous French master Len Ash and organised the issue of books with his customary efficiency
fields, making a snowball in readiness on the way. Near the playground exit I was confronted by the Head who spotted the snowball in my hand. My protestation that I hadn’t thrown a snowball but had merely prepared one was in vain. Along with some other boys I was marched to the Head’s study where we were all caned. In all my previous six years of schooling, no teacher had ever raised voice or hand against me; and here I was, at the age of 11, being caned for having a snowball in my hand. I found the experience frightening and humiliating, and it made me unhappy for a long time afterwards. Whilst I was still a junior, worse was to come. One day, we were waiting in the gym at morning assembly under the supervision of a member of staff until the other teachers came in to join us.We were supposed to wait in silence but one thoughtless whispered aside was my undoing. I was subjected to a vigorous and sustained slapping across the face delivered at a ‘steady march’ tempo which accompanied a severe telling off. It seemed to go on for a very long time. Throughout my pupil years, the fact that I was clever may well have been my salvation. But to all who suffered bullying, unpleasant nicknames and verbal and physical
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assault, I can say, “I have suffered like you.” In 1962 I returned to King James’s, but this time as a teacher. I was immediately welcomed by all who had been my teachers a decade before: Dick Addy, Frank Anderson, Francis Bareham, Harry Gledhill,Walter Haigh and Fred Hudson.They were good friends, and I enjoyed my teaching. Harry Taylor was by far the best Head I worked under: relaxed, open-minded and full of encouragement. Fred Hudson, now Deputy Head, kept the School machine running smoothly in addition to teaching Geography. At lunchtime, I quickly learned to resist the blandishments of colleagues to make up a fourth for bridge, preferring – as did several others – to do some school work in readiness for later.School lunches, by the way, were cooked on the premises and were excellent. It was a far cry from those we ate back in the 1940s, which were cooked in some far-off centre in Huddersfield and delivered in a Ford flat-bed truck aptly registered EAT 392. In the 1960s modern language teaching was changing rapidly, with audio-visual techniques and equipment coming on the scene.Pupils from that period may remem-
ber the curious TAVOR course we used: a same: a few outstanding ones (each issue of course originally designed to teach French The Almondburian gives examples of these to US soldiers; it used ‘match-stick’ figures inspirational figures). There were a few and was the best available then. It certainly teachers who really should have been somewhere else; and in behelped us give listening Secretly, we all tween there were those – and speaking skills greater importance – and thus hope to have earned the majority – who did the came about the Language our pay, to have done job quite well, well or very well. I think this pattern Laboratory, maligned by some good work and balance is the same in some but important for and even kindled a all schools, and indeed in what we were aiming to do. Sessions in the lab spark of interest all walks of life. Secretly, we all hope to were taken by Mrs Hebalong the way have earned our pay, to blethwaite, to the evident satisfaction of Gary D Boothroyd, amongst have done some good work and even kindled a spark of interest along the way. It others (November 2015 issue). I like to think of us – pupils and teachers would be nice to be remembered – as Paul – as pioneers in these new approaches to Eddington (Yes, Minister) said before he died teaching. I found these years challenging – as someone “who did very little harm.” I don’t see this as a negative ambition. After and exciting (yes, really). For me these were happy times, so I was all, those occasions when – in order to re-estaken aback to read in the July 2015 issue of tablish our authority or to punish pupils’ examples of apparent cruelty inflicted by shortcomings – we cause hurt (physical or members of staff who were actual contem- emotional) to largely unformed children poraries of myself andTony Cape. Did I have and adolescents in our charge are small vicmy head in the clouds or the sand? I don’t tories. The odds are stacked in our favour: think so, but it still embarrasses me that we have (usually) learned self-control, and these things happened while I taught at the have learned that sarcasm and cutting reSchool and I knew nothing about them. Per- marks give more pleasure and satisfaction to haps we hadn’t made as much progress in the us than to pupils. But we have all fallen short field of pupil-teacher relations as we of these lofty ideals from time to time, though it should be a matter of regret when thought. However, my last teaching years in a com- it happens. And lastly, before those who shall teach prehensive school did witness a great deal of progress in pastoral care, with well-estab- leap for their pens, let me say that I know lished channels of communication for those how much more difficult life at the chalkface has become, quite unlike my teaching who felt aggrieved. What can I say in conclusion to my look days which came to an end in 1987. Those back at AGS in the 1940s and the 1960s? who struggle nowadays have all my sympaMore things remained unchanged than I had thy, and those who succeed have my pro realised. The mix of teachers remained the found admiration. 17
TERRY’S TEASER NO 16 Compiled by Terry Buckley (1948 - 1953)
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ACROSS: 7. Part of the year, for instance, from June to April (6,8) 9. Make up for a poor tennis session? (6) 11. Mark’s alias (4) 12. Atlas’s main feature (8) 14. Watch for attempt by foreign currency (6) 15. Cat frightens Old English colt (6) 16. Energy from salt and pepper (3) 18. Pass one very quietly before overturning (7) 19. Can be seen to make sense (7) 20. Father’s wild snake (3) 22. Musical arrangements of the Twenties (6) Name
Prize: 12 months free OAS membership
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25. Confusion one has of the idiotic (6) 26. Being partisan, failed as a suitor (8) 27. Exotic isle is unassailable throughout (4) 28. Seer creates a scene thus (6) 30. By chance, currency agents measure the amount (14) DOWN: 1. Is on edge around the house (4) 2. Nose in the air, not in the hovel (6) 3. Resort to bird generation (7) 4. Mark to be stoned (6) 5. Difficult ascent for carriage (6)
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6. Disordered? Shy? Happy? - colic’s the link between mind and body (14) 8. Dead reckoning? (4,10) 10. Where is Rose able to assemble her jewellery? (8) 13. Sporting attachment to decorate fish (3,5) 16. A vegetable in appearance (3) 17. Just beat, whichever way you look at it (3) 21. Seaside locks (7) 23. Endless growing from the grape (6) 24. Arboreally neat (6) 25. In form of overlay (2,4) 29. Sad to say, was a lady throughout (4)
Email Tel
The winner of Crossword 1 by Hérisson (November 2015) was Peter Tracey
Across 1. Relinquish 6. Acid 9. Bevel 10. Urge 11. Lacquer 12. Think 14. Responses 16. Achenes 17. Stamens 19. Assassins 22. Aisle 24. Protons 26. Only 27. Twist 28. Rota 29. Manchester Down 1. Rabbit 2. Liverish 3. Null 4. Unicorns 5. Hike up 7. Curios 8. Diegesis 13. Kinks 15. Omaha 16. Abattoir 17. Systolic 18. Essayist 20. Sculpt 21. Stream 23. Easter 25. Stye
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ANNUAL DINNER 21st November 2015
Annual Dinner
“
A N D RE W HAIGH
Roger Dowling
THE future for the School is And most recently, of course, was the bright,” said retiring Principal School’s recent new status as an Academy, Robert Lamb, principal guest which would enable it to face the future speaker at the 2015 OAS Annual Dinner with new confidence and independence. on 21st November. Responding to Robert Lamb’s “The School has a great reputation speech, Finlay Staunton said that it was and a talented new Principal and I am the proudest moment of his life when he confident that it will go from strength to was appointed Head Boy. “I remember strength.” an early school report which said ‘Finlay “Of all the schools where I taught is shy and needs to gain confidence in orover a period of some 40 years, I can der to grow as a person’. Well, I can say honestly say that King James’s was the that it was the teachers at King James’s best,” he said. that gave me the support that has enabled He recalled with particular pleasure me to become the person I am today.” three landmark events during his time as A toast to the OAS was proposed by head teacher and principal. The first was new Principal Ian Rimmer. “The world the School’s designation as a Specialist of education is subject to a great deal of Science College in 2004, achieved thanks volatility at the present time,” he said. to the generous support of many indi- “The Government has pledged to fulfil viduals and organisations including the Old Almondburians’ Society. Then, in 2008, there was the School’s 400th anniversary, marked by many special events including a BBC Radio 4 Any Questions broadcast, a magnificent fireworks display organised by Old Almondburian Ron Lancaster, and a Top table and guests l to r: Patrick O’Brien (OAS Chairman), Royal visit from HRH Finlay Staunton (Head Boy), Ian Rimmer (Principal), Maisie Abell Girl), Olivia Price (Deputy Head Girl), Robert Lamb (former the Duke of Glouces- (Head Principal), Oliver Hicks (Deputy Head Boy), Brian Stahelin (former ter. Chairman of Governors) 20
Speakers, from the top: Former Principal Robert Lamb; Head Boy Finlay Staunton; Prncipal Ian Rimmer and OAS Chairman Patrick O’Brien
every part of its manifesto commitment to education, and that is going to lead to a lot of turbulence in the years ahead.” But he faced the future with great optimism. “In difficult times, people pull together and one can see who one’s friends really are. At King James’s, we are pulling together by building new leadership teams and forging alliances with other local schools going through the same changes. I also look forward to working closely with the Old Almondburians’ Society so that together we can ensure that King James’s School continues to be highly successful and retain its repulation as an outstanding school.” The final speaker of the evening was OAS Chairman Patrick O’Brien who, in jocular vein, reported that his researches had revealed a hitherto unknown correlation between the effectiveness of King James’s School head teachers and the success of the football teams they supported. Huddersfield Town did well during the time of Harry Taylor in the 1950s and 1960s, only to fall from grace once he retired in the 1970s. Similarly, Alan Conley – a supporter of Manchester City during his term of office from 1974 – successfully developed the School’s new role as a 13-18 comprehensive while seeing his team become one of the top sides in Division One. By the time he announced his retirement in 1985, Manchester City had been relegated to Division Two. Martin Shevill’s experience was similar: his team Sheffield Wednesday did well while he
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Top: Robert Lamb receives from Patrick O’Brien a framed print of Tony Haigh’s drawing of King James’s School scenes Bottom: Angela Melling with a montage of past school activities. Also pictured: Bob Williams
was Head Teacher, only to suffer relegation as soon as he left. “Which brings us to Robert Lamb and Oldham Athletic…” said Patrick O’Brien, to the merriment of all present. “…And Ian Rimmer, who supports Southport, a team in the Premiership, albeit the Vanarama Conference Premiership. Such is my confidence in Ian that I fully expect Southport to be in the top-flight by 2025 – or at the very latest by 2125!” There were two presentations during the evening. In recognition of her long devotion to the School and the OAS, former assistant head teacher Angela Melling was presented jewellery and a montage of photographs of school events and activities in which she had been involved over the years. Retiring Principal Robert Lamb was presented with a framed print of Tony Haigh’s drawing of school scenes. The evening opened with tours of the school, hosted by Head Boy Finlay Staunton, Head Girl Maisie Abell, Deputy Head Boy Oliver Hicks and Deputy Head Girl Olivia Price. The traditional rendition of the School Song concluded the formal part of the evening. Thanks are again due to one of our Vice-Presidents, Nicky Briggs (Head Brewer for Mallinson’s Brewing Company and also for his own Brigg’s Signature Ales) for providing a selection of his fine ales and for running the bar.Thanks are also due to Nicky for helping me to transport all the tables – very kindly loaned free of charge by Kirklees Stadium Development – from the stadium to the school and back again. The wines were provided by Taste FineWines of Almondbury. 22
Founders’ Day HE 22nd of the month was a rather chilly November-ish day as some hardy folk walked up St. Helen’s Gate to join others gathering round the Church door. But, as always, we were soon warmly welcomed into the ancient place of worship. We had a better attendance than for several years. Head Boy Finlay Staunton and Head Girl Maisie Abell worked together in an imaginative way to read the selected Bible passages, Emily Baker’s unaccompanied violin playing had a remarkable maturity of tone for someone so young, and the Student Choir, directed by Head of Music, Mr Ben Wilson, sang with joyful enthusiasm. It was a real pleasure to have them and some of their parents among us. The OAS members who were present were very appreciative of the School’s contribution, plus, of course, the evocative humour of our visiting preacher, Rev Ron Lancaster. Mr Lancaster was a pupil at the School in the 1940s and reminded many of us of the characters who were our teachers many years ago. It was also a real encouragement too that Rev Mark Zammit, who is still in his first year as Rector of Almondbury, was present and shared in
the service with us. His prayers were particularly appropriate. All in all, it was a very happy morning and I shall remember this service with a great deal of pleasure. Rev Ron Lancaster’s address to the Founders’ Day congregation is overleaf.
