The ALMONDBURIAN T H E MAG AZINE O F TH E O L D AL MO ND BU RI ANS ’ S O C I ETY
March 2018
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IN THIS ISSUE
A word from your Chairman Membership Old Almondburians’ Society Calendar OAS vineyard reunion Annual Dinner Back to the drawing board 100 years of House competition Sixteen years at the helm We started quizzing 40 years ago Memories of inter-school football Terry’s Teaser ‘Content to be adequate’ Annual General Meeting Executive Officers 2018 The Almondburian Poets Evolution of a school magazine Farnley Lines Badminton Tennis Golf Update on the pavilion project Farewell to a fine former Head Postbag Obituary
(Opposite): This 1950s drawing by the late Brian Littlewood shows the main gate leading to the drive into the School.The gable end of the 1938/39 science block can just be glimpsed in the distance and the wire netting is evidence that the grassed area in front of the library was still in use as an occasional tennis court.Two of the three stone pillars remain today, but sadly the gates have long gone.
The ALMONDBURIAN Editor: Roger Dowling
March 2018
The magazine of The Old Almondburians’ Society
A word from your Chairman
W
WA LT E R R AL E IG H
ELCOME to the first magazine of 2018 and a belated happy NewYear to you all. Last year was a good year as far as the Society was concerned.We had three major initiatives in which the Society and School collaborated. There was finally a silk scarf produced for the female members of the So-
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ciety; the School was open in September as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days project; and the OAS helped with the production of a Timeline for a main social area of the School. The annual Dinner was a success and one of the best in recent years according to many who attended. The number attending was
And so to 2018. As projects have been completed it is down to the Executive Committee to continue the progress which we have recently seen between School and the Society. Following meetings with the Principal, Ian Rimmer, we hope to see a number of new noticeboards on the walls of the Big. It has been suggested that one could be a board with the names of past Head Boys and Head Girls; and a board with all the House Competition Shield winners from the time of the inauguration of the competition by Taylor Dyson in 1916 could be another. If you have any ideas for other boards please let us know. We are your Society and listen to what you want. And finally, whilst there were many positives from 2017, this is inevitably a time to reflect on those former students and staff whom we lost during the year. Avril Dawson, a much loved member of staff from the 1970s and 1980s; famous Old Boys, Derek Ibbotson and Gorden Kaye; and in the last few days before Christmas, Alan Conley (Head from 1974-85) were all lost from the ranks of the OAS. We will miss them all, together with all other Old Almondburians who died during 2017. n
less than in 2016 but the atmosphere more than made up for this. The address of the main speaker, Peter Carter QC (1963-70), was amusing, informative and thought provoking and we thank him for making the trip north from the Big Smoke for the evening. From a personal point of view he could not have been a better dinner guest. The conversation never wavered as he answered question after question from the other guests on the vagaries of the law. Peter was particularly encouraging and supportive when talking to our Head Boy, Mason and Head Girl, Daisy, who represented the School with great dignity and style. Besides Mr Carter and a fine speech from our Head Boy, Mason Baimbridge, there was also Allan Dobson (1947-53) who proposed the toast to the School. Allan had been invited to say a few words on behalf of the intake of 1947 who came in good numbers to the Dinner. His love of the School shone through his words which were both selfdeprecating and amusing. Whilst he was grateful for the opportunities presented to him by the School, we can also be proud of the quality of person the School has nurtured and produced in the shape of the intake of 1947. It was a pleasure to meet them all.
Membership
S
A ND R EW H AI G H
ince the last magazine was published we have been delighted to welcome three new members to the Society: l Karen L. Beattie (1979-1981), from Holmfirth
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l Susan Jane Starbuck (1977-1982), from Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy l David Robert Haigh (1958-1963), from Totties. We have also been saddened to learn of the death of Rev J.Alan Conley (Head-
master, 1974-1985). An obituary and appreciation appear on page 56. For the few members who do not pay their subscriptions by standing order, please remember that your £10.00 subscription for 2017-2018 fell due on 1st September last year. Thank you to those who have recently brought their subscription up to date; however, if you do receive a letter with this magazine pointing out
that your subscription is not up-to-date, please do send your payment without delay. It does make life much easier if you can complete the updated standing order mandate that accompanies the letter and return it in the envelope provided. Alternatively, you may renew online, using PayPal or a debit or credit card, by visiting www.oas.org.uk and clicking on the n ‘Join/Renew Online’ button.
OLD ALMONDBURIANS’ SOCIETY CALENDAR
OAS SUMMER REUNION We are arranging a special visit to the Holmfirth Vineyard run by OAS member Rebecca Sheveling on Wednesday, 16th May at 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. It will include a vineyard tour and two-course dinner in the awardwinning restaurant. Further details: page 6.
DATES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, 2018
Executive Committee meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the month, although there are exceptions due to Bank Holidays and school holidays, and there is no meeting in August. Any member of the Society who would like to attend one of these meetings will be made most welcome on the following dates: 5th March, 16th April, 14th May, 4th June, 2nd July, 3rd September, 1st October, 12th November, 3rd December. Executive Committee meetings are currently being held at School in the ODH at 6 pm.
GOTHARD CUP This will take place on Sunday, 10th June at Woodsome. Full details are on page 53.
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS The Society will once again be opening the School as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme, which this year in Huddersfield will be over the weekend of 13th-16th September. The school will be open on Saturday, 15th September and further details will appear in the July issue of The Almondburian.
QUIZ EVENING The annual Old Almondburians’ Society Quiz will be held in the upstairs room at ‘The Woolpack’, Almondbury, on Wednesday, 2nd May, at 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm prompt start. We require eight teams of three or four members and their guests. It would be appreciated if teams could be entered in advance, although you are most welcome to turn up on the night and participate in what is always a very enjoyable evening. Quizmaster, as always, will be Keith Crawshaw. Further details: page 23.
ANNUAL DINNER / FOUNDERS’ DAY This year’s Annual Dinner will be held on Saturday, 24th November, followed by the traditional Founders’ Day Service on Sunday, 25th November, as usual. Full details will be announced in the July issue of The Almondburian.
WANTED: HONORARY ARCHIVIST
King James’s School has a history stretching back over 400 years and the Old Almondburians’ Society is entrusted with the task of curating its entensive archive of photographs, documents and artefacts.We now have an archive room at the School but urgently require a keen OAS member willing to take on the role of archivist to complete the task of cataloguing and arranging the items in the collection to make them readily accessible for study. If you would like to know more, please email or telephone Walter Raleigh (contact details on back cover). 5
The OAS
Summer vineyard reunion Wednesday, 16th May 2018 from 7.00 pm Holmfirth Vineyard, Woodhouse Lane, Holmfirth HD9 2QR
As you may have read in the November 2017 issue of The Almondburian, the Holmfirth Vineyard was set up by former F1 motor racing engineer Rebecca Sheveling (King James’s School 1985-88) and her husband Ian in 2008. Register NOW to take part in an OAS reunion with a difference when we’ll meet at the vineyard to learn more about F1 behind the scenes and discover how to make fine wines in the robust climatic conditions of the Pennines. 7.00 pm Assemble; coffee/tea 7.30 pm Interview with Rebecca, followed by questions and answers 8.00 pm Vineyard tour including wine tastings 9.00 pm Two-course dinner in the award-winning restaurant 10.30 pm Disperse All this for just £29.95 per person. To join the party, email vineyard@oas.org.uk, complete the special form on www.oas.org.uk/vineyard.php or text VINEYARD to 07815 601447. 6
Annual Dinner 25th November 2017 Andrew Haigh reports
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Annual Dinner
P
AND R E W HAIG H
ETER CARTER QC was the principal guest speaker at the 2017 Annual Dinner on 25th November. Other speakers were Allan Dobson from the class of 1947, Matthew Baimbridge (Head Boy) and OAS Chairman Walter Raleigh. Although the number attending was somewhat down on the wonderful attendance of 133 members and guests in 2016, this year’s Annual Dinner was a most splendid occasion. Those present spanned a period of seventy-one years, from those who entered the School in 1946 to those currently students or staff at the School in 2017, and they travelled
from all over the United Kingdom although, most unusually, no-one travelled from overseas this year. Top marks for attendance often go to the Class of 1947 and this year was no exception. They mustered an absolutely magnificent table of twelve (891 years in total) for their 70th anniversary reunion. Not only did they enjoy an excellent reunion, they also cleaned-up on the raffle. As our Treasurer said, it just goes to show that there is no substitute for experience when it comes to winning raffles! We were indebted this year to Christine Stocks of the school kitchen for her kind offer to cater for our Annual Dinner
Class of ’47 (left to right): Clifford Newton,Terry Green, David Earles, Norris Bonser, Keith Brier,Tony Copley,Allan Dobson, Jeff Brooke,Alan Smith, Keith Bellerby, James Clayton. Not shown: David Aldridge 8
Top: guest speaker Peter Carter proposed the toast to the Old Almondburians’ Society
Bottom: top table guests (left to right): Allan Dobson, Ian Rimmer (Principal), Matthew Baimbridge (Head Boy), Daisy Cameron (Head Girl), David Harling (Vice-chairman Board of Governors), Walter Raleigh (OAS Chairman), Peter Carter
Name
Aldridge Atkinson Atkinson Baimbridge Battye Beattie Bedford Bellerby Bonser Boothroyd Bradley Bradley Brier Broadbent Broadbent Brook Cameron Carter, QC Clayton Copley Crawshaw Davies Dobson Earles Field Firth Graley Graley Green Green Green, CBE Haigh Harling Harling
Dates
David W Liz Liz (Guest) Mason Roger E Karen Godfrey Keith Norris Tom Peter David Keith John Jean Jeffrey Daisy Peter James M J Anthony Keith Gareth L Allan David B M Robert Andrew John E.
Christopher M Richard J Nicky John T Andrew M David Claire
1947 Staff Staff Head 1962 1976 1949 1947 1947 1948 1946 1947 1948 Guest 1947 Head 1963 1947 1947 1964 1954 1947 1947 Staff 1961 1962 1962 1957 Staff 1947 1977 Gov Guest
From
Name
1952 Almondbury Boy 1969 1979 1957 1952 1954 1953 1952 1953 1954 1952 Girl 1970 1951 1954 1971 1956 1953 1952 1973-89 1967 1969
Harpin Hazle Heptonstall Honeywell Mallinson Mallinson Melling Milnes Morrison Murphy Nash Newton Norris Raleigh Rimmer Royle Sanderson Searby Sharp Shaw Smart Smart Smith Smith Taylor Taylor Thompson
Holmfirth Holmfirth Honley Marsden Huddersfield Almondbury Bristol Horsforth Upperthong Wellhouse Wellhouse Almondbury Enfield Norwich Upperthong Almondbury Sutton C’field Brighouse New Mill Kirkheaton Grimsby Fixby
1970 Farnley Tyas 1963 Netherthong Netherthong 1955 Chester 1983 Almondbury Almondbury Almondbury
Thompson Turner Walker Ward Watts Wilkinson Williams 10
Dates
David Christine David A Ruth J Dr RF Niven Jacquelyne Angela J H.Graeme Dave Emily J Brian H Clifford Doug Paul Walter Ian W Prof Edward Daisy Richard John F Ian Dawn Andrew John Oswin Alan John R Dennis J Stuart Helen Ann DRH Michael Craig Michael Robert
1962 Staff 1949 1979 1955 Guest Staff 1957 1967 1997 1964 1947 1961 Ch’man Princ’l 1955 D Head 1976 1951 1946 1976 Guest 1957 1947 1954 1961 1949 Guest Staff 1951 1963 1997 1963 1964
1970 1976-99 1957 1981 1962 1985-2015 1965 1970 2002 1972 1952 1969 1978-2010 1962 Girl 1979 1958 1954 1981 1965 1952 1962 1969 1956 1993-2015 1959 1970 2002 1970 1970
From
Birkby Thongsbridge Matlock Guildford Stourbridge Stourbridge Bradley Cardiff Chigwell Almondbury Stockport Lepton Lascelles Hall Almondbury Holmfirth York Lepton L’ton Buzzard Northallerton Penrith Penrith Saffron Walden Brough Ossett Chesterfield Cheadle Cheadle Lindley Torquay London Southowram Greenwich Bradley
once again after a break of many years. Christine used to work at Annual Dinners in the days when Lesley Walker ran the school kitchen and she was keen to do the catering for us once again. Christine and her team put on an excellent meal, which included a choice for every course. Allan Dobson, a member of the Class of 1947, proposed the Toast to the School, to which the Head Boy, Mason Baimbridge, ably responded. Our Guest Speaker, Peter Carter, Q.C., then gave a most interesting and stimulating speech, before proposing the Toast to the Society, to which our Chairman, Walter Raleigh, responded. Organising the dinner at the School does involve a tremendous amount of work and thanks are due to many people. Firstly, to the School for allowing us to use the premises and in particular to the Premises Manager, Keith Ramsden, for his help in dealing with deliveries and always being on the end of a telephone to solve the many problems which crop up whilst we are setting-up. To Christine Stocks and her team for a most enjoyable meal. To teacher of Integrated Studies, Liz Atkinson and her partner, and also Tom Boothroyd, for their sterling work behind the bar – not to mention washing all the glasses! Thank you too, to Nick Briggs, of Mallinson’s Brewery in Lockwood, for supplying the beer and to Tim Marriott, of Taste Fine Wines in Almondbury, for supplying the other drinks. Thank you to the Head Boy and Head Girl, Mason Baimbridge and Daisy Cameron, for conducting tours of the School before the meal, for selling raffle
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Top:Allan Dobson (Class of 1947) Bottom: Head Boy (Mason Baimbridge)
tickets with ruthless efficiency afterwards and for being such fine ambassadors for King James’s School. Last, but not least, a huge thank you to our excellent speakers. The 2017 Annual Dinner was certainly a success. The 2018 Annual Dinner falls on Founders’ Day, Saturday, 24th November, so please put the date in your diary now to make sure that you don’t miss out on a great evening.
