Happy 90th birthday, Jack

I joined the School when it was still a grammar school in 1959. Previously I had taught at Royds Hall Grammar School which was about to become a secondary modern school, and I was interviewed by Harry Taylor who was headmaster at that time. In fact, it was Harry who later introduced me to his leisurely Sunday afternoon ‘Almondbury Casuals’ cricket team, for which we both played for several years on lovely rural cricket grounds around Yorkshire.

Harry was the ideal figurehead for a school like King James’s Grammar School, though he didn’t suffer fools gladly.When you visited his study to discuss a problem, his usual approach was to put his feet up on his desk, listen carefully and then give a carefully measured judgement on the best way forward. I think he was almost revered by the pupils.

When I first arrived at the School I was quite young and I soon noticed that many of the staff were much older than I! Indeed, some - like Harry Gledhill, Walter Haigh, Fred Hudson, George Beach and Frank Anderson - had been at the School for many years. I think that was good, as it gave the School a solid foundation which is very important for pupils.

We didn’t have as many staff meetings in the early years. The main staff meeting was on the day before the start of the autumn term, when Harry and Fred Hudson would analyse the previous summer’s GCE results. The staff meetings were much less formal than they were later in my career. George Beach, who was slightly eccentric, would invariably be 15 minutes late, discreetly tap on the window and then climb in to join the meeting hoping not to be noticed. Harry Gledhill always used to sit under the clock and would often nod off to sleep. On one occasion someone moved the hands forward by a couple of hours and when he woke up Harry was quite shocked to find that two hours of his life had just disappeared. After I had completed my first 100 terms the School was kind enough to recognise this by presenting me with a beautiful silver salver at a presentation (no doubt organised by lifelong colleague and friend, Dave Bush?) in the School assembly. In addition to an article in the Huddersfield Examiner, I was completely taken aback when a kitchen lady wheeled a trolley into the assembly hall, bearing a large iced cake decorated by ‘One Hundred Terms’ and figures of cricketers.

KJGS staff in 1967

(Back row l to r): Y M Etchevest, L Mallinson, R Wearing, R Beever, S Wroe, J E Kenyon, M P James, Mrs H M Hebblethwaite, C Hindley, A C Brown, C H Gill, K L W Ireland, R G Walker

(Front row l to r): W Western, J P Toomey, G W Chapman, D A Bush, F S Hudson, H Taylor (headmaster), J Taylor (ringed), P H Heywood, F J Bareham, G L Beach, W I Haigh

I think I was quite a strict teacher – I relied very much on my firm voice! I think pupils benefited by knowing the parameters within which they were expected to behave.

Around 1960 I took over from Walter Haigh as Fenay housemaster; I think Harry Taylor had decided that some incumbents had been there for some time and that the house system needed revitalising. I remember that Walter had what he called his ‘Black Book’ and would tell pupils that if their names went into his Black Book they would be in deep trouble! I remained Fenay housemaster until I retired many years later.

There were a lot of school clubs in those days. I became aware that there was a stamp club at the time, and Wilfred Western was in charge. I thought I ought to get involved and suggested that I might support him running the stamp club. Wilfred was somewhat brusque and said “Well, if you're interested, you can have it!” In due course it became the Philatelic Society and it really did thrive and flourish for quite a number of years.We built up the School’s collection of mint stamps, commemorative stamps and first day covers, and I kept this going until the late 1970s.Then, I couldn’t really find anyone to take it over, so I think it then lapsed. But the collection that we built up is now kept by the School, and I should imagine it is gaining in value.

Sporting memories

Being a keen cricketer, I was also keen to become involved in School cricket and Harry Taylor was equally keen that I should do so: his eldest son Richard was in the sixth form and he too was a very keen cricketer. I did a little bit of cricket coaching and became involved in House Cricket, though I couldn’t get very involved with the School First XI as their matches on a Saturday afternoon clashed with my playing commitments at Kirkburton Cricket Club. Of course, after retirement I was for many years chairman of the Old Almondburians Cricket Club and played with them for many years.