Andrew Haigh
T
R E V S T UA RT RO E BUCK
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“
The Address Rev Ron Lancaster
MBE
(1942-1950)
impact on our little house overlooking the Farnley valley. But in 1942 I entered into the new world of Form 1A in Dorm 1 at Almondbury Grammar School. I well recall the terrifying figure of Taylor Dyson who occasionally swept through. He was a fine, well-respected man, but to a small boy of 11… I could see the sky at night as Sheffield was bombed: my uncle had been sent there to help restore the telecommunications. Then there was the night when I was suddenly awakened by a strange sounding plane and the bedroom was lit like daylight by an illuminating flare. I watched the Wellington bomber crash just below the road on Farnley Line, hearing later the sad news that the crew had been burnt to death.
AS we look back over the years, we realise that history is an interesting mixture. On the one hand, it is an objective account of fact from which there is no appeal or argument.But on the other hand, it is a past wrapped in the mystery of time, peopled with figures who enchant or maybe even terrify. I was born in Rawthorpe in 1931. My mother died and I came to live in Almondbury with her sister who had married into the Wright family. Though I lived through some amazing times I have occasionally wondered whether it might have been better to live in another age. I missed the uneasy period after World War 1, the Russian Revolution and the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1939, I vaguely remember my folks speaking about the war but there was no
Form 6 in 1948: (Back row) Frank Halmshaw; Beaumont; Derek Dowling; Derek Roberts; Peter Stancliffe; Don Smith, James Cecil; Geoffrey Armitage. (Front row): Ron Lancaster (ringed); David Oxley; Rodney Drake; ‘Copper’ Robinson; Johnny Hopton; John Baldwin, Peter Scott; D Willcox; H Peacocke; D Knowles.
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Left: Kimbolton School today: it educates boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 18. Boarding starts at age 11. Right: Ron Lancaster, founder and owner of Kimbolton Fireworks.
One unusually sunny Whit Monday shortly before the end of the war, a group of us went by coach to Malham in the Dales. Armed with a picnic and a newspaper, we saw to our amazement the first photographs of Belsen concentration camp. It was a complete shock – we had never seen anything like it. By 1950 the time came to leave for Durham University. Food was short and my father always gave me his sweets ration. I thought that three years at Durham would get me out of National Service, but it did not; fortunately I spent it giving ‘intelligence’ to recruits which was a far better option than freezing to death in the harsh winters of Korea. Those years from 1942 were great, even if I did not realise it at the time. Looking back as a former teacher myself, I recall that someone once said. “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” It makes you think, because we are all agreed that there were those that we did not get
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along with. Some teachers took themselves too seriously (and may well need to do so these days to survive in some schools). But I sometimes think of one headmaster of a famous school who went into the pulpit in the chapel and started by saying, “Jesus Christ said – and I agree with him…” Looking back to my school years, I recall that quite a few of the teachers lived locally. Mr Addy taught French and lived nearby in a striking house with a flat roof. We often chatted on our way to School as we shared an interest in gardening. We also met at church as he was a Lay Reader. My other big interest was Chemistry and I shared a long friendship with Dr and Mrs Calloway right up until the end of their lives. Even as a schoolboy, I would chat to him at lunchtime as he pursued his interest in photography. One or two of us did Higher Biology in a tiny room above the headmaster’s study where we were well looked after
hand-written part on the organ, doubtless to the great relief of Mr Moore, the headmaster at that time. But there are two other people I must mention. Dr Harry Maffin had been a pupil at the School and as a small boy I recall him as grumpy and scary. However, as I got older I got to know a different person. I used to practise on the church organ after School and I just wonder how many people in the village knew that he used to get his chauffeur to drop him off most days so that he could sit in church for a while. Lastly I must mention our pharmacist Harry Graham, a busy man who always found time to help me and who taught
by Mr Newton. Little did the headmaster know what we sometimes overheard! Mr Blackburn taught Latin. I cannot say that I got to know him very well though he was very kind to me. I thought it was important to do Latin as I was not sure at that time whether I wanted to do medicine or enter the church. In the end, I stayed a third year in the sixth for scholarship examinations and we also used to meet for lessons in classical Greek. How nice that the Easther tablet is still in position on the wall of the ODH, with its message ‘Speaking the truth in love’ in Greek:
I was not an enthusiastic player of ball games, but I was very interWith thanks: the tablet in memory of ested in Music. ‘Happy’ wall of the Old Dining Hall Harry Gledhill always had his group of musical pals and we used to chat happily about musical interests, choirs and church organs. One day, I ventured the idea that I ought to do some music theory to which he replied, “Aye lad, I haven’t done any of that stuff for years! Do you really want to?” One day, a day or two before Speech Day, there was great concern because Harry had to be rushed to hospital for surgery. There was a big flap but Mr Beach took over the choir and we urgently had to contact Harry to get the music. I ended up playing his hastily 26
Alfred Easther on the
me a lot about old-fashioned pharmacy Soon they said goodbye and went off exand chemistry, much of which I still recall citedly to a freer and greater life – and probably forgot all about Kimbolton. I today. I owe so much to these people so I often wondered what they did, until 18 months ago one of hope that you will forWe hope that them rang me and give the ramblings of an old fogey. But during the our Creator will called in to see me: he had got degrees includwar and postwar years life was very grey, drab finally accept us – ing a PhD and had and even authoritarian. not so much for worked in wider education. He told me how In contrast, life today has what we have kind it had been to lend many blessings that we never had before: travel; been, but for what him my car in which to take his driving test. food; entertainment; we are. “What?”, I said. “You lots of money to spend; and so on. We must be careful not to be- drove me to Peterborough and I took the test in your car!” he said. come selfish and self-centred. It is lovely to return to Almondbury. We may get a lot out of life but the spirit of 1940 should also teach us that We each have a story to tell and it is difwe have to put some things back. Na- ferent from everyone else’s story. We all tional Service was a bit of a bind but it have good times and we all have bad was a shared experience. People working times: we have to learn the lessons that together and looking out for one another make us more rounded people. Bill Gates satisfies a human need which is bigger has said a few wise words that we should also heed: than individual pleasure. After working from 1957 to 1963 as a Life is not fair: get used to it. parish priest in Morley and Harrogate I If you think your teacher is tough, wait became Chaplain and Chemistry teacher until you get a boss at Kimbolton School in Cambridgeshire, If you mess up it is not your parents’ fault a boarding school around the same size so learn from your mistakes as King James’s Grammar School. I Be nice to nerds - chances are you’ll end up thought I might stay for just a few years, working for one. Finally, all the relationships we have but I actually stayed for 25 years. Today it is almost 1000-strong with only 50 had, all the experiences of beauty and boarders, many of whom are Chinese. sorrow, love and loss, are part of our inWe constantly meet or hear about former side journey and made us what we are: the harvest of our lives. students, which is great. We hope that our Creator will finally In my first year I was still unmarried and two Upper Sixth students regularly accept us – not so much for bobbed into my house to keep me advised what we have been, but for of the tribal activities of such a place. what we are. 27
”
Annual Dinner 2016 attendees
Surname
Abell Abell Abell Addy Atkinson Battye Bellerby Bradley Bradley Brawn Brier Briggs Broadbent Broadbent Brook Burluraux Bush Clayton Crawshaw Croft Davies Dowling Dyson Earles Field Gledhill Graley Graley Graley Green Green Green Haigh Heptonstall Hicks Hirst Hirst Horsfall Horsfall Lamb Lancaster Law
Forename
Maisie Jo Richard J Nick H Michael N Roger Keith David Peter J Amanda Keith Graham John Jean Jeffrey Norman David A James Keith David Gary Gareth Lynn Roger John H. David B.M. Robert Neil Chris. John E. Simon Andrew J Terry Richard Nicole Andrew Mark DA Oliver Stuart Mrs. Anthony Linda Robert Rev Ron George
From
Head Girl Guest Guest 1955 1955 1962 1947 1946 1948 1974 1947 Staff 1948 Guest 1947 1949 Staff 1961 1947 1964 1968 1954 1952 1948 1947 Staff 1973 1954 1962 1962 1964 1947 1957 Staff 1991 1977 1949 Dep Head Boy 1955 Guest 1955 Guest Staff 2003 1942 1951 28
To
1963 1963 1969 1952 1952 1953 1976 1953 1954 1953 1954 1996 1951 1971 1975 1956 1959 1954 1952 1989 1959 1970 1969 1971 1955 1964 2010 1983 1957 1963 1963 2015 1950 1959
Travelling from
Almondbury Almondbury Upper Hopton Ulverston Holmfirth Marsden Horsforth Esher Highburton Upperthong
Golcar Golcar Almondbury Celle, Germany Porthcawl Norwich Almondbury Almondbury Sutton Coldfield Lymm, Cheshire Asker, Norway New Mill Kirkheaton Holmbridge Farnley Tyas Fixby Isle of Man Chester Netherthong Netherthong Almondbury Matlock
Birkenhead Birkenhead Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead Milnrow Kimbolton, Huntingdon Fenay Bridge
Surname
Lofthouse Mallinson Mallinson Melling Merchant Morrison Nash Newton O'Brien Parry Poole Price Raleigh Rimmer Roebuck Royle Searby Segar Sharp Shaw Smith Stahelin Staunton Staunton Staunton Staunton Stead Stead Sykes Taylor Taylor Thompson Thompson Turner Walker Walker Walker Williams Wilson Withers
Forename
John Howard Dr R F Niven Mrs J H Angela Robin Edward David Neil Brian Clifford Patrick David John C. Olivia Paul Walter Ian Rev Stuart W Prof Edward Richard John L John F Ian John Oswin Brian Sam Finlay Gerald Dorothy Rod Dennis J Richard John Stuart Helen Ann Rodney Lesley Malcolm R Bob Ben Anthony
From
1951 1955 Guest Staff 1985 1966 1967 1964 1957 Staff 1971-2013 1966 1962 Dep Head Girl Staff 1978 Staff 1950 1955 1975 1947 1951 1946 1957 Guest Guest Guest Guest Head Boy 1948 Guest 1955 1961 1954 1949 Guest Staff 1993 1951 Staff 1971-2013 Guest 1964 Staff 1955
To
1959 1962 2015 1973 1970 1972 1952 1973 1969 2010 1955 1962 1978 1953 1958 1954 1965
1956 1962 1969 1962 1956 2015 1959 1970 1963
Travelling from
Sheffield Stourbridge Stourbridge Bradley Stockport Chigwell, Essex Stockport Lepton Almondbury Paddock Brockholes
Almondbury Holmfirth Newsome York Lepton Bishop's Stortford Leighton Buzzard Northallerton Saffron Walden Lepton Almondbury Almondbury Almondbury Lindley Lindley Boudrac, France Chesterfield Ossett Stockport Stockport Lindley Torquay Almondbury Almondbury Bradley
Harleston, Norfolk
START PLANNING NOW
The 2016 Annual Dinner will take place on Saturday, 26th November. If you are thinking about organising a class reunion, now is the time to start. 29
C
The Almondburian Poets