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Founders’ Day Service On the morning of Sunday, 26th November, the Head Boy, Mason Baimbridge, and our Chairman, Walter Raleigh, led a small band of Almondburians up St Helen’s Gate in the traditional procession to All Hallows’ Church for the Founders’ Day Service at 11.15 am. On arrival at All Hallows’, a goodly number of pupils, parents and Almondburians had congregated for the service. Head of Performing Arts, Charmain Gott, had assembled a band of extremely talented musicians, who performed beautifully during the service and, in the absence of the Head Girl, Mason Baimbridge dutifully gave both readings. The Service was led and a very good address given by Rev Michael Burn and the service concluded in the traditional way, with the hymn ‘For All the Saints’, prayers from the Ancient Statutes and the singing of the School Song. It was followed by refreshments in the Church Hall and the opportunity to socialise, before dashing off to the equally important occasion of Huddersfield Town v Manchester City in the Premier League. n
Back to the drawing board Roger Sykes (1946-1953) revisits some of his favourite drawings
N
The Art Room in winter
OW you see it – now you don’t! A popular phrase that we often associate with amateur conjurers. But not with artists? Wrong! I was about 13 and thought that pen and ink drawing was preferable to painting or daubing. The lovely old illustrations in books and magazines like Punch were crafted to create reality in the era preceding photographs. Then Edward Akroyd – Teak – introduced me to scraper-board. Wonderful! Drawing was now white on black as well as black on white. So a dull afternoon in the Art Room was a good time to experiment. Snow was fairly easy to show on walls, rooftops and window ledges, just by scratching out the black ink and adding ink to the shadows. But if it was actually snowing from a cold grey sky then it was not possible to sketch snowflakes. The only way was to create the grey sky by shading with fine ink lines and then cutting gaps in the lines to show – invisible snowflakes. They are not there – but you can see them! QED. Of course there was always plenty of activity in the Art Room, mostly various distractions as pencils fell off desks and rubbers became airborne and developed guided flight characteristics. This usually coincided with Teak unlocking the storeroom and vanishing. So the two apparently well behaved and studious young chaps bending over their desks in this sketch are fictional. n You could call it ‘artistic licence’. 13
HOUSE SHIELD
100 years of House competition
WALTER RALEIGH
Introduced by Taylor Dyson a century ago, the four School Houses still compete enthusiastically each year for the coveted House Shield.The writer has been looking at the record books to find the top performer.
S
HORTLY after his appointment in 1913 Taylor Dyson decided to introduce a House system at Almondbury Grammar School or King James’s, as we now know it. He was a great admirer of the Public School system of education and he saw their value of the House system as a way of developing boys socially to complement their academic progress. In autumn 1915 the four Houses were introduced into School life. The four chosen names, as we all know, were those of characters from the history of the school. Dartmouth because of the importance of the Kay family which was later to take the title of Earls of Dartmouth. Fenay from Nicholas Fenay, one of the original local supporters who paid towards the acquisition of the Royal Charter in 1608. Jessop after Captain Jessop, a local Honley man who wanted to present an annual prize for Mathematics in remembrance of his parents. The prize of £5, when first awarded in 1868, was worth more than a labourer’s weekly wage. And finally, Siddon, in recognition of the ground breaking work of Emily Siddon, the first female Governor of the School and still in office when her name
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was chosen. She was to continue as a Governor until her death in 1922, a total of 25 years. The House system was to provide motivation for the boys in both games and study. Caps were worn with a ribbon denoting which House the boys were part of and points were awarded for both sporting and academic success. At the end of each academic year the House Shield was awarded to the winning House and this was presented at each Speech Day or Presentation Evening. In 1948 the new Head, Horace Moore, built upon the success of Taylor Dyson by appointing specific Masters to be in charge of each House. The first of these House Masters were: l Leonard Ash for Dartmouth l Fred Hudson for Siddon l Thomas Calloway for Jessop l Walter Haigh for Fenay Moore continued the link with sporting success but also enabled boys to gain points for their House by excelling in end of term exams and School Certificate results. Looking at the results table it is hard to explain why two Houses so dominated the early years of the competition.The first 16 years had Dartmouth winning the trophy
1916
D
1941
D
1966
1918
S
1943
D
1968
1945
J
1917
D
1919
D
1921
D
1920
S
1924
D
1926
S
1927
D
1929
S
1928 1930 1932
1937 1938 1939 1940
F
F
1952
F
1956 1957
D F
F
1958
J
J
F
D S
Taylor 1 Siddon 21
Jessop 14
1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
F
1970
D
1972
S
F
1975
F
F
N/A
1978
N/A
S S S
S
1985
N/A
1987
D
1990
Not awarded 5
S
D
1989
S
S
1984
1988
S
D D
1986
S
N/A
1982 1983
F
F
1976
1981
F
S
1973
1980
F
1993
F
1979
F
S
1969
1977
F
1991
D
1974
F
S
1967
1971
F
1950
1955
J
1933
J
1954
S
J
1949
1953
D
1931
D D
1951
D
J
1947 1948
D
1925
1936
1946
D
1923
1935
1944
S
1922
1934
1942
N/A D D D
1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Fenay 30
15
D F
D D F
D F J
F
D
2002
Taylor
2004
F
2006
F
2008
F
2003 2005 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
J J
F F S
F J J
2014
D
2016
F
2015 2017
Dartmouth 32
D
J J
100 years of House competition: the results
Photo: Jenny Sanderson
on no fewer than 10 occasions. Only Siddon seemed able to stop this romp to success by winning in the other 6 years. Jessop broke the run by winning in 1932 but the next year normality was restored by Dartmouth winning again. After 1933 the competition became more unpredictable with various Houses claiming the trophy. However, in 1948 Fenay, led by Walter Haigh, began a run which enabled Fenay to chase Dartmouth for the title of most successful House. Between 1948 and 1959 Fenay won the
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Shield on no fewer than 11 occasions.This may have been down to great leadership or simply an intake of boys who were terrific students. However, I’m suspicious when I hear tales of Walter Haigh asking all the Athletics team members to hand their spikes in and then on Sports Day those spikes being handed out again but only to Fenay runners. Richard Taylor, a reliable source, said it did not help him particularly as Mr Haigh, one year, gave him two right feet. Similarly, when I joined the staff at King
James’s in 1978 I noticed that most of the outstanding boys were in Siddon. At this time they arrived at King James’s in the Third Year, or Year 9 as it is now known. The School Under 15 Cricket team was outstanding and won the Huddersfield Schools League and Marshall Trophy. Five or six were even chosen to represent the Huddersfield Schools team. However, my suspicions were aroused when eight of this school team were in Siddon. Chance? I don’t think so! On checking with our one feeder school, Lepton Middle, I found the gentleman who put them into colours for sporting competition was also in charge of Green Team. I was told he waited a couple of weeks to see who were the outstanding students before putting them in a colour. Surprise, surprise, green was the colour of Siddon so that was the explanation for why most of the school team were in Siddon
House. Needless to say, the system for allocating Houses changed the following year. In passing conversation during my first couple of years I noted that Jessop House had not won the House Shield since 1949. Thirty years seemed a long time without success so I asked a few people about it but was simply told to ask Dave Bush, the Deputy Head at the time. Dave had attended all House competitions during my first couple of years so I, naively, asked him about it. I’d been set up as I quickly learned. His face went red and he simply turned away without making any further comment when I asked him about the poor performance of his beloved Jessop House. On further enquiries, I learned that a few years earlier, when Dave was House Master for Jessop, they had come within a race of winning the Athletics trophy and
Presentation Evening, 8th November 2011: the writer presents the House Shield to members of the winning House, Fenay.
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Dead heat: only once in the past 100 years has there been a tie in the House Shield.The result in 1934-5 was in doubt right up to the final cricket match and even then an outright winner failed to emerge. As Taylor Dyson rightly observed, every point is valuable!
House Shield only to be denied by the PE teacher, Ken Ireland, who disqualified the Jessop relay team for passing the baton outside the ‘take-over’ zone. I was told that Ken and Dave did not speak for 6 months and their relationship was never the same again! That’s how important the winning of this House Competition was – and I hope still is. So, since 1916 which House has won it the most times? Top of the class is Dartmouth (32) closely followed by Fenay (30).Then come Siddon (30) and the decidedly un-sporty Jessop (14). In fact, Jessop achieved the remarkable feat of failing to win at all between 1950 and 1998. For the record, there have been five years when the Shield has not been awarded.Three of these years, 1976, 1977 and 1978, were the years when the School became a 6th Form College and the School was in transition. 1985 and 1986 were years when ‘industrial action’ was called by the Teaching Unions and no out- of-school sport took place. Only once, in 1935, has the Shield been
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jointly awarded – on this occasion, between Fenay and Jessop. In the 1990s, the Headmaster at the time, Clive Watkins decided the School should be organised with a Lower and Upper School.Years 7,8 and 9 would be the Lower School and Years 10 and 11 the Upper School. By 1990 the 6th Form had been removed. He felt it was wrong to organise the School in this horizontal way whilst organising sporting events vertically. Clive Watkins’ solution was to add two more Houses so the six form intake could each represent one House and we could have a form competition.This new formation resulted Taylor House and Bush House. Taylor, which was named after a great servant of the school Jack Taylor, actually won the competition in 2002. Bush was named after Dave Bush the esteemed Deputy of long standing. However, one year there was an imbalance of girls to boys: something like 120 of the 180 new students were girls and this prevented any competitive sporting activity as some of the forms couldn’t raise a football or cricket team so it was decided the two new Houses, Bush and Taylor should be removed – to the delight, I must add, of traditionalists Jack and Dave! n
KING JAMES’S SCHOOL FOUNDATION
Sixteen years at the helm
G
Graham Cliffe has chaired the King James’s School Foundation since 2001. On his retirement, The Almondburian asks him about its work over this period
RAHAM, you became Chairman of the new scheme was approved by the Charity newly constituted Foundation at a Commission with Kirklees Metropolitan time when a major campaign was Council as the sole corporate trustee. being mounted to secure for the School the ancient Almondburian So presumably that solved the assets which had previously been notionally ad- problem? ministered by Huddersfield Corporation and later Graham Cliffe Quite the opposite! And, strangely, it was the School cricket field that by Kirklees Metropolitan Council. Graham Cliffe That’s right. From the time brought the problem into focus and which of the School charter, a parcel of land of just led us to the conclusion that the fund had under three acres had been enclosed and con- been mismanaged over many years. veyed to the School’s Foundation in perpe- Almondburian How had you become involved? tuity. Then, over the years, the assets of the Graham Cliffe I was a founder member of Foundation grew as a result of gifts from the the Old Almondburians’ Cricket Club in that glorious first season in the School’s benefactors. One summer of 1976. For benefactor wasWormall’s me, it was a wonderful Charity, which is how experience to play again we ended up owning on the pitch on which I what we now know as Alhad learned the game as mondbury Conservative a schoolboy in the 1960s. Club but was originally The OACC was very sucWormall Hall. cessful throughout the Almondburian So what 1980s and early 1990s went wrong with the and won a number of management of the FounGraham Cliffe attended King James’s Grammar School from championship and cup dation’s assets? 1959 to 1966. He studied Law at competitions. ThroughGraham Cliffe Quite the University of Manchester and until his recent retirement was a out this time we kept simply, they weren’t bedesignated Family Judge for York our promise to Alan Coning managed. The fund and North Yorkshire, specialising in family law. ley, the headmaster of had become dormant Graham is a former chairman King James’s when the over many years and it of the Old Almondburians’ Society. OACC was set up, that was only in 1987 that a 19
we would maintain the pavilion – erected in 1958 and partly funded by the Old Almondburians’ Society – and we always encouraged boys from the School to play for the Club. Almondburian So what was the problem? Graham Cliffe There was no problem at all until one day in 1994 we were suddenly informed by Kirklees Council and the School that the playing of cricket in School was very limited and the pavilion, being surplus to requirements, should be demolished. Almondburian What was the reaction of the OACC? Graham Cliffe Of course, we were shocked and astonished. The cricket field was actually owned by the Foundation, so this caused us to look into the way the Foundation’s funds had been managed over the years. Almondburian What did you discover?