HILDREN have always been fascinated and amused by tales involving disasters and catastrophes, so long as they happen to people other than themselves. It is therefore no surprise that the ‘Cautionary Tales’ of Hilaire Belloc have always been amongst the most popular poems written for young people. How we laughed when the inveterate liar Matilda cried wolf once too often and was left A boy was doing Chemistry to burn by the ‘noble fire brigade’! How we chortled at the tale of Jim, who ran away One afternoon of late; Instead of mixing Chloride from his nurse and was eaten by a lion! Born in France, Belloc was brought up in He mixed up some Chlorate. England and educated at Balliol College, To make it more exciting, Oxford; he subsequently became a prolific writer, poet, sailor and political activist. He His knowledge being small, He then mixed in some Sulphur died in 1953. And let the whole lot fall. Four years later, third-former G B Poole decided to write his own modest ‘cautionary tale’ on the subject of Chemistry. That this As if that did not quite suffice subject was in his mind may well have been He thought it would be rather nice… …To throw huge stones upon it all. due to the recent arrival of Oliver Kendall, a no-nonsense Chemistry teacher who had He finished up in hospital. recently graduated from Durham University ‘Mishap’ by G B Poole, 3 Alpha to replace the occasionally manic John Thomas. The Almondburian, Spring 1957
The Chemistry Lab, soon after it was completed in 1940. It changed little over the years
New booklet about Huddersfield’s ‘best address’
Pupils who went on from King James’s School to Greenhead may be interested to know that a new booklet has been produced about Greenhead Hall. Demolished in 1908 to make way for Greenhead High School, it was the home of some of the most prosperous businessmen. The full story is told in Huddersfield’s Best Address: Four Centuries of Life at Greenhead Hall, published by Friends of Greenhead Park, c/o Refreshment Rooms, Greenhead Park, Huddersfield HD1 4HS at £4.95 including packing and postage.
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BACK AT SCHOOL
Ellis lands role in BBC TV play
A
(Top): Ellis Kirk as a KJS pupil (Right): Ellis as school bully George Grub manhandling Joe Spud (Elliot Sprakes).
Be honest…
BBC
Jenny Sanderson
Year 10 pupil from King James’s School landed a role in a peak-time BBC 1 drama broadcast on New Year’s Day. Ellis Kirk (15) played the part of a school bully George Grub in David Walliams’ comedy Billionaire Boy which tells the story of Joe Spud and his father Len who becomes a billionaire from inventing a new toilet roll. Joe, a lonely, schoolboy, changes schools in the hope of finding new friends. Based on a book by David Walliams, the production also starred entertainer Warwick Davis and bassbaritone Bryn Terfel. Ellis’s acting career started at Rowley Lane Junior School in Lepton.He joined the REBEL theatre school in Shepley and has also appeared in the ITV drama Jericho. “I’ve done nothing before as big as this,” said Ellis. “People who know me ask how I could act as a bully when I’m such a good guy! But the director was brilliant and he said I was quite threatening.”
Price: £15 + pp
Take a long, hard look at that old OAS tie in your wardrobe. Is it: crumpled? the wrong width? the wrong length? soup-stained? If the answer to any (or all) of these questions is ‘yes’, join the club. But here’s a cheap, cost-effective Length: 150 cm (59 in) answer: the latest newly-fashioned Width: 9 cm (3½ in) OAS tie, available from us TODAY.
(UK: 75p; Europe: £2.50; Rest of world: £3.00) Available from the OAS website at www.oas.org.uk/buymemorabilia.php or by post from: Andrew Haigh, c/o R D Haigh & Co, Floresco House, Oak Hill Road, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 1SN
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Back to the drawing board Roger Sykes (1946-1953) revisits some of his favourite drawings
I
Old houses in St Michael’s Lane, Derby
T was the practice at Imperial College for students to spend each summer working at an engineering company. So, together with two friends, we started in the Technical College workshops at Rolls Royce, Derby. I arrived on my old 1937 BSA 250 motorcycle to enjoy the local countryside and find old halls and country houses to sketch. It was whilst walking round the back streets of Derby that I turned a corner and stopped. Before me was a place of real character with dramatic contrasting shadows. What life had these old buildings experienced. So that was the first of the drawings I made to illustrate the 1955 Derbyshire Guide and it remains my favourite. It was a natural for pen, ink and scraperboard. As for the rest of the summer, a crash on the pillion of a friend’s motorcycle sent me over a hedge into a garden, with only minor injuries. It was enough for my parents to insist on my selling the old BSA. I have to say I did not miss it. A few too many of my age group descended from high speed runs over the moors and found that the descents into villages in the valleys were ‘non negotiable’. But I do miss the moors and the old halls hidden away – I think of them as West Riding treasures.That summer I found that Derbyshire took a good second place! 32
I turned to a life of crime
For me, King James’s was a very good grammar school. But it gave me no training at all in the arts of fixing a wing collar to a shirt and wearing a horsehair wig.
T
PETER CARTER
HE Old Bailey, 1975, my first appearance. I thought it went well. I was representing a man of no fixed abode (‘homeless’ we now call such unfortunate people) in an appeal from the magistrates’ court where he had been convicted of an offence of dishonesty.The judge allowed the appeal. So, feeling satisfied with my performance, I left the courtroom in the company of a trainee from the firm of solicitors who had instructed me. Surprisingly he didn’t share my sense of achievement. He turned to me with a forlorn look and said “That’s why I don’t want to be a barrister; I wouldn’t want to make a fool of myself like that”. I have carried on doing it for 40 years. In my defence it has not only been about crime. I have also been involved in other areas of law, but mostly I am seen as a criminal barrister.The benefit – work that is fascinating and endlessly variable. The disadvantage – it is nothing like as lucrative as other areas of law. I realised early in my life at the Bar that a grammar school – even one as good as King James’s – does not prepare you for what is involved. On my first day accompanying my pupil-master to what was to be the scene of my later humiliation at the Old Bailey I was struggling to attach the wing collar to the studs on my shirt. He watched me for a while and then observed “It’s obvious to see you were not at public school”. There were, and are, many reasons why that is obvious.
33
QC
(1963 - 1970)
“After leaving King James’s in 1970 following A-levels, I read law at University College, London. I had seen UCL during a visit to London with my parents and I liked the idea of studying in Bloomsbury. I have stayed in London. I read law due to my interest in history and politics, which seemed to align in law, particularly as many historical figures from the 17th century English revolution to Lenin and Mao were lawyers. Fortunately I have kept out of politics. “My Latin A-level proved very useful – Latinisms are scattered throughout the law and it enabled me to study Roman law at UCL. My professor suggested I apply to the Bar, which is how I ended up as a barrister in 1974. “I took silk in 1995. Last year I moved to Doughty Street Chambers from the chambers I had joined in 1975 to allow me to expand the international aspects of my work. “My wife and I met at UCL in 1974.We have a son, now aged 27. “I am a visiting professor at Birkbeck, and a member of various nongovernmental organizations. My interests include cricket, poetry and walking.”
I had started at the Bar with the pretentious intention of representing the poor, the innocent and the needy. There are indeed some, many, who fall within that description and find themselves on the wrong side of the law. But sadly, my libertarian sentiments were swiftly confronted by the reality of the many who appear in criminal courts. They are violent, dishonest or manipulative and sometimes all three. In my first ten years at the Bar, before the sweeping reforms to the Metropolitan Police by Sir Robert Mark and the proper control of evidence introduced by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in 1984, some police officers shared many of the traits of the defendants. One of my instructing solicitors, who was learning his way in the courts at the same time as me, told me that when he was at school in the East End he and two friends drew lots for what they were to do in the future – policeman, villain or lawyer. He said he drew the short straw. Clearly a different kind of school from King James’s. There is a rule at the Bar known as the ‘cab-rank rule’.This means that we are not allowed to refuse a brief if we are available and it is within our competence. It was years later to bring me my most difficult and unpopular case. In the meantime it meant that I was required to prosecute some cases as well as defending others. It was remarkable how quickly judges seemed pleased to see me when I appeared for the prosecution, but still treated me with scarcely concealed hostility when I defended. That was a common experience at the criminal Bar, and may still be for those starting out on their career.There is a feeling that judges and magistrates associate us with our clients. The cab-rank rule means
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that we must represent clients whatever we think of them or of their case. We give objective, sometimes robust advice.The result is that we are popular with neither our clients nor the court and certainly not with the press. In the mid-1970s when I started, human rights were far from most lawyers’ minds. I joined Amnesty International and we set up a lawyers group. One of the senior barristers in my chambers (who went on to become a brilliant, liberal judge) told me “There’s no future in human rights, I don’t know why you are wasting your time”.Trying to take human rights seriously led me to become Secretary of the Criminal Bar Association. It doesn’t matter how articulate you think you are, confronting the world of the media – in which Andrew Taylor, my former fellow scholar, is so adept – is terrifying. Especially as my first live interview on TV was with Paxman. Humiliating is the only description. Even that didn’t stop me. I have continued to work on what are now called human rights issues, and which in reality are all about the right to decency and fair treatment. It often means working for no fee. When one of my colleagues, a distinguished QC from Leeds, realised I was appearing in a case without payment he chided me with “You can’t be a properYorkshireman, you do stuff for nowt”. Criminal barristers get to dress up for court. You even get used to the problem with the wing collar and collar studs.When I became a QC in 1995, I got to appear in even more exotic clothing – the official QC’s kit involves a long braided jacket like something from the Pirates of the Caribbean, breeches (which also means wearing black tights) and buckled Bobby
lawful.That definitely made for an interesting time. It resulted in me helping to draft a brief to the US Supreme Court (Rasul v Bush) on behalf of Members of our Parliament to argue that President Bush’s decree that prisoners in Guantanamo Bay had no access to federal courts was unconstitutional. I also met some of the US lawyers, mostly from the military, who were putting their careers in jeopardy by supporting that cause.They are courageous and honourable people, who give lawyers a good name. I also met others who do the same, and sometimes put their lives at risk, challenging oppressive regimes in Africa, South America and Asia. I wish I could believe that I would share their bravery were I in their place.