Solicitor and Old Almondburian Nigel Priestley played a key role in the discussions with Kirklees Council
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Graham Cliffe We were very surprised to find that no accounts had been filed for many years.There was then a long period of delay and obfuscation on the part of Kirklees Council during which time, with the help of Old Almondburian Nigel Priestley we began to realise that the cricket field was only a small part of assets of the fund. As well as the Conservative Club, there were houses in Westgate, Wormald Street and Swallow Lane in Golcar; together with bonds, investments and land in Arkenley Lane and Sharp Lane. It became very clear that the trust had been deprived of the yields of these assets over many years. Almondburian Presumably Kirklees Council continued to have sole control of the trust fund during this period? Graham Cliffe They did indeed, and they mounted a rearguard action to avoid any member of the Old Almondburians’ Society becoming one of the trustees in any newly constituted scheme.Their actions became bizarre: in 1998 they locked the gates to the cricket field to try to deny the cricket club access and they planted a large number of saplings in the car park area. Nigel Priestley took them to court and they were ordered to remove the saplings and pay the cricket club’s legal costs. Almondburian What happened next? Graham CliffeThe Charity Commission, who were also deeply involved by this time, became so tired of the delaying tactics of the Council that they imposed a new scheme in 2001 with eight trustees. The School Governors, the Old Almondburians’ Society and Kirklees Council were each allowed to
Top:The trust funds the School minibus and all associated costs
Below: the new gymnasium floor, financed by the trust
nominate a trustee and the other five were general trustees. I was nominated by the OAS and became chairman; Colin Bamford was nominated by Kirklees Council; and Stephen Briggs was nominated by the School.The other trustees were Richard Taylor, Eric Hutchinson, Fred Sheard, Margaret Barrow and Michael Buck. Almondburian Was it plain sailing once the new scheme was in place? Graham Cliffe It was certainly easier to obtain documentation about the past administration of the fund, which appeared to have been neglected for many years, possibly since the 1920s when King James’s Grammar School became the responsibility of the local authority.The task now was to estimate the losses sustained by the fund as a result of this maladministration. Despite enormous help from experts within the Old Almondburians’ Society Kirklees Council remained intransigent and we eventually had no alternative but to issue proceedings in the High Court in Manchester. Almondburian Who won the case? Graham Cliffe It never got that far. Kirklees Council finally agreed to media-
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tion and after a 15 hour meeting the fund was finally compensated to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds. (The Council insisted on a confidentiality clause but a figure of £800,000 was given at a subsequent open council meeting). Almondburian That was a great result, but presumably that still left you with the task of looking afresh at the fund’s assets to decide the best way of optimising them in the best interests of the fund – and ultimately the School? Graham Cliffe That’s right. It was agreed with the Charity Commission that £200,000 of the £800,000 represented the accumulated income from the fund over the years.This was an important figure because this was the sum that could then be distrib-
uted to meet funding bids from the School whilst at the same time being topped up by new income from the fund’s assets. Almondburian What about the properties and land owned by the trust? Graham Cliffe The trust has been very active in recent years in divesting itself of properties which produce relatively little income but are expensive to maintain: a prime example is the Conservative Club which the trust no longer owns. The trust has also been keen to maximise the income from its land ownings and at the present time is in the early stages of itsWestgate development project (The Almondburian, July 2015) which will result in seven new homes on the site.
Westgate development: work has recently started on a major project to provide new homes on the site
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Almondburian What financial benefits does the School receive from the fund each year? Graham Cliffe It varies depending on the bids we receive. In recent years we have made grants of as much as £60,000 in a single year. Almondburian What sorts of projects are funded? Graham Cliffe In the early years, there was a tendency for the School to submit small bids for items that should really have been funded as part of normal School costs. Nowadays, we prefer to fund more substantial projects – for example the trust has met all the costs associated with the provision of the School mini-bus. More recently we provided some £11,000 to renovate the floor of the gymnasium which had become dangerously worn. We’re also able to make individual grants to students – for example to help them to participate in voluntary service projects overseas. Almondburian Another very large project in the pipeline is, of course, the pavilion project. You’ll be saddened that your retirement means that you’ll not be able to see that project through to completion! Graham Cliffe Yes, of course. But I’ve been chairman of the trust for 16 years and I’m sure it’s time for someone to take over at the helm.As Colin Bamford writes on page 54 of this issue of The Almondburian, the trust has to take some difficult decisions, in discussion with the School, in the coming months. I really do hope that these will lead to the pavilion project continuing to move forward. n
QUIZ EVENING
We started quizzing 40 years ago
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The OAS Quiz Evening was inaugurated in 1978 and has been popular ever since.Why not come along and join us, asks genial quizmaster Keith Crawshaw
HE annual Quiz Evening at the Woolpack has become one of the most enjoyable events in the OAS calendar. Those of you who have never been along might like to know how it works. Those taking part are ideally divided into teams of four players with appropriate names – to give you the general idea, last year these included ‘Retired and Happy’ and ‘The Walkers’. All teams compete in 10 rounds of questions on a bewilderingly wide range of topics. For example, competitors last year were required to identify famous faces and television dramas; to match
movie quotations to films; and to remember places in songs and events in 2016. And for good measure they were tested on their knowledge of Huddersfield’s public toilets. The Quiz is held in the upstairs room at the Woolpack and the 2018 event will be on Wednesday, 2nd May at 7.30 pm prompt. The winning team receives the much-coveted trophy on the left. Why not come along? It would be helpful to book your place beforehand but if you prefer you may turn up on the evening and be allocated a team on arrival. My contact details are on the back cover of this magazine. n
SUDOKU
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SPORT AT SCHOOL
Memories of inter-school football
The writer retains vivid memories of the pleasures of school football. But he deeply laments the loss of Saturday-morning inter-school fixtures…
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PETER TRACEY (1956-1963)
It was a treat and a thrill for me to be able HE November 2017 issue of The Almondburian brought back to me to travel with my dad to whichever game he many happy memories of school had on the Saturday. As I reached the age of sport at KJGS. I especially enjoyed the arti- seven or eight or nine we would get the bus cle by Phil Shaw. But it caused me also to re- to Laund Hill, or the Leeds Road playing fields, flect on how the world for young people is Scapegoat Hill or Emley, or as his career with the whistle grew, to exotic places like Norchanging, perhaps not for the better. I was brought up on football. My dad had ton Woodseats or Farsley Celtic, or my always been involved in Huddersfield soccer, favourite,Yorkshire Amateurs. I even ran the first as secretary of the Old Centralians, and line for him occasionally with a home made flag in hand… “just the then as a football referee. ball out of play lad, that’s The weekend ritual in all,” were the instrucour house was pretty tions. much always the same. I still recall the smell Friday evenings, he would of linament, the clatter of prepare his kit for the studs on concrete, the match the following day. smell of communal baths, And when I say prepare the banter, the sweat and his kit, I mean that there After a gap year, Peter Tracey mud and the awe of seewas a rigid ritual of polwent on to take a BA Hons degree ing hefty players at close ishing his boots until they in Geography and Economics at Manchester University. He had a quarters, and the cheerwould certainly pass long and successful career in fulness of a late Saturday muster at an Army pateaching, latterly as Deputy Head Teacher at Bedlingon in afternoon. rade. Shirt and shorts Northumberland. His involvement Dad went on to join were ironed to a cutting in Schools football goes back 45 years. For 11 years he has been the Football League as a edge sharpness.And there secretary of The Northern linesman. Oh, how I were always, always, new Counties Schools FA and he has been a member of the Executive loved to travel with him, white laces to be ironed, of Northumberland Schools FA for on the bus, or better still (nobody irons laces do the past 20 years. on the train, toTurf Moor, they?) and threaded. 24
Maine Road, OldTrafford and memorably to Deepdale, home of proud Preston North End. There it was, as a very young wide eyed 11 year old lad, that I watched the great Busby Babes one afternoon in 1957, pre-Munich. They were thrashed 4-0 byTom Finney, who gave possibly one of the finest individual performances on a football field that any fan could ever hope to see. But in fact my dad, eagleeyed, had flagged offside against the Reds and two goals were disallowed. Imagine then the journey home on the train via Manchester. The carriage was uncomfortably full of United fans, furious at that b***** linesman. Dad whispered that “it might be as well to say nowt.� We got home unscathed.
And so it was that when I arrived at Almondbury Grammar School I was steeped in Football. Our Form of 30 boys were given the timetable for the year. New subjects such as Biology, French, Physics Latin. But for me the most important part of the timetable was Games and PE.Where in the week were they? Soon after starting in 1Alpha, Mr Ireland announced an annual match between the first formers at Huddersfield College and ourselves.To be at their place. An away match! It was late October. Gloomy weather and the pitches getting muddy.There was a trial match on the huge and sloping top pitch. I was so excited. I really wanted to be selected. KLW read out his chosen eleven.
Ist XI Football 1961-62: (Back row l-r): Mr K L W Ireland, P Westerby, M Atkinson, K Sykes, A Horsfall, B Poole (Front row l-r): R Pickering, D Quarmby, B Brook (capt), Mr H Taylor, A Ross, S Hirst, P Tracey. The team started the season badly but redeemed itself with a fine 5-1 away victory against Heckmondwike. 25
The King James’s Grammar School side which won the Yorkshire Grammar Schools seven-a-side competition at Harrogate on Saturday, 21st March 1959: (Back row l-r): J W Adams, B Firth, JH Lofthouse, D R H Walker (Front row l-r): B Brook, Mr K L W Ireland, G Law, K R Hall
As I recall (apologies if my memory fails) the team was Roger Barrow, John Christie, Pete Liversidge, David Meal, John Ross, Gary Hurst, John Aspinall, John Linton, Terry Higginbotham, Roger Furniss and myself – and we won 3-1. It was the first of very many matches at every age level for the School. I was proud to wear the yellow shirt, borrowed from some friend in Dartmouth House. Through the next five years that team, plus one or two others, played together. And we never lost any match against The College! In fact we were a pretty good side at under 12, 13, 14 and 15. We scarcely ever lost, except to Normanton Grammar School who played all in white (à la Real Madrid).They were obviously coached well and they were just untouchable in those days. The fixture list took us to schools aroundWestYorkshire every other Saturday
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morning – Penistone, Sowerby Bridge, Rastrick, Dewsbury, Leeds, Heckmondwike, Batley, Colne Valley, Honley. We loved the travel, by bus from St George’s Square, at a cost of sixpence. It was exciting, an adventure, fun! Then, by the time we reached the Fifth Form we had to compete with older boys in the Sixth Form and try to win a place in the First XI. I had joined KJGS at a time when the First XI was seen as the pinnacle of sporting achievement.To be awarded School Colours was tantamount to climbing the Olympic podium. I well recall the afternoon when Ken Ireland pinned up the First XI team sheet for the coming Saturday morning match, an away fixture at Normanton with Peter Tracey at left wing. I was a member of a team which included Alan Ross, a giant in goal! He went on to a Cambridge Blue in discus throwing. Alan could clear the half way line with the ball from hand. Charlie Hall, an England Schools international, was at left back. Tony Horsfall was at left half – a formidably attacking competitor, great to have on your side! And Stuart Hirst at inside left – fast, tricky, strong, and with the will to win.
We played at the Altofts ground in and trying to set up situations where the Wakefield, an enclosed pitch with proper next set of lads could do the same. And inrailings and a grandstand within which were cidentally the lasses as well, for girls’ footproper changing rooms and a tunnel to the ball is booming here now, quite rightly. pitch. And so it was for many years. Every Normanton were all in white, as ever. High School had its teams, at all age groups, We went into the second half all square at playing regularly, usually on Saturday morn0-0, and then there was a moment to re- ings, with good competition, and cups and member. Hall to Horsfall. Horsfall slipped kudos. For the players and for me as a a smooth past inside the right back.All I had teacher, I would say unequivocally that an to do on the left wing was to run onto it involvement in school sport, but especially and chip towards the penalty spot where my football, helped me enormously to relate to good palTony Bedford rose like a lark to ca- the boys, and to be respected. Corridor ress the ball goalwards. I see the ball even conversation may occasionally have been now nestled in the far corner of the net. about my lessons in social and economic geIt was exciting, and important in my ography. More likely it would have been young life to play for the School, to play in about how good the next team to be met House matches, even though Jessop was not might be, and what we were planning to do very strong and we considered a 7-1 defeat to beat them. usually as a moral victory. There was such In fact when I meet former pupils, enjoyment and involvement in School Foot- wherever, they remember the precise deball, thanks to the willingness and selfless- tails of a match played 25-30 years ago.And ness of teachers giving many of them are still voluntarily of their time friends with their team Every High to referee and travel mates.They don’t have School had its with the teams. the same recall of CenWhether we were, teams, at all age tral Place Theory, or or became, the best Plate tectonics. groups, playing First XI ever, I have my Strange! doubts. But no other XI But these days regularly, usually could have had more things are very differon Saturday enjoyment than we did. ent, it seems. Schools mornings In later years, after Football, school sport university in Manchesin general, is not at all ter and then starting a career in teaching in what it used to be, and I speak as the secreNewcastle, I soon became involved in run- tary of the Northern Counties Schools ning Schools football in the North East, re- Football Association and as Chairman of the membering the good times I had enjoyed, Northumberland Schools FA. 27
Very many schools today cannot find, or do not encourage, or do not expect staff to take on the running of teams. InterSchool fixtures are a shadow of former days. Saturday morning school football is virtually dead. The emphasis in schools today is not on extra-curricular sporting activity but rather on the demands of other league tables. When I talk regularly to teachers in high schools there is always the same familiar refrain. Too many staff meetings, too little support from Senior Staff, far too much paperwork involved in risk assessments and Health and Safety issues. The costs of travel, the pressure on personal work-life balance, and so on. There is a generation of teachers who grow old clinging to the picture of how schools football used to be. But as they retire and drop away from active involvement, the future of football in schools as a regular involving, experiential activity is more and more clouded. And as fewer and fewer boys and girls are able to enjoy the excitement and involvement in Inter School fixtures then the pool of future teachers dries up, for they will not have had that experience. By concentrating so heavily on taught lessons, rigid lesson plans, SATS and assessments, league tables and personal
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learning profiles and all the rest of the clutter that makes life so testing for teachers these days, do we run the risk of diminishing, rather than enriching, what could be offered to young people in terms of experience and participation and adventure? School sport is not a panacea for all this, but it is a part. There are strong arguments to suggest that time allocated within the school day or week, and protected, to encourage sport or drama or music or performance or art or self-expression is time very well spent. Perhaps this time should not be extra curricular. Perhaps it should be KJS sport today: at the heart of the year 8 football and year 9 netball curriculum of a champions in a thriving school. mood for celebration My worries may not extend to our own KJS. I hope not. I see that there is a full list of extra curricular activities detailed on the School website – all squeezed into a lunchime or immediately after school. Squeezed in, not central. And whilst I searched the School’s website I could not find any details of school sport fixtures. Perhaps there may be an opportunity for a future article in The Almondburian to give details. n l We hope to include an interview with Kim Clarke, King James’s School Head of PE, in a future issue.