Shafto shoes as well as the horsehair wig. When my son was performing in A Man for All Seasons at his school, he was told he had to wearTudor breeches and some tights. He proudly announced that he would be able to wear his father’s tights. I daren’t think how we would have reacted in 1969. In January 2003 I became Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee – another job with no money. It had been described to me by my predecessor as the best job at the Bar. I agree. But it did take a lot of my time. A few months after I took over the chairmanship the UK invaded Iraq. I wrote and spoke publicly that this was illegal. Unfortunately the Attorney General is the Head of the Bar and he had advised (second time round as it later turned out) that it was
The ‘cab-rank rule’ brought me my most unpopular case: the defence of Yassim Omar in 2005
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The cab-rank rule brought me the case I and was trying to escape her tormentors by mentioned above. In 2005 there were two using the forged passport.The judges in that terrorist attacks in London.The first was on case applied to English law some interna7th July and caused horrific death and in- tional treaty law. Other similar cases foljury. It was the worst terrorist attack since lowed, not all successful. The principle the IRA, and the first major terrorist attack established in that case has now been incordone by a group claiming to be acting in the porated in statute – the Modern Slavery cause of Islam. Two weeks later I was on Act. Because of my role in acting for such holiday in Asia. I saw on the television an victims, I was appointed as a special adviser item about an apparently similar but failed to the Joint Parliamentary Committee considering the Modern attempt to detonate I am sceptical about Slavery Bill. bombs on the London I am full of admiratransport system. many of the processes tion for the members There was a still from a in Parliament which of that Committee CCTV camera of a susresult in some poor who worked hard and pect wearing a burka in an attempt to evade ar- and ill-considered laws. showed compassion and understanding. rest. I felt sorry for the person who had to defend that difficult case. However, I am still sceptical about many of Come-uppance. When I returned to work the processes in Parliament which result in I was instructed to defend him. The media some poor and ill-considered laws. It is a far cry from the criminal law environment was understandably hostile, and it was difficult to explain even to friends world I had joined in 1975. Why, after 40 that I had to represent him. I fully agree years, do I still continue? The law continues with the cab-rank rule. It means everyone is to be intellectually challenging and the entitled to representation.We learn to sus- cases interesting in their each unique way. pend that immediate judgment which is so Occasionally a client says “thank you” and often wrong. Any criminal lawyer will have means it. In tiny ways, through teaching and had the experience of disbelieving (however by advocacy in court I can sometimes inmuch they try to suspend that disbelief) a fluence what people think about the law client’s explanation only to find that it is and what it does to people and for people. subsequently proved conclusively correct Despite the horrors we witness every day on the news, the move towards the aboliby independent evidence. On a more positive note, I then repre- tion of impunity by the use of the Internasented at the Appeal Court a young woman tional Criminal Court and the efforts of who had been convicted of possessing a international law to combat corruption and forged passport. It was the first case to es- money laundering are having some impact. tablish the principle that victims of human There is still a long way to go. Even here. trafficking should not be convicted of of- Justice and law should march in unison. If fences committed as a result of their ex- only we could all agree on what we mean ploitation. She had been used as a sex slave by “Justice”. 36
TRUE STORY
Tram horror crash had family link
I read with interest of a tragic accident in 1902 when a new Almondbury tram ran out of control. Only later did I learn that distant relatives were amongst the victims.
A
REV STUART ROEBUCK (1950 - 1955)
cable and strung aloft by overhead wiring. The Huddersfield Corporation Tramways Act of 1900 had received Royal Assent on 6th August and the first electric route (from St George’s Square to Lindley) was brought into public service on 14th February 1901, other routes following during the next 18 months. With a switch from trams to trolleybuses in 1940, Huddersfield’s transport system continued to be powered by electricity until 13th July 1968. So what about this accident? The newly electrified route from Almondbury toTown was opened on Tuesday, 17th June 1902. One of the vehicles using this route was Electric car No 40, a double-decker, opentopped vehicle which had been newly delivered from the manufacturers. A single
terrible accident occurred at the junction of Somerset Road and Waterloo Road at 10.00 pm on a summer’s evening in 1902. It was Saturday, 28th June and it should have been a weekend of some pride and satisfaction for the people of Huddersfield as they were leading the country in operating the first municipally-owned, electric-powered transport system in England. Huddersfield had in fact, led the way with a steam-powered municipal system since 1883, but with the march of progress it was time to move forward again. Through 1900 a huge amount of work had been put into converting and extending the 13 miles of tramway routes for the change-over by erecting hundreds of traction poles powered through miles of feeder
Disaster:The tram ran out of control shortly after passing the passing loop at Day’s Mill. It crossed Wakefield Road and crashed into the Somerset Arms pub and adjacent grocer’s shop.
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ALMONDBURY TRAM TERMINUS
Kidroyd Lane
Longley Road
Wa k e f i e
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Somerset Arms pub and adjacent shop
Day’s Mill loop
the right-hand side of track for the wheels the road. Directly in ran up the centre of its path stood the SomSomerset Road, but erset Arms public there were several house, next door to places along the route which on the Hudderwhere the track dousfield side stood a grobled out into a loop cer’s shop belonging for a few yards to alto Mr Sam low trams travelling Hollingsworth. (The in opposite directions Somerset Arms is still to pass one another. there a century later, On Saturday though it has now evening, 28th June been converted into a the 9.40pm tram left shop and flats.) The Almondbury on time tram was diverted and began its journey from a head-on collialong Northgate and sion with the public down Somerset house by hitting the Road. It was driven kerbstones of the by Mr George pavement, thus just William Hewitt, with catching the corner of Mr Albert Shaw the pub and dislodgBarker as conductor. The Huddersfield Ex- Back in service: this photograph shows tram ing some of its stones. no 40, renumbered as no 62 following repairs However, it then aminer’s reporter said after the accident. Later, like many other crashed into the grothat it had ‘a fair load trams in the fleet, it was fitted with a top cer’s shop carrying of passengers, some cover. It remained in service until 1936. inside, but mostly outside’, that is to say on with it two pedestrians, 52 years old Mrs the upper deck.They stopped at Kidroyd to Emma Moorhouse and her 11 years old pick up three more passengers, and stopped daughter Marion, who had been walking on the footpath. The tram would have gone again at the Day’s Mill loop It was after leaving Day’s Mill that the further into Carr Pit Lane had it not been vehicle began to gather speed and to run stopped by a pole which bent but did not downhill out of control. By great good for- break. The tram was jammed between the tune, the next bus coming up to Almondbury was already in the loop by Smithy bent upright pole and the shop, its upper Lane, giving No 40 a free passage to thun- electric connection pole swinging dangerder down the road. At the point where the ously. Passengers were trying desperately track curved to head towards town on the to escape from the tram, while at the same Moldgreen to Huddersfield road, it left the time other people were running forward metal rails and crossed over the cobbles to to try to help. The police and the police 38
Still there today: although the Somerset Arms closed as a pub in 2013, the building and adjacent grocer’s shop serve as a reminder of the tragic event 100 years ago.
horse-ambulance were rapidly on the scene. Four local doctors hurried to give what help they could. The injured were taken to the infirmary, but unfortunately Mrs Sarah Shaw Taylor, aged 47, and her ten years old son Harry were jammed between ironwork and the seats and could not be released until the tram had been moved Other vehicles were called to pull the tram free, but even so it was over an hour before the mother and son were lifted out and taken away for treatment. The damaged tram was then towed to the depot for a thorough examination to find out what had caused the accident. The injuries were horrendous. Mrs Moorhouse died in the ambulance on the way to the infirmary, and her daughter Marion was found dead under rubble in the shop. Mrs. Taylor survived for a few hours but also died on the way to care. Harry had multiple injuries. The foot of 28 years old Ellen Briggs was badly crushed and had to be amputated and her sister Emma received severe head injuries. Many other people were injured to a greater or lesser extent, including Mr Hewitt who nevertheless insisted on doing what he could to help the injured. An inquest was held on Friday, 11th July. Its verdict was accidental death through failure of the brakes. Another driver had apparently complained earlier
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in the day that the handbrakes did not seem to be working properly.The Chairman accepted that explanation, recommending that more training should be given to drivers and that trams should be tested each day before being taken out. Compensation was paid by the Corporation to the victims of the accident. And, apart from a great deal of correspondence in the press, that was that. Several decades later the accident came vividly to life again. My cousin David and I had independently been researching our family tree, and he had discovered that Emma and Marion Moorhouse were our relatives. Our great-grandfather Henry had married Amanda Moorhouse of New Laithe Hill. Amanda had a brother called Ben. Ben’s wife was called Emma and their daughter was Marion. It had been a happy day up to that point. Marion had been to a festival at Moldgreen Congregational School and had won first prize in a competition. I was also quite unaware until well after the first draft of this article had been written that Ben was actually walking along behind Emma and Marion when the accident happened. How absolutely dreadful for him.The fact that they were part of our family did not make the tragedy worse, but it certain makes it more personal. Ten years after the accident, when a granddaughter was born to Henry and Amanda, she was christened ‘Marion’, though whether or not she was consciously named after poor little Marion Moorhouse we shall never know.
IT HAPPENED TO ME
A harrowing tale of unrequited love
I was in ecstasy when a holiday romance led me to the love of my life. But what is a chap meant to do when a second date clashes with a vital football match?
S
GARY BOOTHROYD (1961 - 1968)
he was a stunning young lady with below-the-shoulder, jet black hair, Sophia Loren cheek bones and a bust to suffocate in. It was the summer of 1967 and I was on my first-ever holiday without parental supervision. I’d joined a week’s expedition to Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Pwllheli, with Rob Floyd,Stephen Joyce, Darrel Henson, Philip Bamforth and David Cunningham all footloose, 17 year-old Grammar School mates, traveling in high expectation of a heady mix of sun, sand, sex and snooker. It proved to be a marathon binge in beer, five card brag, billiards and ballroom ‘disco-creeping’ from noon until the midnight closedown. (We slept the rest of the time and I don’t recall seeing the beach, sea or daylight.) On the penultimate night, as my drinkaddled companions hovered in the shadows, cradling consolatory pints on the edge of the dance floor, I ‘pulled’. To their amazement and mine, a lovely, mature girl - her name was Irene - consented to more than the usual single ‘bop’ with the headnodding, chicken wing-flapping zombie in front of her. I left my confederates choking on their lager as I nonchalantly took my leave, Irene hanging on my every word.We were talk-
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ing football and she impressed me notwithstanding her support of Manchester United - when she told me of her frequent travels from her Cheadle home to Old Trafford.When she started eulogizing about her favourite player, Denis Law, (‘The King’), I knew I loved her. Two years earlier, as a spotty, 15 yearold teenager, I had regarded myself as a footballing prodigy: a quick and skilful winger and self-imagined star of the team. I entertained ambitions of playing at Leeds Road in the manner of my hero, Town’s No. 7, Kevin McHale. One evening, after Latin and Biology homework, I wrote to the club requesting a trial. I received a prompt, positive reply, and believing that my prowess had already been picked up on by their scouting network, I packed my kit bag optimistically the following week. I turned up at Leeds Road in the fading light of a late September evening and got changed into my togs at Town's ‘Football Academy’, which also doubled up as the car park opposite the ground. Watching from the sidelines, Henry Cockburn, the diminutive ex-Manchester United player and at that time a Town coach, knew genius when he saw it and afterwards invited me to the weekly youth sessions at Beck Lane
First XI in 1967: (back row l to r) D H Rockett, I G Robertson, D M Gledhill, P Bamforth, M J Wortley, Gary Boothroyd (Front row l to r) G M Powner, R N H Booth, Harry Taylor, M W Bevins (captain), Ken Ireland, J J Armstrong, A R Trueman
where I brushed shoulders and traded skills with future icons Frank Worthington, Bobby Hoy and Geoff Hutt, matching them pass for pass. On one occasion, I ghosted past Geoff, leaving him for dead; but Hutt (more like brick outhouse) took great pains to make sure it didn’t happen by stopping me in the most vigorous way short of decapitation. Though I played creditably in the sacred Blue and White Stripes a couple of times, against such illustrious opponents as Farsley Celtic and Hartshead Rovers, I knew that I would never get to play against the likes of Glasgow Celtic or Blackburn Rovers. I faded away, going back to working for my ‘O’ Levels and playing friendlies against the likes of Hipperholme Grammar and Sowerby Bridge. By 1967, the year I fell in love with Irene, I was in the school First XI. Our new romance survived several desperate
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weeks of trans-Pennine separation.We exchanged passionate letters across those mountainous 26 miles until we were able to meet again. On October half-term Saturday, (Huddersfield Town were away), I took the train through the Standedge Tunnel and emerged in bright sunlight at Manchester Piccadilly. She was waiting on the platform, as beautiful as I remembered her. Our eyes met; I knew nothing had changed. We renewed our physical acquaintance with an enthusiastic snog and walked hand-in-hand around the shops. I stroked her knee in the coffee bar over lunch and we kissed and cuddled on a park bench, near the city centre, before heading back for my tea-time train. She offered me a tearful, despairing hug as I leaned out of the departing carriage window: I vowed that I’d be back the following month.
Rodney Marsh: ‘flamboyant repertoire of twists, turns, feints and dummies’
But unfortunately, the sunlit days of a passionate love affair can suffer an occasional chill breeze, particularly when a tough decision has to be made - that of weighing one love against another. A school First XI football match – the local ‘derby’ against Huddersfield New College – had been unexpectedly re-arranged so I had to write to her, regretfully, to say that I’d not be able to come to Manchester after all. I softened the sickening blow over the phone by offering her the consolation of a visit three weeks later, when we didn't have a game. No sooner had I put the phone down than I learned that the match had been called off. I could have returned to the phone box and re-instated our rendezvous, but unworthy thoughts suddenly impaled me on the horns of an unspeakable dilemma. Town were at home to high-flying Queens Park Rangers that same afternoon. I was therefore confronted with the choice between a canoodling interlude with the love
Frank Worthington: scored first goal in League football in QPR match
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of my life followed by a painful heartwrenching farewell, and a full-blooded Second Division clash against a table-topping side boasting, amongst others, Rodney Marsh and Ron Springett. (Well, what would YOU have done?) Rob and I made it just in time for kickoff, squeezing into the Cowshed and singing for all we were worth as Town attacked the Dalton Lane End. Rangers were well worth their highriding position, Rodney demonstrating his flamboyant repertoire of twists, turns, feints and dummies, a shock of resplendent blonde locks flapping on his shoulders. He was a player who thrived on the derision hurled at him, fending it off with an inherent good humour; he laughed when refused a penalty after one step-over too many. His comical charisma made him a difficult opponent to dislike, though we did our best.Town's defence was dissected repeatedly and Rangers paid dearly for failing to remove its vital organs when, after a series of charitable misses, and against every
expectation, our 19 year-old tyro centreforward slammed the ball past the ex-England goalkeeper, Springett: Frank Worthington had scored his first goal in League football.We hung on through a seesaw second half to win 1- 0. A few days later, I received due pay-off. I phoned Irene to whisper a few sweet nothings and she stunned me by professing her undying love ...for Darrel! Darrel Henson, my schoolmate of many years standing.The Darrel who’d shared our ‘lads away’ in Pwllheli.The Darrel who’d stood beside me when we quaffed our first illicit pint at the Travellers’ Rest and been forced to ‘down it’ quickly when the policeman walked in. That Darrel? Yes, that Darrel – the one with the Buddy Holly, black-framed specs, centreparting and sticky-out ears, taller, but less good-looking than me – had been travelling to see Irene on weekends when I’d been unable to make it. It got worse. She went on to confess that he'd been staying over in Cheshire and I immediately conjured up lurid visions of him creeping stealthily on tip-toe from the guest bedroom, fingers on the draw string of his
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candy-stripe pyjamas, anticipating the delights to come that I had never myself savoured. I was still reeling from that gut-tearing knife thrust when she stabbed me nearmortally through the heart with her next revelation: they’d gone to Old Trafford together. I pictured them falling into an ecstatic embrace as Denis raised his cuff-clenched arm aloft having volleyed home a trademark, acrobatic winner. I left the telephone box inconsolably distraught. Confronting Henson the following day, he shamefacedly acknowledged his ‘borrowing’ of my girlfriend, but fell back on the brazen ‘all’s fair in love and war’ excuse and suggested we go down the Con Club to settle it over a few ends of bowls. I declined his mealy-mouthed peace pact offer, but neither was I in the mood for fighting. I told him I loved Irene too, hit him with a few ‘home truths’, and then chivalrously stood aside. That same evening, I wrote Irene a brief reproachful letter and sealed it with a celibate kiss, knowing that I would never, ever, love again.
Postscript
n the summer of 1991 I attended a Class of ’61 reunion weekend. I shook hands and slapped backs in delight at seeing so many familiar faces, now etched by time, their voices and mannerisms still echoing those of adolescent days. It was then that we recognised each other Extracting himself from a nearby pocket of conversation, Darrel strode towards me, tears forming behind his ‘Buddy Holly’ spectacles. In our subsequent animated conversation, he explained that he had long since emigrated to Canada, married, had a family and created a successful business.Yet, at that moment, as we embraced, he pleaded with me to forgive him his treacherous schoolboy duplicity. We laughed and joked in fond memory of those youthful times and the scars of love we bore for “…what was her name?” 43
Every picture tells a story
T
The great School Pageant of 1936: a success beyond everyone’s dreams
HIS photograph serves as a reminder of the astonishingly ambitious event just 80 years ago conceived by senior English and Classics master Herbert Blackburn. It was based on the history of King James’s as recorded in Taylor Dyson’s book Almondbury and its Ancient School. The origins of the Pageant lay in a twoweek carnival put together by the ‘ancient township of Almondbury’ to raise funds for the Royal Infirmary and Victoria Nurses’ Association. It was sponsored by many local companies and shops; in those innocent days, no-one thought it was at all incongruous that they should include Emma Day, provider of ‘Smoker’s [sic] Requisites’. As its own contribution to the carnival, the School presented a four-day pageant on the cricket field from 1st to 4th July 1936 when a massive cast of pupils re-enacted the historic days when the townsmen of Almondbury sought a charter for the School from King James 1.Words were by Herbert Blackburn; music was under the direction of Harry Gledhill; properties were made in the school workshop under the direction of Edward Akroyd; and maypole dancing was directed by no less than Miss
Molly Ashton, principal dancer in the original production of Chu Chin Chow. It was a time for strong nerves. “Right up to the dress rehearsal, one trembled to think what the result was going to be,” recorded Taylor Dyson. “One took heart from the fact that the boys have never yet let the School down.” The Yorkshire Post was full of praise for the production. ‘The school cricket field provided a natural stage for the production before an audience of over 1,000 people’ reported the newspaper. The Huddersfield Examiner was also enthusiastic: ‘The boys, and the school staff, are to be congratulated on their success. The whole thing has been done remarkably well.’ In addition to being a theatrical triumph, the Pageant was also a considerable financial success and a cheque for £205 2s 6d was handed over to the Royal Infirmary and Victoria Nurses’ Association.The scale of the achievement can be measured by the announcement in the carnival programme that a brand new house on Benomley Road could bought for just £425.
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In the photograph, King James 1 (W B Quarmby) escorts his Queen (R I M Hepworth).