TERRY’S TEASER NO 18 Compiled by Terry Buckley (1948 - 1953)
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ACROSS 7. How does royal nannie tilt around the world? (15) 8. So hard, Birmingham's confusing shape (7) 9. Shelter for detective at junction (7) 10. Said to narrate, shortly, on the phone (3) 11. Convulsive policeman Amiss goes astray (7) 13. Praised a new arrangement of depression (7)
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l This is the last of a long series of crosswords originally compiled by the late Terry Buckley.They have appeared in The Almondburian since November 2010.
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15. Mimic a dead bird? (7) 18. Though ill about home improvements, changed and the outcome is picturesque (7) 20. Lincoln’s little rascal is hiding in Blenheim Palace (3) 21. Designation about the eastern mine (7) 22. Heard she was involved in ‘Salad Days’ (7) 23. Sackings? (15)
DOWN 1. Order pro champion Roth to take it like a man (15) 2. May evoke a thousand snores from their recipients! (7) 3. Thanks to you and I, 1cc mixes well to make acid (7) 4. Has a depressing feature (7) 5. Deadly snare in rampant pillage (7) 6. As the power saw shows, it’s no use if they occur (11,4) 12. Bird, we hear, is good for the lawn (3) 14. Express, for instance (3) 16. He’d have to find a woman, to ensure he wasn’t! (4,3) 17. Issue a ton of iodine (refined) (7) 18. Attach 999 mill (7) 19. Hide a battered hat in reverse weave (7)
Name Email Tel
l The winner of Crossword by Hérisson (November 2017) was Peter Tracey
Across 1. Guinevere 6. King 8. Despotic 9. Albert 10. Gawain 11.Trinidad 12. Arthur 15. Stickpin 16. Standard 19. George 21. Neurosis 22. Quartz 24. Edward 25. Obedient 26. Amos 27. Colonnade Down 1. Greta 2. Impeach 3. Eaten 4. Excites 5. Examining 6. Kubrick 7. Narrating 13. Rotterdam 14. Rhapsodic 17. Normans 18. Despoil 20. Ocarina 22. Queen 23.Tense
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THE SWINGING SIXTIES
‘Content to be adequate’
What is it about the school year intake of 1961 that makes us want to relate our experiences of King James’s and its effect on our lives and careers since leaving?
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RICHARD TEALE (1961-1968)
VER the last two years I have en- Senior an encounter with a different type of joyed reading articles in The Al- teacher, Frank (Jock) Anderson – inspiramondburian by my contemporaries tional to some, intimidating to others. I manGary Boothroyd and David Senior and aged to keep my head above water with him thought it would be an enjoyable experience but his entry for English in my end of term to write my own. We are of the baby school report ran to four words: ‘Content boomer generation.Though we didn’t realise to be adequate’. The connotations of this it at the time, our school lives coincided with phrase were probably beyond my undera decade without standing as a 13 year equal – the Swinging old, but my parents Sixties. What other suggested I was ‘goera can offer the ing with the flow’ equal of the Beatles, and not looking to England winning the excel. I have reWorld Cup, the membered this moon landings, the phrase and must own assassination of JFK, up to it relating to the first Bond movie, many of my life exand the appearance periences. of the mini-skirt I arrived at King (though not at King James’s in 1961 with James’s). Doug Norris, First of all let Melvyn Smith, Paul me explain the title D Wilson and Richard Teale (King James's Grammar of my article. I had Howard Thewlis School 1961-1968) graduated in Architecture. settled in to the roufrom Crosland Moor His early career as a project architect tine at School and Junior School – a in West Yorkshire was followed by 25 was enjoying ’50s, purpose-built, years as a technical author and editor progress through learning environwith National Building Specification Third Form in 1963. (NBS) in Newcastle upon Tyne. ment. The move to a Now retired, he lives in Whitley Bay, In English, I was 350 year old gramTyne and Wear. sharing with David mar school with high 30
Honfleur, France: a recent watercolour by Richard Teale. An enthusiastic artist in his schooldays, he designed the 1966 Christmas card which received the commendation of headmaster Harry Taylor.
academic and sporting traditions was obviously daunting to some extent. Masters in gowns, historical artefacts, dark corridors, dorms and tortuous staircases added to this first impression. I suppose it became evident inYears 1, 2 and 3 that I was going to be adequate in most subjects, though not French and Latin despite the best efforts of Dave Bush and Jim Toomey. Perhaps I could even excel in Art which would help in my aim of studying architecture in further education. I am indebted to the support of art master Roland (Eddie) Wearing in this respect: he combined tutoring of fine art with graphical design in course work. After GCE ‘O’ levels, my sixth form subjects – chosen to lead to Architecture – were Art, Physics and Maths, necessitating a special timetable between the usual Arts or Science split. One feature of the ‘A’ level art course was attendance at Thursday evening life classes at Huddersfield Tech. On many occasions I had to display my sketches on the Friday morning bus to school, purely for discussion purposes. A
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lasting reminder of my School artwork is the 1966 school Christmas card which Harry Taylor introduced and praised in morning assembly, with exhortation for all to buy! My thanks to good friend Dennis Taylor for retaining a copy. I can only describe my sporting achievements at King James’s as adequate. My football skills were limited to an occasional house team outing (though Dartmouth always did have a good team). I fared better at cricket making various school teams and being second team captain in my final year. Like Gary, I also remember supporting Huddersfield Town, meeting up with a regular group of classmates and paying 1s 6d at the ‘Schoolboys’ turnstile (no gender neutrality in the ’60s). After leaving school, I played football for the Old Almondburians in the early
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Frank ‘Jock’ Anderson
f all the masters who taught at King James’s Grammar School over the years, none attracted such a mixture of emotions as senior English master ‘Jock’ Anderson (19501964). Caustic in tongue and a terror to the slacker, he could yet show the greatest kindness to a boy in trouble. He pioneered school drama productions using a makeshift stage in the gymnasium long before the present purposebuilt stage became available in 1963. In 1964 he became Head of English at Dinnington Comprehensive School, Sheffield where he later became Deputy Head. Tragically, the Anderson’s only child Ian was killed in his teens on the nearby M1 motorway in a motorbike accident and Frank himself died of cancer not long after retirement.
’70s, when enthusiasm for the game was such that we could field four teams every week. I started in the fourth team in a back-four with Dave Sugden, Pete Ashton, and John Ramsay-Wood – if we lacked talent we made up for it in enjoyment. I later progressed to the third team but accepted that was as far as I could go; I do remember scoring direct from a corner in one match though (it was a windy day). And I did turn out in the 2008 ‘Old Crocks’ game! My passion for cricket developed at King James’s and matured at Lockwood Cricket Club where I played for 25 years. Living at Crosland Moor, it was my local Huddersfield league club.The ground was in the shadow of Lockwood viaduct and known as ‘Birks Bottom’ – a name we looked on with affection and amusement! It is now known as Lockwood Park and is home to Huddersfield Rugby Club. I joined as a junior and later played regularly in the 1st and 2nd teams. In the preOld Almondburian cricket team days,
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Lockwood was a popular destination for ex school players. Over many years I played in sides with Tony Bedford, Tom Rockett, Peter Sykes and Mike Rattigan; for shorter periods I remember Tony Lockwood, Eric Abbott, Stephen Joyce, Stephen Taylor, Julian Stafford and Robert Tyas turning out. Now cricket is a very unforgiving sport, you are as good as your last performance, so I worked out I would have a better chance of success as an allrounder – I could bat, bowl and field in the slips! My best season in 1st team performance terms was 1989, when I finished in tenth place in the league bowling awards, taking 51 wickets at an average of 16 (I still have the ‘Examiner’ cutting). I was bowling my away swing at opposition batsmen keen to escape the aggressive pace of professional Imtiaz Ahmad at the other end! Back with education, I managed adequate ‘A’ level passes at King James’s and took up my place in architecture at Leicester Polytechnic. A fellow student in my
year there was Chris West, now our pavilion architect – after leaving school he had worked in practice for Abbey Hanson Rowe before returning to academia. We were thankful that it was an era of grants rather than tuition fees as the course, including two years of professional practice, ran to seven years. After graduation, I entered practice via the then commonly followed route to a Local Authority architects’ department – in my case Bradford.There I enjoyed life as a Project Architect on many schools and a divisional police headquarters. I was interested in all aspects of architecture – from concept design to on-site construction but I was best recognised for producing the working drawings that contractors use for construction purposes – if they are well coordinated there are fewer opportunities for projects to go wrong or overrun in time or cost. I took this expertise into private practice with Walton Horsfall in Huddersfield where I worked on hotel and commercial buildings. The UK economic crisis in 1991 caused a collapse of construction activity and led to a change in direction of my career; I moved to National Building Specification (NBS) in Newcastle upon Tyne as a Technical Author. NBS is widely used by
thousands of architects to write project specifications for construction contracts of all sizes. I wasn’t sure whether writing about construction rather than designing for it would suit me; I decided to give it a couple of years and stayed for the rest of my career (25 years). Again, my attention to detail and ability to write and communicate concisely and intelligibly was recognised and I progressed to Editorial Manager and then Chief Editor. After retirement in 2016, I am spending much more time at home with my wife of 42 years, Linda.We have two children living happily away – Amy in Sydney, Australia, and Chris in Manchester. My construction projects are now scaled down to domestic (house and garden) works which I am ticking off from a list. What I am also finding more time for are the enjoyable pastimes of my early life: hiking, cycling and watercolour painting. To return to the article title, I consider I have been successful in many aspects of my life but there are many instances where I can relate to being ‘Content to be adequate’. We can’t all be captains of industry, commerce or sport; it’s important to accept your limitations but still strive to do your best and above all n enjoy yourself.
Our new Editorial Assistant
I am delighted to be able to announce that following my appeal in the November issue Richard has become our new Editorial Assistant. Following a successful architectural career, Richard became a technical author with National Building Specification (NBS) in Newcastle upon Tyne, later becoming Editorial Manager and then Chief Editor. I am confident that Richard’s vast writing experience over many years will bring new editorial strengths to The Almondburian. The Editor 33
Annual General Meeting
8t h Januar y 2 01 8
The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at the ‘Woolpack’, Almondbury on Monday, 8th January 2018 at 7.30 pm. Attendance Walter Raleigh (chair) Keith Crawshaw
Andrew Haigh Chris West
Apologies for Absence Patrick O’Brien, Edward Royle, Martin Sellens, Peter Tracey, Roger Dowling and Abbi Terry.
The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting The minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 9th January 2017, were read and approved and there were no matters arising.
Chairman’s Report Walter Raleigh observed that the three major projects on which we have embarked during the year have gone well. A Society silk scarf has been produced and, whilst sales are not booming, it is a morally good thing to have one available as an alternative to the Society tie. The timeline has been produced and put on display, which has enhanced the School as well as advertising the Society and has been money well spent. We have participated in the Heritage Weekend scheme for the first time, something which is worth repeating this year, opening more of the School and, hopefully, enjoying better weather to include the outside as well! Keith Ramsden, the premises manager, suggested getting the charter back into School for next year’s Heritage Weekend, which is a great idea. This year’s Annual Dinner was much smaller in terms of numbers than last year but was an excellent event. Peter Carter QC was an outstanding speaker and the Head Boy and Head Girl were excellent ambassadors for the School. Walter is hoping for a larger attendance again next year, which is the fortieth anniversary of him joining the school staff. We have been sad to lose a number of members in the last year, most notable among them Gorden Kaye and Derek Ibbotson, as well as Alan Conley already in the current year. Finally, he said that we may need to review our role as a society, due to the lack of numbers attending meetings and the sad demise of the football and cricket sections. 34
Treasurer’s Report Keith Crawshaw presented the accounts for the financial year ended 31st August, 2017, noting that subscription income was £4,585.00, down £195.00 from £4,780.00 the previous year. The cost of producing and distributing the magazine now represents 68% of subscription income, compared to 65% in the previous year. Having funded the timeline this year, we have virtually broken even, showing a surplus of just £14.44, compared to £614.00 in the previous year. The Chairman thanked Keith for his work, which is much appreciated and the accounts were approved unanimously.