Farnley Lines
A
DAVE BUSH
S I said to your esteemed editor recently, it is not always easy three times a year to find something that I hope readers of our superb magazine will find of interest. Facing a blank screen is often daunting. I sit with finger poised above the keys waiting for the Muse of Literature to tap me on the shoulder. Ah! A visitation I believe and a whisper that I should begin with The Dinner. As always I was most cordially welcomed to your secretary’s home in Arkenley, so convenient for the school and whose proximity is much appreciated by Andrew’s eldest daughter, Annabel, now a pupil there. I do hope the attendees appreciate just how much
work goes into holding this event at the school. However, it is ludicrous that Andrew, after all the clearing away and locking up, did not reach home until 3.00 am.The executive committee must find a way of not allowing this to happen again. Although the service was slow, the speeches, the food and the general ambience were more than adequate compensation. Add to this the growing church attendance on the Sunday morning and the always stirring service and it was a reet grand weekend. However, I have decided that this will prove to be my last Dinner. I calculate I have missed only two in over 50 years, once when I was studying for my Master’s and once when I was in Brazil.The reasons are three-
A ‘reet grand weekend’: catching up with the gossip at the Annual Dinner at the School on 21st November 2015. Founders’ Day was also a stirring occasion.
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Happier days: Dave and Margaret Bush spending Christmas with Yves Gasnier and his wife Louise (extreme left and right) in France in the early 1970s.
life. On his visits to Huddersfield we always made a trip down St Helen’s Gate. Our families grew up, grandchildren were born and exchange visits were frequent; he always wanted to know how the school was progressing. At every meal a place was set for ‘Monsieur Le Dictionnaire’ for he was frequently consulted. We wanted to visit them again in September though we knew that both he and his wife were ill. Yves died two days before we arrived in France and on the second day there we received a call to say Louise had also passed away. Exactly one week after Yves’ burial her coffin joined his. At the wake it was moving to see his accordion and guitar on one side, -he was a teacher of Music as well as of English – and a photograph ofThe Almondburians’‘Old Crocks’ teams pinned to his bookcase.
fold. Firstly I find the journey increasingly demanding.There is always a hold-up somewhere and I no longer enjoy driving in the dark. Secondly, despite my hearing aids, conversation in a crowded environment is difficult and embarrassing for both parties.And finally, I suppose I find it so disappointing that, having made the effort to attend, there are so many who live comparatively close or who could attend with fewer demands who are not present. Never say ‘never’ – perhaps son will bring me up again one day – but that is how I feel at present. Yves Gasnier From one negative to another. It was in September 1967 that I asked the newly arrived French ‘assistant’, “Yves, are you interested in football?” From that moment we traced nearly 48 years of very close friendship. ForYves was passionately interested in football and was soon playing for the Old Almondburians. He loved his year at KJGS and involved himself completely in school
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The teaching of Latin Let’s get the last possible negative out of the way. I was most concerned to learn at
our ‘beloved school’ quickly reveals the excellence of its facilities and publicity shows its outstanding examination results. Little surprise that it is vastly oversubscribed. And I have achieved a century. Although I fell around 80 runs short of this total on the cricket field, in September I gave my 100th pint of blood. No banners, balloons and brass band as I entered the swish Heronstone Hotel to make my donation but I do have a letter assuring me of a future presentation. I have been giving four times a year recently in my race to 100 while still able to do so, though birding trips to exotic places have sometimes made this impossible. I feel I am now qualified to give a talk on ‘Blood Donation Through the Ages’. For me it began somewhere near the old Ramsden Street Baths. At my ‘100th’, the nurse informed me that in the early days blood was collected in glass bottles which, after use, were rinsed and reused. Surely I do not go that far back.
the Dinner that the future of Latin at KJS is under threat with the imminent retirement of Leslie Rattigan. How sad it would be if it ceased to be taught after more than four hundred years. Gerald Hinchliffe in his History of King James’s Grammar School (page 297) quotes Taylor Dyson, one of KJGS’s great headteachers :‘Whatever happens in this ever changing world… see to it that the old school is just slightly different from any other school.’ I have always thought the continued teaching of Latin has helped to fulfil his wish. However, while we have Patrick O’Brien as Chair of School Governors and of the OAS, optimism must prevail. Perhaps other former pupils might add their voices in support? I celebrate my century Have I nothing positive to say? Indeed I have. ‘Floreat Schola’ we always say, write or sing and it truly is flourishing. A visit to
The teaching of Latin in schools
The original purpose of ancient grammar schools was the teaching of Latin. Latin has been taught at King James’s for over 400 years. The King James’s School Statutes are categoric: ‘The Master shall not speake English nor permitte the use of the English tongue in the Schole to any of his Scholars which are able to understand or speake Latin… Instruction in the Latin and Greek languages shall be given gratuitously to the children of the poor born in the parish. Such poor children shall be obliged to get moss for the roof of the school and clean the desks and school without neglect to their learning.’ Notable Latin teachers in past years have included Herbert (‘Tich’) Blackburn (1919-1952), Jim Toomey (1953-1968), David Bush (1961-1996), Patrick O’Brien (1972-2010) and Leslie Rattigan (1980-2016). According to the University of Cambridge Schools Classics Project, Latin has made a remarkable comeback in state secondary schools in recent years.There are now more non-selective state schools offering Latin than selective state and independent schools combined.
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The perils of English grammar Is this positive or negative? Former colleagues and pupils will appreciate that I have not lost my passion for correct grammar, the preservation of the English subjunctive and above all the proper use of the apostrophe. I do despair at times but a wetted finger or a felt tipped pen restore my enthusiasm.The problem with setting oneself up as a grammar guru is that one can be hoist with one’s own apostrophe. I have still not forgotten a reply I received many years ago from H M’s Government (below) which proves this so clearly.
Morocco next stop To conclude on a very pleasant note. Two weeks in Morocco at the end of January in search of winter sunshine and… “Yes, Margaret, I know it’s a cultural holiday not a birding trip.” Yet I think I may manage to slip my binoculars into my case. (Top) Saucy sign: this has appeared for several months outside the Pelican Inn near Porthcawl (Bottom): ‘Correcting’ a Government Health Warning can itself be a hazardous undertaking
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PRIVATE PASSIONS Part 1
The trolleybuses of Huddersfield
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STEPHEN LOCKWOOD (1960-1967)
Stephen Lockwood has loved trolleybuses all his life. He explains how it all started – and how he and some schoolmates ended up buying one in late 1960s.
was born in 1949, and my first poles to replace them in their proper home was in Fartown, a 1930s- place under the wires. Usually this built terrace house near the junc- caused just a few minutes delay, but if tion of Cobcroft Road and Wasp Nest one of the trolley heads (the metal castRoad. These roads formed part of the ing containing a carbon skate that made one-way turn-round loop of the no. 60 contact with the wires) became detached Birkby trolleys, whose terminus was in or fell off completely, then the derrick Woodbine Road. The house had a bay (tower/breakdown wagon) would have window at the front, from which I was to be summoned. This was just one of the able to watch the trolleys as they came fascinating aspects of the trolley system. up from the terminus and turned sharp Another was the requirement for the right into Wasp Nest Stephen Lockwood left King James’s conductor, at various Road. The Birkby route Grammar School to take up a key junctions, to jump was very busy, so there clerical job with Bradford City off and pull the ‘trigIn 1976 he moved to was a trolley to watch Transport. ger’. This was a metal Darlington as Traffic Officer and later every 7½ minutes, Assistant General Manager of handle fastened to a even more at rush Darlington Borough Transport.When traction pole (the pole was privatised he became hours. This was how I this in the street that held Operations Manager and then got hooked on these Managing Director of Darlington up the overhead majestic vehicles and Transport Company. Stephen wires). The action joined Durham County the interest has never subsequently changed the ‘frog’ Council as a Network Planning left me. (points) allowing the Officer in the Public Transport Unit. The aforementioned trolley poles to be diright turn was a prime verted onto the corspot for dewirements rect wires. At very if the driver took the busy junctions, such as curve too fast. Out at the Lyceum junction would come the long at the bottom of Sombamboo pole stowed erset Road, where the under the vehicle and Almondbury trolleys the crew would try to turned off Wakefield catch the errant trolley Road, there was an au49
Spring of 1965: taken just a few weeks before the trolleys finished, this evocative view of Northgate, Almondbury shows the trolleybus terminus in the distance. In the foreground is a KJGS pupil, possibly returning to school after lunch.
tomatic system controlled by the driver. A few feet before the frog, there was a skate in the overhead. The driver turning right would take power when passing under the skate, thus activating the frog. If it was going straight on towards Waterloo, the driver had to ensure that he coasted under the skate, which would leave the frog in the normal position. A third effect, unique to the trolleys, took place during hours of darkness. The interior lights were powered directly from the overhead wires (wired in series so that each bulb worked on only a small proportion of the 550 volts in the overhead), so every time the trolley poles passed under an insulated piece of wiring (necessary, for instance where there were frogs and crossings), the lights would wink off then on again. When setting off from John William Street, and crossing the bottom of St George’s Square where there were several such frogs and crossings in the overhead, there was a considerable amount of this intermittent darkness. By the end of the 1950s, although totally captivated by the trolleys, opportunities for riding on them or exploring
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the routes were quite limited. My mother insisted that I walk to and from the Junior School in Blacker Road Birkby, and that included coming home for dinner. It was only if the weather was bad that I was allowed to go by trolley, (I prayed for rain!). Visits to town were at weekends, and so there was much of the trolleybus system that was unknown to me. During the summer holidays I was allowed to accompany my elder brother on a trip by trolley on the 7-mile Marsden route. When visiting my grandmother we rode on the no. 10 trolley to Brackenhall. Even here, our stop was before the terminus, and I could see the trolley wires disappearing over the brow of the hill – I longed to know how far they went. There were big changes in my life in 1960. In the early spring, our family moved house to Richmond Avenue, just off Bradford Road between Fartown Bar and Smithy. My days of watching the trolleys at Birkby terminus were over, though from the back bedroom window I could watch trolleys coming from Brackenhall as they began to descend towards Smithy, appearing again as they
stopped at Dewhurst Road, my local meant that at weekends and holidays I stop. Having passed the 11 Plus exam, I was allowed to explore the trolley routes was awarded a place at King James’s at will and I was soon very familiar with Grammar School, starting in September. the whole system. On the first day at KGJS the boys in My first ever ride by trolley to Almondbury was with my mother to an event al- my form (1 Alpha) gathered at the top of lowing new pupils and their parents to the staircase outside Dorm 2. Harry Gledhill allocated us to our desks in alhave a look at the school. From the start of term I travelled by phabetical order. Following me to his trolley every schoolday from Fartown desk right behind me was Trevor Longto Almondbury (changing in the town bottom, and we quickly became good centre and getting on the no 30 or 33 in friends, both of us being interested in the Byram Street). From then on I was able trolleybuses. In the early 1960s it became clear that to monitor the trolleys most days. There was always something different to see. A the trolleys were on the way out, to be newly overhauled and repainted vehicle, replaced by the dreaded diesel buses. or one that had been shorn of its heavy Initially it was only the longer routes bumpers, front and rear. The idea behind that were at risk, and in late 1961 the no these bumpers, was to enable the trolleys 30 West Vale to Almondbury route was to park close together (ie with bumpers split, diesels running the West Vale sectouching) in the depot, thereby saving tion and the trolleys on the Almondbury space. All trolleybuses built from 1950 to half, all being no. 33s. Then in the severe 1958 had them, but Byram Street: the town centre boarding point for the Almondbury their intended use trolleys, with Huddersfield Parish Church in the background. Many Old Almondburians will be very familiar with this scene.The proved impractical and trolley, no. 557, had 1955-built bodywork on a 1948 Karrier most of the trolleys had chassis. Note the heavy bumper at the front. them removed in the early 1960s. Also at this time, many older trolleys were receiving new bodywork, and what looked like a brand new machine was betrayed by a 1947 registration number. All this resulted in a fleet that was very varied in appearance, which added to the fascination. My new freedom to travel to school 51
Travel to school then settled down to a set pattern. I caught the 7.55 am Fixby to Almondbury trolley at Dewhurst Road. Trevor Longbottom, who lived at Bradley Bar, would already be on board occupying the top deck front offside seat, where I would join him. It was not only schooldays either, because being a member of the school cross-country team organised by ‘Sid’ Chapman, I turned out for the school on many winter Saturdays competing against other grammar schools. This blissful start (and finish) to the school day was not to last. I took my ‘O’ level exams in June 1965, and a month later it was the turn of the Almondbury route to be turned over to the diesel bus. The 33 and 34 trolleys made their final journeys on Wednesday 15th July, just before the end of term. I was on the
winter conditions of January 1963 (during which I never recall any major delay in getting to school), the seven mile Marsden route went over to buses. At this point the Transport Department decided to link-up the Almondbury route with that to Fixby, those running through being numbered 34. For me this meant that I would be able to ride to school without changing in the town centre. Before this could happen, a certain amount of new wiring had to be erected, notably in Lord Street. A few days before the new service began, I caught the trolley in Byram Street as normal. Half way down St Peter’s Street, instead of going right to the bottom, the trolley lurched to the right and ran (or bumped its way due to the amount of impacted frozen snow on the carriageway) along Lord Street to Kirkgate using the new wires.