Membership Secretary’s Report Andrew Haigh reported that membership currently stands at 463, although a further 32 people still have a standing order in place for the old subscription rate dating from 2006/2007, but they no longer receive a copy of the magazine. In addition, there are 21 people who do not pay by standing order and who are still to renew for this year, which is a lower figure than usual at this stage in the financial year. We have been saddened to learn of the deaths of eight members during the year 2016-2017: Michael Dyson, Rev Stuart Roebuck, Gorden Kaye, Phillip Denley Davies, Derek Ibbotson, Trevor Carter, Gordon Stanley Carter and Peter L Burns (since then the death of Rev Alan Conley occurred in the current membership year). However, on a more positive note, we are pleased to have recruited five new members in the last year: Christopher Wilson, Christopher Pickles, Michael Adrian Hoyle, Allen Humphries and Ian Martin Smallwood. Subscription rate for the Financial Year commencing 1st September 2018 Following on from his Treasurer’s report, Keith Crawshaw proposed that the subscription rate remains at £10 per annum. This was agreed unanimously. The Treasurer went on to suggest that we should consider looking at the subscription rate for overseas members in future, due to the much higher postage costs incurred for the magazine. The Secretary agreed, noting that the 5% of the membership who live overseas account for over 25% of the postage costs for distributing the magazine.
Election of President It was proposed that the Principal, Ian Rimmer, should be invited to continue as President of the Society. Ian Rimmer was duly elected President for 2018. There were no President’s Remarks, due to his absence from the meeting. 35
Election of Executive Officers for 2018 In the absence of any other enthusiastic candidate, Walter Raleigh agreed to continue as Chairman for 2018. The other Officers were then elected as follows: Vice-Chairman Chris West Honorary Secretary Andrew Haigh Honorary Treasurer Keith Crawshaw Media Editor Roger Dowling Ordinary Committee Members Emily Briggs Martyn Hicks Samuel Atkin Michael Powner Andrew Schofield One Vacancy Chaplain Rev Chris Pickles Representatives of the School Abbigail Terry Philip Coxon Any Other Business Foundation Keith Crawshaw mentioned that Graham Cliffe was the Trustee nominated by the Old Almondburians’ Society and he has now resigned, so we need to replace him. Keith felt that the Chairman of the Society may be a suitable candidate.
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, 5th February was agreed. It was further decided that the February meeting should be held at the School at 6 pm after when we would possibly return to ‘The Woolpack’ for meetings.
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, 6th February was agreed.
The meeting closed at 9.03 pm 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 W Raleigh (Chairman); K Crawshaw (Treasurer); J A Swift (Independent Examiner)
I INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2017 2016
1741 1362 31 25 60 206 121 38 61 — — — 275 434 — — 614
4968
2016
Printing, Stationery & Postage: Magazines Printing 1798.37 Magazines Stationery/Postage 1337.88 Other Stationery/Postage 85.50 Jessop Prize Young Old Almondburians’ Prizes Presentations Sundry Expenses Paypal Charges Computer Running Expenses Loss on AGM Supper Open Day Expenses 219.46 Loss on Reunion Rave-up 428.01 KJS Contributions: Leavers’ Pens 296.00 Logocloth — Timeline/Panels 350.00 OAS Panels 480.00 Excess of Income over Expenditure
2016
3221.75 25.00 60.00 86.62 100.00 45.76 — 5.41
1126.00 14.44
5332.45
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5332.45
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST AUGUST 2017 2016
18 774 — 165 50 57
Trophies 18.00 Stock of Ties 720.00 Stock of Scarves 1049.75 Stock of Prints 165.00 Stock of Envelopes — Net Rave-up Payments in Advance — Life Membership Account 255 Nat West Business Reserve 234.67
Life Membership Account Balance at 1 Sep 2016 254.64 Add Interest 0.05 254.69 Less Transfer to Income 255 & Expenditure Account 20.02 234.67
14868
Subscriptions 4585.00 Transfer from Life Membership Account 20.02 Interest Received 1.84 Sales of Magazines — Surplus on Sales of DVDs — Surplus on Sales of Ties 36.00 Surplus on Sales of Scarves 0.49 Surplus on AGM Supper — Surplus on Annual Dinner 689.10
647.47
Accumulated Fund Balance at 1 Sep 2016 10898.49 Add Excess of Income over 10898 Expenditure 14.44 10912.93
2323 165 598 90 539
4780 20 5 30 15 60 — 2 56
KJS Development Fund Balance at 1 Sep 2016 2323.44 Add Interest 0.40 KJS 400 Merchandise 65.56 School Histories 20.00 2409.40 Less Timeline/Panels 2000.00 Pavilion Appeal Fund Balance Net Dinner Receipts in Advance Subcriptions in Advance Sundry Creditors
KJS Development Fund 2323 Nat West Business Reserve
409.40 165.00 234.05 90.00 2865.00
14911.05
37
409.40
10592 399 214 21
Cash and Bank Balances National Westminster Bank: Business Reserve 10528.34. Current Account 1750.23 Paypal Account — Cash in Hand 35.66 12314.23
14868
14911.05
Executive Officers
20 18
President
Ian Rimmer
King James’s School Work Telephone: (01484) 412990 e-mail: staff.irimmer@kingjames.school
Chairman
Walter Raleigh
15 Thorpe Lane Almondbury Huddersfield Yorkshire HD5 8TA
Home Telephone: (01484) 533805 e-mail: walterraleigh@hotmail.co.uk
ViceChairman
Chris. West
7 Brookside Crimble Slaithwaite Huddersfield Yorkshire HD7 5BZ
Home Telephone: (01484) 843518 e-mail: cwest225@btinternet.com
Hon Secretary Andrew M. Haigh 2 Arkenley Lane Almondbury Huddersfield Yorkshire HD4 6SQ
Home Telephone: (01484) 432105 Mobile Telephone: (07770) 220733 Work Telephone:(01484) 400032 Facsimile:(01484) 469567 e-mail: andrew@rdhaigh.com
Hon Treasurer
Keith Crawshaw
5 Benomley Drive Almondbury Huddersfield Yorkshire HD5 8LX
Home Telephone: (01484) 533658 e-mail: keithcrawshawrhb@gmail.com
Media Editor
Roger Dowling
Orchard House Oughtrington Lane Lymm Cheshire WA13 0RD
Home Telephone: (01925) 756390 Mobile Telephone: (07815) 601447 e-mail: roger.dowling@oas.org.uk
38
I Ordinary Committee Members
Emily Briggs
17 Fair Street Huddersfield Yorkshire HD1 3QB
Home Telephone: (01484) 535999 e-mail: nickybriggs@hotmail.co.uk
Martyn Hicks
12 Gernhill Avenue Home Telephone: (01484) 539409 Fixby e-mail: martyn.hicks@hotmail.com Huddersfield Yorkshire HD2 2HR
Samuel Atkin
24 Far Croft Lepton Huddersfield Yorkshire HD8 0LS
Home Telephone: (01484) 307124 Work Telephone:(01484) 665023 e-mail: sam.atkin@steadrobinson.co.uk
Michael Powner
The Fairway Fixby Huddersfield HD2 2HU
Home Telephone: (01484) 423365 e-mail: mikepowner@ntlworld.com
Andrew M. Schofield Royd House Barn Royd House Almondbury Huddersfield HD4 6SX
Mobile Telephone: (07767) 600904 e-mail: andrew.schofield@camirafabrics.com
Chaplain
Rev. Chris. Pickles 73 Watercroft Almondbury Huddersfield Yorkshire HD5 8UT
Mobile Telephone: (07783) 060420 e-mail: christopherjamespickles@gmail.com
Representatives of the School
Abbigail Terry Philip Coxon
King James’s School Work Telephone: (01484) 412990 ext 206 e-mail: staff.aterry@kingjames.school King James’s School Work Telephone: (01484) 412990 e-mail: staff.pcoxon@kingjames.school 39
Head Boy
Mason Baimbridge King James’s School Telephone:
(01484) 412990
Head Girl
Daisy Cameron
(01484) 412990
Badminton Section
Andrew M. Haigh 2 Arkenley Lane Almondbury Huddersfield Yorkshire HD4 6SQ
Home Telephone: (01484) 432105 Mobile Telephone: (07770) 220733 Work Telephone: (01484) 400032 Facsimile: (01484) 469567 e-mail: andrew@rdhaigh.com
Golf Section
Robin E. Merchant 26 Jagger Hill Kirkheaton Huddersfield Yorkshire HD5 0RA
Mobile Telephone: (07933) 200475 e-mail: robin.merchant@talktalk.net
King James’s School Telephone:
Tennis Section Andrew M. Haigh 2 Arkenley Lane Almondbury Huddersfield Yorkshire HD4 6SQ Independent Examiner
Vice-Presidents
Home Telephone: (01484) 432105 Mobile Telephone: (07770) 220733 Work Telephone: (01484) 400032 Facsimile: (01484) 469567 e-mail: andrew@rdhaigh.com
J A Swift Nicky Murphy J A Ward Paul Balderstone Jack A. Taylor James N. Taylor Graham Cliffe Bryan Hopkinson
K G Shaw Richard J Green J Richard Taylor J Amanda Taylor David Gary Croft Robert Williams Patrick O’Brien
40
Keith Crawshaw John M Drewery Malcolm J Taylor David A Bush Ian Shaw Emily Murphy Nicky Briggs
I
The Almondburian Poets
N 1780, a rag-maker in Spitalfields called William Addis was thrown into gaol for causing a riot. The story goes that while he was incarcerated he saved a piece of bone found in his prison meal, drilled half a dozen small holes in one end, and, inspired at seeing a broom standing in the corner of his cell, decided to thread bristles though the holes. The bristles were then glued or wired into place. Thus was born the toothbrush as we know it today. It may sound an unlikely tale, but having served his sentence Addis went on to make the brushes commercially from his premises in Whitechapel in East London. He formed a company in 1780 and the brushes were an immediate success. The company, nowadays trading as Wisdom, is still going strong and there was still an Addis working at the factory as recently as 30 years ago. In a previous issue of The Almondburian, we noted the influence amongst pupils of King James’s Grammar School of Hilaire Belloc’s well-loved ‘cautionary tales’. This splendid example by thirdformer Bryan Hopkinson – possibly himself a former user of an Addis toothbrush – is worthy of the master himself.
THE SAD CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING TEETH Now once a little boy called Keith Began neglecting cleaning teeth. And when each night he went to bed, His mother very often said: “Now clean your teeth each night, my boy, Or else the dentist we’ll employ.” But he could even stand this threat, So when at last the dentist met His mother in St George’s Square – A tactic which was hardly fair – She talked to him about her Keith, Who did, she said, not clean his teeth. The dentist wore a thoughtful frown, And said, “Tomorrow, Mrs. Brown!” Now Keith, on hearing this, was sad: It was enough to make him mad! But then at night, a plot, deep, dark, In young Keith’s mind began to spark. He stole some money and some food (Hoping his mother to elude) And slipped away at dead of night. It gave his mother such a fright When, waking up with peaceful mind, She found the note Keith left behind. These words it said: “I’m leaving you – I hate you, and the dentist too!” His mother, terribly distressed Sent out the Police Force to arrest Her runaway son who, by now, Was hidden deep in Walthamstow. He ate some sweets, then more, then more, Then thousands more – sweets, sweets galore, Until one day, somewhere about, One of his teeth came tumbling out: And then one day, he got the goat, And one black tooth stuck in his throat. He died, and on his burial wreath, They wrote: “He did not clean his teeth.” B Hopkinson, 3A The Almondburian, Spring 1970 41
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Evolution of a school magazine
ROGER DOWLING
‘I
The Almondburian has a long history stretching back to 1885.The Editor casts a critical eye on the highs and lows of the magazine over the past 130 years
remember the first Almondburian being issued. The Editor was Hartley Harrison; it consisted of one copy, ie one large sheet of paper with all the news, etc., written on one side, and tacked on to a large board and hung in the main school for everybody to read.’ The date was 1885 and the writer, quoted in Taylor Dyson’s Almondbury and its Ancient School, was S H Barker (1883-1885). Hartley Harrison attended the School from 1880-1886 and was a ‘high flyer’ who received the Dartmouth Medal in 1883 and won the Jessop Prize the following year. These were the days of Rev Francis Marshall, who had become headmaster in 1878 and would remain at the helm until 1896. The School prospered during his early years: the old kitchens, dormitories, library (‘Big’) and Fenay Quad all date from this period. Sadly, the earliest issues of The Almondburian have not survived: the first known issue is No 8, dated May 1888, retained in the Local Studies Department of Huddersfield Library (1). It was printed by the prominent local firm Alfred Jubb & Son at the company’s Albany Printing Works in Station Street, Huddersfield. The cover is of particular interest because it shows for the first time the official ‘School badge’ (2), complete with lions and fleurs de lis, drawn directly from the arms of 42
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5
James I who claimed to be King of both England and France. The identity of its designer is now lost in the history of time so it is probably safe to make the observation that it’s a pretty feeble effort by any standards: the lions and the fleurs de lis are crudely drawn, and the lettering is amateurish in its execution. The reputation of Francis Marshall fell during his later years as a result of his preoccupation with Rugby Football. By the time he left in 1896 school numbers were down to 11 and it is not surprising that the fledgling new magazine had a relatively short life. One of the last issues was devoted almost entirely to a detailed exposition of the rules of Rugby, which cannot have commended itself to its young readership. It was not until the arrival of Taylor Dyson in 1913 that thoughts of a school magazine were revived. The new hand-lettered cover design (3) was probably the work of bearded art master Bradley Shaw, who had been at the School since 1903. Possibly unimpressed by the old School badge, he designed a simpler colour version (4), stripped of its outer lettering and printed in black, red and blue. It may have been simpler, but it was still a pretty basic design by modern standards. A significant innovation during the Taylor Dyson era was the drawing (5) that appeared on the title page from 1927. Signed ‘B. S. 1927’ it is also probably the work of Bradley Shaw, although he had retired a few years earlier. Perhaps it was done as a favour for his old headmaster colleague? It is a measure of the im43
portance attached to the magazine in those days that a ten-man committee was set up to guide its activities. In 1933, for example, it comprised the Headmaster, Messrs Addy, Ash, Burn, Blackburn; Messrs Ash, Cardno and Holroyd (representing the Old Almondburians); Evans and Lunn. The editorials were invariably written by Taylor Dyson and such was his influence that it was not until Christmas 1944, with his retirement imminent the following year, that brave souls decided it was time to make a change.They were the editors of the day, E B Carter and W W O Schlesinger, who launched a dramatic new design (6) by art master Edward Akroyd with these words: “The first thing that will strike the reader of this Magazine will be, no doubt, that the cover does not seem familiar. Mr Akroyd, to whom we would like to express our thanks, has designed this new, and, we feel, better cover.It may appear a pity to change what had become a regular feature of the Magazine, but this should not prevent a change for the better.� It was a clean, fresh design that seemed to be greeted with approval, and it graced the front cover unchanged for the following nine years. But then a tiny change was made that resulted from the re-discovery of the School Charter in May, 1952 and a growing realisation that the School had received its charter in 1608 rather than the previously accepted date of 1609. Edward Akroyd was commanded to change the date on the badge, and it
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7
44
8
9
made its first appearance (7) in the Easter issue, 1953. Edward Akroyd was also behind the next innovation, in the Christmas 1948 issue edited by F R Halmshaw and P K Ward. This was the year that saw the arrival as headmaster of Horace Moore (1948-1951), and one of his first initiatives was to take various steps to strengthen the house system. Akroyd obligingly produced a stylistic scraper-board drawing of the main school entrance (8), with the names of the four school Houses depicted beneath the windows. For good measure, the drawing also included the school badge and a group of students with their master cleverly set into the the roof tiles. A year later, the Christmas 1949 issue saw yet another innovation: the first view of the School on the title page drawn by one of the students. (9) The artist was none other than OAS member Roger Sykes (1946-1953), whose drawings still appear as an ongoing feaure of today’s magazine. Also a scraper-board drawing, produced when Sykes was in 4 alpha, it shows the old school house. Akroyd continued to encourage students to produce drawings for the magazine and in the following years many excellent pen-and-ink and scraper board views of the school building were contributed by Sykes, Bryan Littlewood (1948-1955), Gavin Kane (1949-1954), P A Haigh (1947-1953) and others. The magazine was relatively expensive to produce in those days of hand-set letterpress printing and to defray costs advertising had been a feature of the magazine since the earliest days. The house decorators Lunn & Cardno in Upperhead Row were just one company amongst many who supported the magazine for many years (10): Jack Cardno was a tireless worker on behalf of the School and was active in re-founding the Old Almondburians’ Society in 1920. Other supportive advertisers included 45
the dry cleaners J Holroyd & Co Ltd; James Holroyd was another very active member of the Old Almondburians’ Society in the years after the First World War. The Almondburian abandoned advertising for several years from Summer, 1954. The following year, there was another tiny change, though it was probably not spotted by most readers. Since the earliest days of The Almondburian, the magazine had carried the title page byline that it was ‘The Magazine of King James’ (sic) Grammar School’ (11). In the Christmas, 1955 issue (editors: M Fawcett and D A Heptonstall) an additional ‘s’ was surreptitiously inserted and it became ‘The Magazine of King James’s Grammar School’ (12), a style which we have retained to the present day. A further three years would elapse before the next, more significant, change. Albert Makinson 11 had arrived as a new junior English mas12 ter. He was a keen amateur printer who soon set up a Printing Society which for many years would print programmes for school plays and letterheads for its many customers. Makinson also took a keen interest in the School magazine and was not impressed by what he saw. For many years since the early days of Alfred Jubb’s Albany Printing Works, it had been printed by the family firm Eli Collins of Holmfirth, and all too often the print quality was grey and smudgy as though the company was trying to economise on printing ink. Makinson moved the contract to Joseph Woodhead and Sons, printers of the Huddersfield Examiner and insisted on a higher quality glossy paper. The quality was transformed. But his eagle eyes then spotted, to his profound shock, another major design error which had been undetected for many years… n (To be continued) 10
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Farnley Lines
“
DAV E BU S H
JOHN OLDHAM!” John Oldham’s head spun round as if he had been shot. The scene? Outside the away supporters’ end at the Liberty Stadium, home of Swansea City. The occasion? The Swans entertaining Huddersfield Town in a Premier League match in October. Your ‘whatshould-we-do-without-him’ secretary, Andrew Haigh, accompanied by his wife and three daughters, had come down to South Wales for the weekend and had procured tickets for the match. The aforementioned JO attended King James’s Grammar School from
1966-1973 and is a fellow Old Almondburian Society member . He was also a former very able ‘A’ Level Latin student of mine who went on to study archaeology at Manchester University. I still have a postcard he sent me of the wooden horse of Troy when he was engaged in a dig there. Despite all this he entered the textile trade in Huddersfield and we played together in the Old Almondburians football team. Five or ten minutes of reminiscences and then, in the area below the stand, I met another Old Almondburian, Mark Waring (1977-1982).
Football fans: Dave Bush outside the Liberty Stadium, Swansea with OAS secretary Andrew Haigh and daughters Charlotte, Eleanor and Annabel 47
It may be a sign of age but I did find the incessant and inane chanting almost intolerable. And the game? Rather ordinary and 2- 0 to the Swans. The delightful family of Haighs had a great weekend and managed to include in their visit a ‘Park Run’ along Porthcawl Promenade. We talked of making this an annual event but looking at Swansea’s league position, firmly entrenched at the bottom, this seems unlikely. However, a possibility that Cardiff could replace them? And Town would have to stay up.
Top: John Oldham Bottom: Mark Waring
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A tour of Wembley Stadium Just before Christmas I went up to London to stay with my daughter and to take in an Andre Rieu concert at the Wembley arena. Prior to this she had suggested that I might like to have a tour of the Wembley Stadium. We met our guide in the foyer where she explained she always liked to know which team those of us supported. My daughter was asked first and replied ‘None.’ The guide was somewhat taken aback but normal service was soon resumed as our fellow visitors trotted out the predictable Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Man United and others of that ilk. “Any others?” she asked. I boldly raised my hand. ‘Lincoln City’ I said in my gravest tone. She stepped forward and shook my hand. “I can honestly say in all my years of showing visitors around, you are the first Lincoln City supporter I have met.”
there. Perhaps somebody will add some details. I do know we - the Old A’s First XI – with Dave Morrison in our ranks, travelled to play a cup match against a Hull side the following Saturday. Sharing changing rooms and hoping to intimidate the opposition we urged Dave to keep the Wembley mud on his boots. No recollection if it had any effect.
Farewell to Alan Conley Still on the soccer theme but with a very sad connotation this time. I see Swansea at the bottom of the Premier League but running from the the rest of the field are Manchester City, a team supported all his life by Mancunian Wembley Stadium: the bronze statue of former West Alan Conley, Headmaster at King Ham and England footballer Bobby Moore James’s from 1974 to 1985. I was so shocked and upset to hear of his Most of the group seemed to be from death in December. I was Acting Headthe Far East and I was staggered when master in the interregnum between one said “Lincoln beat Burnley in the Harry Taylor’s retirement in July 1973 Cup last season, didn’t they?” “Amazing!”, as everyone seems to say and Alan’s officially taking over the these days. It was an excellent experi- reins in January 1974. His stewardship ence. However, all of this is a lead- in to was fraught with difficulties from the my follow up of the splendid section in very start. He inherited a short lived the November issue of The Almondburian Sixth Form College with the last of the which covered famous sporting Al- Boys’ Grammar School and soon- toarrive 180 mixed 11-16 Comprehenmondburians. My question is this: ‘How many Al- sive School pupils. Soon after he began mondburians have played at Wembley?’ his tenure his wife was diagnosed with I can name one – Dave Morrison, a terminal illness. These heavy burdens King’s College, Cambridge (KJGS he bore with admirable fortitude and he 1967-1970) who appeared in the Var- was sustained by his deeply held Chrissity Match in 1971 we think. I know I tian beliefs. It is to his lasting credit was present accompanied by Ken Ire- that he left a very popular and successland but cannot remember how we got ful school. 49
class that Kirklees had sent out a spelling test for her age group. The words were nigh impossible to spell and as I collected the marked papers all the scores were nought, one and maybe an odd two. Catherine scored eight. Anyone with any information as to her present whereabouts…?
I join my former colleagues Pat Reid and Jack Taylor in sharing fond memories of Alan’s time at King James’s on page 60 of this issue.
Catherine Shuttleworth Let’s finish on a lighter note: a case of ‘What happened to…? I caught a mention recently, I think on the radio, of a ‘Catherine Shuttleworth’. Not an uncommon combination of names in the North. However, I did wonder if it was Old Almondburian Catherine Shuttleworth (1992-1996). When asked who are the most able students I have ever taught I have always listed three ‘A’ Level students; I will not embarrass them by mentioning them yet again. However, we were an 11-16 school by then so Catherine transferred to Greenhead or otherwise she would be included in my top four. She went on to study at Oxford University. As an April Fool joke I informed her
Avian excitement in Porthcawl And finally. The next Big Birding Trip will take place towards the end of February and a full report will appear in the next issue. But any birds seen will not rival the rarity recorded in John Street, Porthcawl (see below). I was tempted to add the embellishment of a greengrocer’s apostrophe but that would have been cheating and we cannot have such deception in our revered publication! n l Send us YOUR photograph’s of any unusual birds - or grocer’s apostrophes - you encounter and we’ll print them in future issue’s. (Ed)
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Badminton
I
AND R E W H AI G H
N order to minimise postage costs, we always distribute by hand as many copies of the magazine as possible. What can be a better advertisement for the fine publication that is The Almondburian than two gentlemen taking the first opportunity to read it whilst sitting out a game of badminton? During October half-term, the sports
a n d rew. h a igh @o a s . o rg. u k
Andrew Haigh
hall floor was refurbished, thanks to the generosity of the King James’s School Foundation, and the result is a surface that is far superior on which to play. At the same time, the badminton courts were re-marked the opposite way around, which makes it much easier to see the shuttle with less distraction in the background. Both the P.E. Department and the Old Almondburians’ Badminton Section are very pleased with the result and are indebted to the Foundation for their funding. We were delighted to see Graeme Milnes once again make his annual appearance from Cardiff on the Thursday David Parry and Robin Merchant enjoying The Almondburian during a break in play before the Annual 51
Dinner. Despite my best efforts whilst visiting Porthcawl in October, I was unable to persuade Dave Bush to do the same. A tradition of the Badminton Section is to hold a Christmas Party following the last badminton evening before Christmas. This year it was particularly close to Christmas and also co-incided with Robin Merchant’s birthday on 21st December. There was Christmas cake and birthday cake and Champagne; what more could you ask for? We would love you to come along and join in the fun! We play in the School sports hall on Thursday evenings during term time from 7.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m.We pay only £5 per evening towards 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, this fee will reduce. Please note that there will be no badminton at School during the Easter holidays (5th & 12th April). Otherwise, we will be playing each Thursday up to and including 24th May. The eleven players who have played
Tennis
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Robin Merchant celebrating his birthday at the Badminton Section Christmas Party
so far this season are Robin Merchant, David Parry, Craig Watts, Emily Murphy, Andrew Haigh, Ian Daffern, Nicky Murphy, Neil Gledhill, Annabel Haigh, Matthew Booth and Graeme Milnes. n
A ND R EW H A I G H
HE 2018 Almondburian tennis season will start on Thursday, 7th June and will run until Thursday, 30th August. Last year, because a damaged lock prevented us from accessing the nets for the school tennis courts, we decamped to Longley Tennis Club, where
52
a n d rew. h a igh @o a s . o rg. u k
we enjoyed better surfaces than the School tennis courts currently provide and where we also avoided problems with cars parking on the tennis courts during events such as parents’ evenings. It is always nice for Almondburian events to be held at School wherever possible
but, when there are such good facilities just a stone’s throw away, it does make sense to take advantage of them where possible. In view of this, we will be looking to negotiate a similar arrangement to last year, where we played at Longley Tennis Club each Thursday evening between the above dates, weather permitting, from 7.30 p.m. until dusk. During term-time, it is possible to play bad-
minton 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. Last year, the fee, to cover the cost of court hire, balls and showers, was ÂŁ3.00 for members of Longley Tennis Club and ÂŁ6.00 for non-members per evening. Almondburian tennis is purely social, so why not come along and join n us?