Big freeze: from January 1963, Almondbury trolleys were diverted onto Lord Street using brand new overhead wiring. Here, an Almondbury trolley turns into Lord Street from St Peter’s Street a few days before the Almondbury stop was moved into Lord Street.
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Top:Taken on the last evening of the Almondbury trolleys, no. 593 has just left the terminus. Later on it will become the last trolleybus into the village.
Bottom:The three ‘trolleybus nuts’ are seen in this view of the Newsome South terminus at Caldercliffe Road, Berry Brow. Nearest the camera is David Beach, behind him is Stephen Lockwood and at the back is Trevor Longbottom.The trolley is engaged on one of the group’s trolleybus tours (17th April 1966), and for the occasion it is carrying destination names from a Grimsby trolleybus.
very last one into the village, trolley number 593, together with many other trolleybus fans, including fellow Almondburian trolleybus enthusiast David Beach. For a further year there was the no. 10 trolley on Bradford Road, and I resorted to catching this into town and transferring there to the Almondbury diesel in Lord Street. After the Bradford Road routes lost their trolleys in July
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1966, I was left with no choice but to revert to the through 34 bus. Only two trolleybus services remained, the 40/41 and the 71/73 and during term time my trolleybus riding was largely confined to weekends. David Beach has already described (Postbag, November 2015) the efforts that we three Almondburians made to purchase a trolley for preservation. We knew that the scrap value was around £100, but in those days this was a formidable sum to raise. I should mention here that although we were all KJGS pupils, our trolleybus preservation activities were by no means an official part of the school. To our classmates, we were known as ‘the trolleybus nuts’. I believe that in the early 1950s there was a formal
inability to find accommodation for the vehicle when purchased, we realised that it was best to wait until the very end of trolleybus operation and buy one then. Indeed, Edgar Dyson, the Corporation Transport General Manager, advised us to do this, promising his full support. To be continued. In the July issue, we learn how ‘the trolleybus nuts’ buy their bus and the great adventure begins. Stephen Lockwood’s new book Huddersfield—the trolleybus years (reviewed below) is now on sale.
Road Transport Society at the school, with trips being organised to local bus operator premises, including the trolleybus depot at Longroyd Bridge. Although many individuals contributed to our fund, the main source of income came from organising ‘trolleybus tours’, where we hired a trolleybus on a Sunday afternoon and travelled all over the routes, going to many points where the trolleys were not often seen. The first tour was held in May 1964, when about 50 people paid 7s 6d to ride on the vehicle. After a couple of false starts, frustrated by the
BOOK REVIEW
Huddersfield—the trolleybus years by Stephen Lockwood Publisher: Adam Gordon
pp 232 297 x 210 ISBN 978 1 910654 00 2
This book had an unusual birth. It was originally planned to be a photographic record of Huddersfield’s many trolleybus routes but the publisher rightly felt that a more comprehensive treatment was justified.The result is a very fine illustrated history of a trolleybus network that was, between 1933 and 1968, one the finest and most admired in the UK. Printed on 232 pages of quality art paper, this book will appeal to the many who remember with fond nostalgia these greatly loved Huddersfield trolleys. It has many contributors, including the author’s fellow Old Almondburian David Beach. A great many of the hundreds of photographs, shown for the first time, are in full colour. One cannot fail to be struck by how ‘modern’ the smart red and cream trolleybuses still appear today, even in scenes photographed in the 1960s where they appear alongside cars and lorries which are clearly of the period. A fascinating section of the book is devoted to the 21 trolleybuses that had interesting after-lives. A few went to Reading to help with their urgent public transport needs. Some had a less glamorous role as public toilets at Epsom Downs race course. The book also includes diagrams showing the wiring network as it had developed by the early 1960s, and there are maps showing how the system developed between 1933 and 1968. Such a lavish production inevitably does not come cheap, and a few prospective purchasers may be put off by the publisher’s high price of £50. However, the author has a limited number of copies that he can supply to readers of The Almondburian at £30. He can be contacted at stephen.lockwood@oas.org.uk. 54
The big OAS
Trolleybus reunion
Saturday, 14th May 2016 from 11.00 am The Trolleybus Museum, Sandtoft nr Doncaster Home to the world’s largest collection of preserved trolleybuses including THREE from the Huddersfield fleet
Register NOW to take part in this OAS reunion with a difference! The visit will include a full tour of the museum, a talk by OAS expert STEPHEN LOCKWOOD about the Huddersfield fleet in its prime, and – of course – a nostalgic ride on one of the Huddersfield ‘trolleys’.You will be able to take lunch in the museum’s 5-star cafe, or just bring your own sandwiches if you prefer. The normal admission price is £7 (concessions £6) but we will be eligible for a special group discount of 15% (pay at the museum on the day). To join the party, email almondburian@oas.org.uk, text TROLLEYBUS to 07815 601447 or complete the special form on www.oas.org.uk/trolleybus.php. 55
Classroom commentary
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Our regular columnist SARAH LANCASTER ponders on misconceptions about how teachers spend their day.
ANUARY. Yes, by the time you read this it will be March, but right now I’m sitting cocooned in three layers of insulation, watching my steaming breath as it smokes from my blue lips and fogs up the computer screen. It’s not just the weather that gets teachers down in January – it’s the darkness, the post-Christmas slump, the long wait until pay-day and, of course, the return to work. Not that I’m complaining. I love my job, it just sometimes takes a bit of a run-up to get going properly in these bleak winter months. As a result, I’ve been a bit on the back foot. And articles don’t write themselves. Then it occurred to me.Why not utilise one of my own personal writing sweatshops, conveniently accessible in four 50minute weekly slots? I’d been wanting to write about the representation of teachers in society and the media and so I asked my question to the people who know best: What do teachers do all day? I told Year 8 pupils to tell the truth as they understood it. I told them that they could concentrate on any aspect of teaching that appealed to them. I told them that they could, if they wished, use their own English teacher as inspiration, whose own fascinating comportment, mysterious demeanour and infinite variety would surely elicit some thoughtful and poignant responses. This is what they came up with. Friday night. You’d expectMs Lancaster
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to be at home with her family like a normal person, but no. She’s sat with thick black mascara running down her cheeks. In front of her face lies an Everest of think papers looming over her.That night, she lays on a table using exam papers as a comforting cushion and for a blanket, she uses the curtains. Interesting. Surely a one-off though. I read on, expecting any minute to find the glowing appraisal of my dedicated efforts that I was looking for. It’s Friday night, when teachers are supposed to be having a drink, but this solitary teacher, Ms. Lancaster, is hibernating in the old stock cupboard where the other lonely teachers have been. Plotting evil punishments for tomorrow, she stuffs her cheeks with paper like a chipmunk. I’m fairly sure that I have not routinely eaten paper since about year 2, but this wasn’t the only aspersion cast upon the strange dietary habits of teachers. The teacher sat in her cupboard, munching on a pile of brand new rubbers. She burst out in a cloud of chalk with a pile of deadly, unmarked exam papers and a red pen in the other hand. She stumbled towards the computer with knots and a twig tangled in her hair (even though she had been inside the whole day). She logged onto the computer, only to find that Google had been blocked. Suddenly, thunder crackled outside… The clock ticked as she realised… it was MONDAY!