Golf: Gothard Cup
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RO BI N ME R C H ANT
HE date set for the 2018 Gothard Cup competition is Sunday 10th June at Woodsome Hall, with the tee booked from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Afterwards there will be a meal and presentation. Last year we had ten players and it
ro b in . m erc h a n t@ta lk ta lk . n et
would be marvellous if we could significantly increase that number. We will circulate details in due course to all who may be interested in taking part. So if you enjoy a game of golf and a chance to catch up with old schoolmates, n do come and join us. Andrew Haigh
Gothard Cup 2017: the competition gets under way 53
SPORTS PAVILION
Update on the pavilion project
The need for further evidence of the future use of the pavilion means that the King James’s School Foundation, leading the project, is now reviewing options before making further decisions in September.
I
COLIN BAMFORD
should like to take this opportu- nity or for a minority sport like girls’ nity to brief Old Almondburians cricket. on where we stand at present on We have not put forward a new bid the sports pavilion project. on account of the demise of the Old AlDonations and funds provided by the mondburians’ Cricket Club. There Foundation amount to over £300k and seemed no point as our case was weakhave been ring fenced for the project. Al- ened. most two years ago, The positive news West Yorkshire Sport to give is that the prepared a bid on the project is not dead. Foundation’s behalf We need to look at for funding of up to alternative lower cost £150,000 from Sport options. England. For the time beThis was for a muling, the members of ti-purpose sports the Trust have pavilion which could agreed: also be used by the l To continue to KJS for teaching maintain the cricket sports subjects. The field to playing stanbid was not successful dards at a time when funds l To encourage KJS were restricted and to make more use of Colin Bamford is an Emeritus Professor in the Huddersfield indeed, still are. We the field Business School. and has been a did though receive l To ascer tain member of the King James’s positive feedback and whether other School Foundation since it was reconstituted. were advised that we schools or local clubs His two daughters went to King needed more eviwould like to use the James’s School and he was a dence of projected field this summer member of the KJS Governing Body for eight years, including use of the facility, posOnce we have this four as Chairman. sibly by the commuinformation, we in54
tend to review the situation in September. We have taken the precaution of removing old photographs from the pavilion and put them for safe keeping in the new archive at the School. We are grateful to John Headey (an Old Collegian like myself!) for keeping an eye on things from time to time. Finally, and by no means least, I must record huge thanks to Graham Cliffe who regretfully retired as Chairman of the Foundation last October after 16 years at the helm. Graham’s drive and inspiration to get the Foundation’s rightful funds from Kirklees and his vision on how we should move forward cannot be overestimated. I have taken over as Chairman for the time being and have been pleased by the support the other trustees have given me. We do though have two vacancies. So, if any Old Almondburians would be willing to join us, we would be pleased to hear from you. Tel: 01484 544795 bamfordcolin@btinternet.com
The pavilion project
1958:The Grand Opening of the new cricket pavilion by the Countess of Scarbrough
2000: The ageing pavilion is vandalised and requires urgent refurbishment.The King James’s School Foundation proposes a project to restore it
2011: We launch a ‘Call to Action’.The initial plan is based on retaining the present structure but extending it to provide better facilities
2014: A more detailed study of the requirement leads to designs for a new purposebuilt pavilion which better meets present-day requirements
2016: An application to Sport England for funding support is unsuccessful, requiring reassurances on the future use of the pavilion by the School and others 2018: The situation will be reviewed in September 2018; meanwhile feedback from OAS members will be very welcome 55
OBITUARY
Farewell to a fine former Head
T
We are saddened to report the death on 11th December 2017 of Rev Alan Conley, the greatly respected Headmaster of King James’s from 1974 to 1985
HE death was announced at Yeovil District Hospital in December of former headmaster Alan Conley. He was 88 and died as a result of complications following hip surgery. When Alan took up his appointment in 1974, King James’s School was in the midst of a reorganisation the likes of which it had never before experienced in its long history. Alan’s task, effectively, was simultaneously to run two schools on the same site: a new Sixth Form College and the last years of the former Boys’ Grammar School. But that was not the end of the complications. By 1976, a decision was taken to abort the new Sixth Form College when it was realised that adequate provision already existed elsewhere. This resulted in the advent of the first 13-18 mixed comprehensive intake, the two schools thus becoming for a short time three schools on a split site. It was to Alan’s immense credit that he was able to maintain staff morale during these very difficult days. Members of staff have spoken of his fairness, his willingness to explain his reasons for making, sometimes unpopular, decisions, thus winning over opponents, and his personal involvement and encouragement in their own careers. They marvelled at his ability to look at a school timetable and see how to re-
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arrange it to accommodate seemingly impossible combinations of subjects. Alan’s spell at King James’s was Alan’s final teaching appointment, representing the pinnacle of a long and outstanding teaching career. But tragically, in the midst of the turbulent times at the School, his wife Edwina was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Friends and colleagues admired their fortitude and strength in adversity, which were a profound tribute to their Christian beliefs. On a lighter note, the move to Huddersfield meant that Alan – a lifelong supporter of Manchester City – was now able to go to City’s home matches, often accompanied by daughter Sarah. By this time he had developed a passing resemblance to the magician Tommy Cooper. His office desk at King James’s was invariably covered with untidy scraps of paper containing vital information which he could usually find, as if by magic, and on her retirement his long-suffering secretary Doreen Hinchliffe presented him with a fez. James Alan Conley, always known as Alan, was born on 21st November 1929, in Blackley, Manchester, the elder son of James and Doris. His father was a fish merchant until 1939, and he then worked for AVRO until his retirement, on projects which included the Lancaster bomber. During WW2 Alan and his younger
High School for Boys in Stoke-on-Trent, from 1954-1956, and while there their eldest daughter, Susan, was born. Corporal punishment was still common in schools in those days and he became known as ‘Little Mo’, not only because of the similarity of his surname with the American tennis player, Maureen Connolly, but also because it was said that he wielded a slipper with the same dexterity that she wielded a tennis racket. In January 1957 Alan was appointed Head of Mathematics at the co-educational Midsomer Norton Grammar School; he was also in charge of school cricket, and in his spare time played for a local football team. He described this post as a steep learning curve, firstly because it was his first venture to the south of England, and
brother Donald, were evacuated to Blackpool and later to Camp School in Congleton, Cheshire. From 1942-48 he attended North Manchester High School where he became Head Boy; he also became School Athletics Champion and represented the school at football and cricket, sports about which he remained passionate for the rest of his life. He then went to King’s College, Newcastle, where he gained a BSc in Mathematics and Physics in 1951, followed by a Diploma in Education in 1952. Before embarking on a long and distinguished career in teaching, Alan did his National Service in the Royal Corps of Signals and was commissioned in 1953. He represented his regiment in cricket, soccer and in the Army Athletics Championships, which they won in 1954. In later life it was a source of much amusement to his family that he would begin a lengthy reminiscence with, “When I was in the Army…”, making it sound as if this had been an extended military career and not merely two years of National Service. In December 1952 he married Edwina Price, and they lived in Richmond, Yorkshire until 1954; during this time their son Stephen was born. Edwina was the perfect help-mate for Alan. Her practical Christianity and common sense served to ‘earth’ Alan, himself a deeply religious man since his days at university: her merry sense of humour was an excellent foil to his tendency to take himself too seriously. Alan’s first teaching post was that of Assistant Mathematics Teacher at Hanley Happy days: Alan Conley at a family occasion with his second wife Jean two years ago
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The Almondburian, Summer
1974: in one of Alan’s first editorials, he reports in typically droll style on his ‘recovery’ from an invasion of 40 girls. He earned the admiration of both staff and pupils for the way in which he maintained morale during the endless educational changes of this difficult period.
secondly because it involved teaching ‘girls’, a strange concept he had not previously encountered in his teaching career. Two more daughters, Carol and Sarah, were born before the family moved to Cinderford in Gloucestershire in 1966. Here Alan was first Deputy Head and Head of Mathematics at East Dean Grammar School, then Acting Head, and finally, when the school became part of the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School, he was again Deputy Head. Alan took early retirement in 1985, and having been a lay-reader in the Church of England for many years, he spent time at St Johns College, Nottingham, preparing for ordination. He and Edwina moved
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to Langar in the Vale of Belvoir in Oct 1986, but sadly Edwina died in Jan 1987, six months before Alan was ordained. He became Associate Priest in the Wiverton group of churches in the then diocese of Southwell. In 1988 Jean Adams became his second wife, and they lived in Langar for nine years, continuing to use their home for Bible studies and Lent courses where folk appreciated Alan’s cool, calm way of dealing with difficult questions. The couple finally moved to Thornford in Dorset in Oct 1997. In retirement he joined Yeovil Probus Club, and enjoyed village life to the full. He continued to take services and to lead Bible studies and Lent courses. In addition to his wife Jean and children Stephen, Susan, Carol and Sarah, Alan leaves eleven grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. n Rev James Alan Conley, born 21st November 1929, died 11th December 2017 aged 88. Overleaf: Personal glimpses
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Personal glimpses
Dave Bush, Pat Reid and Jack Taylor were members of Alan Conley’s leadership team DAVE BUSH
Alan had, shall we say euphemistically, ‘a way with words’ which endeared him to his staff and friends. Of course, we never mentioned his ‘Conleyisms’ to him directly but they do rank with those of Mrs Malaprop. A selection illustrates my point. He invented the “vicious triangle”; he talked of “keeping one’s ear to the grindstone” and “getting to the crutch of the matter”; and was uncertain about physical punishment for girls with the advent of “the Sexual Relations Act” and was able to claim “an infidelity allowance”. He once told his secretary, “I’ll have you on the carpet, Mrs Hinchliffe”. Doreen’s reply “Is that a threat or a promise, Mr Conley?” is most probably apocryphal. Alan’s love of sport – he had been an outstanding footballer, cricketer and middle distance athlete in his younger days – meant he took a great interest in all school sport. Additionally he appreciated all the benefits that The OA Society brought to King James’s and rarely missed an executive meeting. On the death of his wife he retired to Sherborne in Dorset, married a former pupil, became fully involved with the Anglican Ministry and enjoyed many happy years which were so richly deserved.
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PAT REID
It was with great sadness that I heard of the death of Alan Conley. He was a fine man who, as headmaster, steered the School through several years of major change. Behind the bluff exterior, with little regard for sartorial elegance, was a kind and caring man with a brilliant mind. His desk may have been covered with papers in seeming disarray, but his mind was completely ordered, and he could for instance, tell you from memory details of the school timetable. During his years at KJS, the health of his wife became a problem, so that at home Alan was a carer, but in school it was business as usual. I have many fond and fun memories of Alan.There was the telephone call from Jessica Taylor, asking if Alan had left his car bumper in their rose bushes when visiting.The answer was, “Yes”. There were the funny and characteristic slips of words. He discussed matters with senior staff, “within these three walls”. A few years after the death of his wife, he married Jean, with whom he enjoyed a happy and fulfilled retirement. His Christian faith was at the core of his life. He preached and, on retirement he trained and was ordained as a minister of the Church of England. He acted as a valued non-stipendiary minister in his retirement, and was wonderfully supported by Jean. He will be remembered by many former staff and pupils with great affection. 60
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JACK TAYLOR
I shared a table with Alan and his wife at the Old Almondburians’ dinner in November 2016. He appeared in good health, contented and relaxed, warming to reminiscing with former colleagues and students. He expressed particular interest in the School building changes and alterations to the curriculum since his tenure as headteacher at the school. In particular, we chatted about our shared experience of life at Catterick garrison in North Yorkshire, where we undertook our national service basic training in the early ’50s. Alan was affectionately known as ‘Columbo’ at School within a tight circle of friends. This referred to his choice of raincoat, mirroring exactly the one worn by the popular sleuth of American television fame. I found Alan as headteacher to be an inspiring figure within the leadership team and for the school. He was a keen, but fair, disciplinarian and set an outstanding example to colleagues and students alike by his sustained and dedicated application.This was against the background in his early years as headteacher, of immense changes in school status, curriculum and buildings. Alan would go out of his way to support colleagues and friends, within and outside the school. I remember in particular, on one occasion, he readily accepted my invitation to preach at our local junior school on their annual leaving ceremony. Alan was a regular attendee at Old Almondburians’ Society committee meetings in his role as president of the society.Thus the society was kept abreast of the almost daily changes involving the school. Alan’s reputation as a sportsman was confirmed and enhanced whenever he turned out with the staff cricket team. It soon became apparent to our opponents that he had been an above average fast bowler at a younger age. His wide interest in sport was also evident as he regularly supported school teams of all age groups, boys and girls, from soccer to netball, frequently after school. Soon after the launching of the Old Almondburians’ Cricket Club in 1976, Alan readily accepted the role of president. He regularly attended our annual dinner and presentation evenings, continuing when he accompanied his wheelchair-bound late, former wife. On retirement Alan continued to show a passionate interest in the school, the Old Almondburians’ Society and the Old Almondburians’ Cricket Club. On his occasional appearances at the OAS dinner, bearing in mind he was then living in Dorset, he was always keen to get an update on events and renew former colleague and student acquaintances. It was on these relaxed occasions that his sharp sense of humour, not always readily apparent in a working, professional environment, readily came to the fore. Alan Conley gave devoted service to King James’s School, as headteacher and whilst in retirement. He will always remain an inspiration to those who have spent time in his company. 61
Postbag
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YO U WRITE …
Was this the Beer Hunter’s first hunt?
From: Barry Livesey(1953-1961)
very interesting article by Roger Protz (November 2017 issue). My small claim to fame is that I looked at the back of Michael Jackson’s head for about 5 years! Others have a stronger claim as, in our permanent seating arrangement,Jackson was followed immediately by Langford, Leach, then Lindley and then me. I have a clear memory of Frank Anderson having a go at him outside the old staff room after he had written a piece on a Jazz Concert in the Town Hall (I think Ken Colyer) that included negative comments about Huddersfield’s preoccupation with the Choral Society and Messiah. I don't think that Mike was too
fussed and Frank was probably giving some helpful feedback disguised as a rollocking. I have quite vague memories of Mike setting up a NewYear’s Eve ‘treasure’ hunt. I think there were two teams, and other Almondburians I think were there included Charles Beresford, John Beaumont and David Chambers. Clues took us to Slack at Outlane and I have forgotten where else. However the main point is that Mike had billed this as ‘A Beer Hunt’ and the prizes at the end were a selection of bottled beers and ciders. So just perhaps this may have been ‘The Beer Hunter’s’ first ‘hunt’ and the first use of what became the title of his TV programme. Shefford, Bedfordshire
Why aren’t there more female/non-white OAS members?
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From: Christopher Fry (1957-1964)
T is interesting what statistics teach us. In the last issue (November 2017) of The Almondburian, there is a total of 39 photographs of people, either individuals, groups of two to eight people or of sports teams (crowds/spectators are excluded). Breaking this down, we find: l 25/28 photos of individuals are of males l 10/12 groups of 2 to 8 people are of males l 5/6 team photos are of males only
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Putting this another way, l only 3 photographs out of 28 are of individual females (plus one of a female to the side of two males). Added to this, l Number of photographs including black/ethnic people = 0 l Number of named female contributors to the magazine = 0 l Number of female OAS officers listed on the back page = 0
And guess who’s coming to the Annual Dinner (look at the list on page 6 of the last issue): l Out of 23 former pupils (i.e. not staff), only one female has put her name down so far. l Apart from one person, all pupils started school between 1946 and 1967, making the average age 60. Given 16 of these started in the forties or fifties, the
average age of the majority is therefore much higher than 60. If the OAS is trying to reach out for more members, these statistics may prove what the barriers are in terms of gender, ethnic balance and possibly age too. Certainly they suggest a radical change to what is being presented to readers in the magazine. Earlsdon, Coventry
in the first flush of youth. One of the problems The Editor replies: It is indeed interesting what statistics of attracting younger people to the OAS, whatteach us. I could add two more: ever their gender or ethnicity is that they lose l Since the School was set up in 1547, its pupils contact with the School – and we with them – have been white males for over 91% of those 470 at the age of 16 when they transfer to sixth form years. It is therefore not surprising that there college. However, we believe that it is important are fewer references to the fair sex in The Al- that pupils should be aware of the OAS even if mondburian than might otherwise be the case. they do not join the Society until the later stages l The number of articles or letters I have re- of their lives when pressures of careers and famceived from non-white contributors since I be- ilies start to abate. came Editor eight years ago = 0. MALE FEMALE TOTAL But Christopher raises a valid point 388 748 360 of which the OAS is well aware. The White British 1 1 White English 0 School has certainly changed since many 1 1 White Irish 0 of us attended it years ago. When I was 7 12 5 there (1952-59), every single pupil was Other White background a home-grown white male and, come to Black Caribbean 0 4 4 think of it, so was every member of staff. Chinese 1 5 4 The only female in the whole School was Indian 6 13 7 the school secretary. 4 8 Any other Asian background 4 Girls were finally admitted to King Any other Black background 3 7 4 James’s School in 1974 and currently Any other ethnic group 4 6 2 comprise around half the intake. 14 26 Pakistani 12 With regard to ethnicity, the School Mixed Asian 13 19 6 has kindly provided the analysis shown 2 2 Mixed African 0 in the panel (right) which shows that non15 39 Mixed Caribbean 24 white pupils currently make up around 1 6 Other mixed background 5 16% of the intake. 2 7 Refused 5 It is true that most OAS members – 462 904 TOTAL 442 like Christopher himself – is no longer 63
Design: Roger Dowling / The Old Almondburians’ Society
These are some of the steps the OAS Yo u d o n’ t h a v e t o b e o l d to be an Old Almondburian! is currently taking to increase awareness within the School: l We continue to sponsor prizes such as The OAS also... Sponsors the annual Jessop the Jessop Prize for Mathematics at the Prize for Mathematics and other prizes at Prresentation Evening Publishes books, like the annual Presentation Evening Illustrateed History of King James’s School l We’ve initiated a scheme whereby Has its own comprehensive website www.oas.org.uk Organises events to mark pens with OAS contact details are premajor school anniversaries Is representeed on the King sented to each school leaver James’s School Governing Body and the King James’s School Foundation l As reported in the last issue of The Al Prroduces publications, videos, ties, a scarf and general mondburian we financed and organised memorabilia for sale to OAS members and other supporte ters a ‘Timeline’ display in the pupils’ main of the school social area together with a large panel (right) about the activities of the OAS. l Also as reported in the same issue, we were about the OAS Executive Committee, we are delighted that a group of pupils worked with pleased that the School is now represented by us as guides when we arranged for the School assistant principal Abbi Terry. Her contact deto be opened as part of the national Heritage tails are given on the back cover of The AlOpen Day scheme. mondburian. l Although squeezed out by lack of space in Nothing would please the OAS Executive this issue, The Almondburian routinely cov- Committee more than for more younger people ers news of activities ‘back at the School’, com- – whatever their gender or colour – to join the plete with photographs of pupils of both gen- Society and contribute to the magazine. ders and from all ethnic backgrounds We are always open to suggestions from l With regard to Christopher’s specific point members on how this may best be achieved.
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The best First XI in the School history?
From: Simon Thackray (1965-1971) HAT’S some claim for the football team of 1970/71, made by Dr Phil Shaw in the November 2017
issue! Whilst I can neither prove nor disprove it statistically, the record of that team is unlikely to have been surpassed (and so long as the School doesn’t have a 6th form, never likely to be in the future). Just a few points about the 70/71 team of which I was privileged to be a member:-
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The photograph in Phil’s article, clearly taken towards the end of the season, does not feature two vital members of that team: Andrew Douglas and Dave Smallwood. Both had already left the School at Christmas 1970 after sitting Oxbridge exams. They were absolutely key to the midfield of the team, so much so that the team won all its pre-Christmas matches and only had a slight wobble after the Douglas/Smallwood combo had left.
‘Russ’ was rewarded by scoring 30+ goals in that memorable season. It’s a small world. I was in a cab last year in the Isle of Man.The cab driver was chatty and told me he was a retired police officer. Somehow during the course of this 20-minute taxi ride he discovered that I originated from Huddersfield. “Do you happen to know Simon Graley?” he asked. “Do I?” I replied; “he and I were part of the best First XI our School ever produced.” I haven’t seen ‘Spog’ in 40+ years but if you’re out there, I gather you were also in the Isle of Man police force and big pals with my taxi driver (name unknown). *** 1970/71 was my final year at KJGS as I survived only one year in the 6th form. Generally it was not a happy year. Pressures at school and parental pressures at home combined with normal teenage angst didn’t make for a joyful time. Three bright notes do shine out in my memory of that year – an over-vigorous social life (a contributory cause to the aforementioned pressures); watching Huddersfield Town play in the First Division; and finally I regarded it as an absolute privilege to have been a member of certainly the best football team I ever played in before or since. Beckenham, Kent
Phil Shaw is correct in highlighting Allan Humphries’ considerable talent as a full back. However, what Phil may have forgotten is that in fact Allan’s part in that ’70/71 side was relatively small and the part he did play wasn’t as a full back. Allan sustained a serious pre-season knee injury which prevented him kicking a football before Christmas. One person’s sorrow can be another’s joy – the only reason I sneaked into that ’70/71 side was due to Allan’s injury! When Allan recovered fitness post-Christmas, the loss of the aforementioned Messrs Douglas & Smallwood left the team short in midfield (literally short given the height of the departing duo) so Allan slotted into midfield with the even shorter Robbie Moorhouse and I retained the No 2 shirt at full back. Looking at the team photograph, I note that there were only two Lower 6th boys in that team: Andrew Wortley and me. Andrew (‘Dan’) was an extremely talented winger matching Phil Shaw on the opposite wing. Between them they laid on chance after chance for our very own Frank Worthington, Simon Russell, at centre forward lurking in and around the 6-yard box.
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The best KJGS First XI ever? Back row, left to right: A Humphries, S Thackray D Sutton, S Graley, R Moorhouse, B Hoyle Front row, left to right: S Russell, B Nash, I Sheard (capt), A Wortley, P Shaw. Absent: A Douglas, D Smallwood
Obituaries
G O NE BU T NOT F O R G OTT EN
William Anthony Wright (1931-1936) Technical manager who was a founder member of the NorthWest Swimming League
industrial detergents division until his retirement. He lived in the same house in Delphfields Road, Appleton for 64 years. Tony embraced wholeheartedly his many hobbies and notably became a life member of Warrington Swimming Club and was the founder of the Nor th West Swimming League and a founding member of the Wayfarers Travel and Luncheon Club. A very proud family man Tony was sadly predeceased by his wife Sheila in 2002. He leaves his daughter, Anna, son Andrew, four grand daughters and one great grand daughter. His funeral was held at St Matthew’s Church, Stretton. William Anthony Wright, born 1st May 1920, died 23rd May 2017, aged 97.
With the death on 23rd May 2017 of Tony Wright, known to his many friends as Tony, the Old Almondburians’ Society has lost one of its oldest members. He died peacefully with family members at his side, in Warrington General Hospital at the age of 97. Tony was brought up in Huddersfield and, a proud member of Fenay House, attended King J a m e s ’s Grammar School from 1931-1936. During the war he ser ved with the RAF in India teaching radar and he then graduated from Manchester University in Mathematics and Physics. He joined Joseph Crosfield & Sons, Ltd – the Warrington company which became part of Lever Brothers and then Unilever – in the early 1950s and worked as a technical manager in the
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Jared William Rennison (Staff 1954-1960) Popular teacher who started up the Scout Troop and later became Mayor of Tewkesbury We record with sadness the death of former teacher Bill Rennison. Bill was born in Newcastle where his father worked in the shipyards. His parents moved to Doncaster where he grew up and thrived. He read History at Oxford and did his national service working in Hasler Hospital in Portsmouth before going up to St John’s in Oxford where his passion for history flourished. It was during this time when he met his wife Ruth who was born in New Zealand. After graduating, Bill had a short spell teaching in Scotland before getting a job teaching history at King James’s Grammar School. He thoroughly enjoyed his time at Almondbury and was a member of the Old Almondburians’ Society until the end. While at Almondbury, he lost no time in starting up a School Scout Troop.The investiture of which – as 46th Huddersfield troop – took place on 9th March 1955 with himself as Scout Master and Jim Toomey as Assistant Scout Master. Bill married Ruth while in Huddersfield and they had two children, Janet in 1957 and Peter in 1960. The family moved to Ely in Cambridgeshire in 1960 where Bill worked at Soham Grammar School. Seven years later, the family moved again to Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, where Bill was deputy head at Tewkesbury Grammar School and later headed up the senior school. His interest in Scouting continued and after running a Scout group, he became District Commissioner. Singing was another passion and he was a member of the Tewkesbury Choral Society. He became a local councillor inTewkesbury and was the town Mayor in 1979 but resigned from the party over the Lib-Lab pact in 1997. After Bill retired, he and Ruth returned to New Zealand and travelled to other parts of the world before Ruth started to suffer from myotonic dystrophy. Bill cared for Ruth until she died in 2006. A year later he woke up to find himself in a foot of water during the famous Tewkesbury floods. In 2009 he left Tewkesbury to live in Woodley near Reading, close to his daughter Janet. Sadly, towards the end he started to suffer from dementia. Bill will be remembered fondly by the many people he helped and inspired. JaredWilliam Rennison, born 11th July 1929, died 18th October 2017, aged 88. Top: Mayor of Tewkesbury in 1979. Bottom: King James’s Grammar School scout troop in 1959
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Chairman WALTER RALEIGH 15 Thorpe Lane, Almondbury HD5 8TA Tel: 01484 308452 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
KJS Representative ABBIGAIL TERRY King James’s School, St Helen’s Gate, Almondbury HD4 6SG Tel: 01484 412990 Email: abbi.terry@oas.org.uk Website: www.oas.org.uk
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3ykffo3
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The Almondburian is distributed to OAS members free of charge. Price to non-members: £3.00