off the chalk chicken’s head and viciously crunched it as a cloud of smoke poured out of her mouth and filled the room. She burst the cork off the bottle of ink and chugged it down.The class looked on in horror. Although the hibernation metaphors of the earlier examples seem particularly apt for my current semi-recumbent, postChristmas, cheese-triste, self-pitying state, it also, more importantly, brought to mind some of the stereotypes about teachers that we might take for granted.Yes, everyone reels in alarm when they see their teacher in the supermarket and not, as expected, holed up in the store cupboard covered in chalk and sobbing silently into a handful of post-it notes. But there are other perceptions of teaching as portrayed in the media which are more insidious, more socially penetrating and less consciously acknowledged. First of all, and generally harmlessly, we have the teacher as maverick. The inspirational desk-hopping, rule-breaking teacher of Dead Poets Society fame. This teacher doesn’t care for Photographs: Jenny Sanderson rules and regulations. This teacher also, essentially, doesn’t exist, as pointed out by The Guardian with its claim that ‘Brilliant eccentrics are a dying breed in education’. Secondly, we have the teacher-as-slacker stereotype. Home for 3.30 pm
More was to follow: An unmarked exam drifts across a hallway. Out of nowhere a frog-like tongue snatches it out of the air and devours it like a shredder. It’s a teacher. It is scouring the school, looking for a test with full marks to fill her stomach. Her bony hands leave claw marks on the whiteboard. She is knocking over the cabinets, at last, she has found it. She can finally rest. Very poetic. Then things got really surreal. I looked into the mind of the teacher and saw the swirling vortex of misery, still wearing the same old clothes from the ’80s. I seem to recall that in the ’80s I was mainly sporting amniotic fluid. A frightening approach to non-uniform day by anyone’s standards. And finally… The class were patiently waiting for the teacher. Suddenly there was a bang at the door.‘CRASH!’ went the door as it fell to the ground. Miss ran in with a wine bottle full of ink in one hand and a chalk shaped like a chicken in the other hand. She bit
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Creative: Year 8 pupils hard at work
Not so hard at work: the class share a joke with their English teacher
every night and enjoying twelve unspoiled weeks of holiday a year, the slacker-teacher brandishes her Union membership and strikes the minute she’s expected to do a real day’s work. Real life headlines from The Daily Telegraph and the BBC include ‘What hours do teachers really work?’ and ‘Teachers defend ‘essential’ six-week summer holiday’ (note the inverted commas). Lastly we come to the teacher-asmartyr stereotype, the opposite end of the spectrum. The well-meaning but perpetually disillusioned martyr-teacher routinely brushes aside her own most basic rights and needs in order to attend to the impossible workload of a teaching career. Countless headlines illustrate this perception: Teachers facing a ‘perfect storm of crisis upon crisis’ (The Times),‘Even on maternity leave, teaching doesn’t stop’ (The Guardian) and 'Killjoy' head bans birthday cakes as staff are TOO BUSY to check they're safe to eat’ (The Sun). It’s not just my Year 8s who have vivid imaginations. It might come as a surprise that it is this last approach that I find the most unhelpful. I’m not saying that I don’t work incredibly hard – I do, I really do –
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but it’s my job and I’m paid for it. Whilst I don’t want to be ostracised as lazy just because I can’t actually physically teach during the school holidays, neither do I want to be pitied and pandered to because my job is hard. Frankly, it’s patronising. Personally, I do think that there are problems with the management of schools and teachers by the government. If there weren’t, then it wouldn’t be the case that over 50% of teachers have reported to the NUT that they are currently considering leaving the profession. It’s just my opinion and you’re welcome to disregard it. However, representing teachers as victims and martyrs doesn’t solve this problem. It leaves teachers feeling more and more willing to waive and accept poor handling of the education system on the grounds that they’re ‘doing it for the kids’, which renders any personal sacrifice of time, happiness or job satisfaction acceptable. Hyperbole doesn’t help to illustrate a point about teachers, it prevents a real discussion about the strengths and shortcomings of the profession from taking place. The language that we use when discussing a line of work doesn’t just reflect how we feel about it as a society, it moulds our perceptions. Let’s be sensible and honest in the way that we talk about teaching and teachers. It suggests that we’re taking our children’s education seriously.
Badminton
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A N D RE W H A I G H
O, we finally have World Superseries Badminton Champions! O.K., admittedly the Old Almondburians’ Society hasn’t produced any World Superseries Champions; well, not yet, anyway, but well done to Chris. and Gabby Adcock for making history by winning the mixed doubles and so becoming the first British players to win a Superseries title. That should surely inspire you all to come along and play badminton with us, shouldn’t it? We would love to see some more players joining us. We are getting some good attendances again from time to time, but not consistently. I mentioned in the last issue how our early season numbers were boosted by the presence of Matthew Booth, one of our former regular players, visiting from Cambodia where he has been living. He
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andrew.haig h@oas . org.uk
was therefore a very welcome sight once again when, much to everyone’s surprise, he walked through the door for the first badminton evening of 2016. Even better news was that he will be back home for a good while this time and, hopefully, joining us on a regular basis again. Matthew is a keen Huddersfield Town fan and I can only presume that he saw that ‘Town’ had scored five goals against Charlton Athletic two days earlier and had immediately felt the need to rush home and see such wonders with his own eyes. The marvellous thing about Matthew is his magnetic personality. For, whenever he returns to play, others always follow. Indeed, I am assured that Craig Watts, another former regular who hasn’t played for three years,
will be putting in an appearance on court next week. Unfortunately, I am being reminded by the editor that the publishing deadline is looming, so time will not permit me to report on his reappearance, should it happen, in this issue. I shall, dear reader, have to leave you in suspense; will Craig play next week? Be sure to turn straight to the badminton notes in the next issue to find out. Alternatively, you could come along to join us and find out for yourself! We play in the school sports hall on Thursday evenings during term time from 7.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. We currently pay ÂŁ6 per evening towards
Tennis
T
the hire of courts and showers, the purchase of shuttlecocks and the donation of a prize at Speech Day, but with just a few more players, the fee will reduce. The ten players who have played so far this season are: Matthew Booth, Emily Comer, Ian Daffern, Ben Earnshaw Mark Earnshaw Tom Earnshaw Neil Gledhill Andrew Haigh Robin Merchant David Parry.
A N D R E W H A I GH
a ndrew.h aigh @oas .org.uk
HE 2016 Almondburian tennis season will start on Thursday, 9th June and will run until Thursday, 25th August. We shall be playing on the school tennis courts each Thursday evening between these dates, weather permitting, from 7.30 pm until dusk, and anyone is most welcome to join us. During term-time, it is possible to play badminton in the sports hall if the weather is inclement, although this is not possible during the summer holidays due to maintenance work in the sports hall. The fee, to cover the cost of balls (and showers during term-time), will be the princely sum of ÂŁ3.00 per person, per evening. Almondburian tennis is purely social, so why not come along and join us? 60
Postbag
YO U W RITE …
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The School had close links with the Central Lads’ Club
From: John Broadbent (1948-1954) was most interested in the article in the November 2015 issue of The Almondburian concerning the art of Edward Akroyd and in particular the statement that outside school he had links with the Central Lads’ Club (CLC). I also enjoyed a long period of association with CLC in my capacity as Honorary Secretary andTrustee from 1966-1997. My involvement stemmed from my position as a partner with solicitors Ramsden Sykes & Ramsden and not from the fact that I was an Old Almondburian. Back in those days if your senior partner said it was time you “got involved” that is what you did! In fact I enjoyed my role and the opportunities it
brought to get involved with the young local boys for whom the CLC offered a much needed opportunity for sport and other useful activities rather than hanging around on the streets getting into mischief.These useful activities included woodworking and I well remember the room set aside for this activity. It had an uncanny resemblence to our wood working room at school and I think it highly likely thatTeak had set it up and taught there. I found the photographs particularly interesting especially the 1934 group picture of boys at the club with the new honours board whichTeak had designed. I had not seen this photograph before but I had seen the honours board many times. I can confirm that
In our last issue, we speculated on the possibility that the gentleman on the back row of this photograph at the Central Lads’ Club might have been Edward Akroyd’s friend John Baldwin, who joined the School at much the same time in the 1920s. It was indeed, says John Broadbent.
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the person third from left on more than the goodwill of the the back row is indeed John M individuals concerned. Baldwin, our Headmaster Subsequently the late Brian 1945-48. I had never before Carter (at school 1938-45) seen the design for the badge and and whose obituary is given in do not know whether it ever went the November 2014 edition of The into production. It is a hand- A pre-war Central Lads’ Club Almondburian proved a welsome design and just the sort badge.The club was a member come addition to the club of thing lads would have gone of the National Association of committee. He came as a Clubs, set up in 1925 to for. I wonder if anyone else can Boys’ link such clubs around the UK. representative of Huddersfield shed light on this point? Rotary Club. The presence of Mr Baldwin on the Another stalwart of the CLC committee photo, and the involvement of Teak, are no was E Austen Johnson, familiarly known as surprise to me.There clearly was a connection Ted amongst his friends, and who is now 94 between CLC and the School. I well remem- years of age. Ted served on the committee ber that when I attended my first committee from the 1970s onwards and I have asked him meeting I was delighted to find myself in the whether he knew about Teak’s connection. company of HarryTaylor. He was a long serv- He did not, but I discovered for the first time ing member of the Committee when I that he was himself an Old Almondburian, started in 1966 and he went on to serve for having been at School between 1931-33! many further years well into his retirement. So the connection is there but its origins From what he told me he had followed in Mr unclear – unless any of our readers know Baldwin’s footsteps. However I cannot say more? whether this link with School was anything Huddersfield,WestYorkshire
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No beating about the Bush – Saga are tops for holidays
From: James Clayton (1947-1954) daresay I am not the first to spot this but it put a smile on my face. I came across it in the Saga brochure for 2016. Norwich, Norfolk
You were the first, James, but I doubt if you will be the last… (Ed)
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Obituary
G O N E B U T N OT FO RGOTTEN
Garry Lee Hirst (1956-1961) Keen sports-loving Almondburian who had a long career withYorkshire Electricity Board Garry Hirst was Huddersfield born and bred, lived in the Reinwood area of Oakes and met his fellow AGS classmates for the first time in September 1956. During his school years, he excelled in sport, especially soccer, and represented the school at first team level through the different age groups. He was academically conscientious and became a very popular member of the school year. His talent and interest in football extended out of school hours to playing for Oakes CYC under 18s and also Huddersfield Minors under 17s, where AGS had a strong presence in a team that beat Leeds in the West Riding Cup Final. After leaving school, Garry joined theYorkshire Electricity Board and remained there until the turn of the century, having forged a successful career. He met his wife Pat whilst still in his late teens and continued with his football interest, culminating in captaining a winning Oakes CYC side in the Groom Cup Final. He carried on playing until he reached 40, whilst bringing up his family of two daughters, Julie and Abigail (who, to Garry’s delight, also attended KJS). Garry continued with his interest in all Almondburian matters, regularly visiting the school for Abigail’s parents’ evenings and attending the annual Old Almondburians’ Dinner for a full 30 years before his untimely death on 7th January 2015 at the age of 69.The bond between Garry and his old classmates grew in recent years with regular meetings at the King’s Head to reminisce and put the world to rights. Garry was diagnosed with renal problems in 2003, had two kidney transplant operations, and died from immune system complications. During this period of intermittent ill health, Garry remained positive, devoted to his family and retained his love of the old school and everything ‘Almondburian’. On a very snowy morning, five old classmates of Garry struggled to get to St John’s Church, Rishworth for the funeral service and interment. Unfortunately we missed part of the service but were all present for the burial.We later retired for an impromptu ‘wake’, when we recalled our near fifty year friendship with Garry. Although a very sad occasion, happy memories from our days down St Helen’s Gate helped us deal with the first loss from our close knit group of nine or ten ’56ers. Michael Hellawell 63
Chairman WALTER RALEIGH 15 Thorpe Lane, Almondbury HD5 8TA Tel: 01484 533805 Email: walter.raleigh@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
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3ykffo3
The Almondburian is distributed to OAS members free of charge. Price to non-members: ÂŁ3.00