I have fond memories of School sports days, originally on the cricket field and lat- continued on page 30

From: Angela Melling and Bob Williams

Congratulations on your 90th birthday, Jack. It was July 1997 and the end-of-year assembly had been arranged to include a celebration of Jack’s retirement. From behind the closed doors of the Sports Hall, a combined gathering of pupils and staff eagerly awaited Jack’s arrival. Such was Jack’s popularity, even the Kitchen staff turned out, lining the balcony and ready to lead the singing. As Jack neared, the ‘PLAY’ button was pressed and the strains of the introduction to the most well-known song by Jack’s favourite artist, Tina Turner, began. With perfect timing, just as the chorus was about to start, Jack arrived, the doors were flung open and 500+ excited voices erupted into,“You’re simply the best, Better than all the rest, Better than anyone, Anyone I’ve ever met”. Deafening cheers and a sea of arms swaying welcomed the man of the moment. Those words still ring true today, we’re proud to call you our friend.

From: Dave Bush

Congratulations, Jack, on reaching 90 not out. A wonderful colleague for the whole of my teaching career and my dearest friend.

A very early memory of Jack involves his beloved game of cricket. It was in my very early days at KJGS during a staff versus pupils cricket match. I’m sure this would not be possible under modern health and safety rules.

Jack came on to bowl from the Arkenley Lane End. He began pacing out his run which went on and on much to the amusement of the spectators who clapped and cheered. (The whole school was allowed out to watch). He disappeared down the banking which separates the school field from Arkenley Lane. To great applause he reap- peared. His long loping stride took him quickly to the square where everyone expected him to slow down. No way ! A whirl of the arm, a blur of red and stumps shattered. What a moment!

From: Pat Reid

Happy birthday, Jack.

You were a great colleague, and it was such a pleasure to work with you. I remember your sense of fun.

One incident: we were watching an end of term inter-house cricket match when a French Assistant asked about the length of a cricket match.

“They can go on for five days” was your reply.

“Oh, but I have booked a flight for tomorrow” she said, with concern. I hope your celebrations give you lasting pleasure.

From: Keith Crawshaw

From: Walter Raleigh

First of all, may I wish you a very happy birthday Jack and hope you had some wonderful celebrations with Judith and the rest of your family.

I had the privilege of working with Jack for almost 20 years so it is difficult choosing a story from amongst what must be hundreds.

My anecdote is about what a gentleman he is but how he changed his persona when he laced up his boots before a football match. He could safely be described as ‘old school’ when talking of the way he played as a centre-half. Bob Field organised staff football matches every Wednesday and we played most of the local schools. One week we were play ing Moorend High School and in their team was a lad who was a supply teacher called John Butterworth. John, or ‘Buts’ as he was known by everyone, sometimes played for us when on supply so we all knew him well. After a few minutes Jack took him out just below the knee and after he had recov- ered consciousness cried out to Jack, “Hell Jack we’re not playing for the Town Hall steps”. We all burst out laughing and after that for years to come when Jack scythed somebody down, which he invariably did, we all shouted over to him Buts’ eternal phrase.

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Congratulations on your 90th Birthday!”

If you were looking for someone to make such an announcement then Jack Taylor would be an ideal choice. Indeed had you been around at the time of the Royal Proclamation about the School Charter Jack would probably have been given the job. Jack, your distinctive and precise voice delivering the results from the cricket pavilion on Sports Day and from the control table at the Swimming Gala, with suitable references to your own house, Fenay, will be memorable for many former pupils of KJGS. Having supported me with the marking and scoring at a number of OAS Quiz Evenings, your later recorded listing of items for a memory round entitled “The Biology Lab Revisited” provided a challenging and entertaining reminder of former lessons. As an after dinner speaker for numerous organisations at different times over the years, your enthusiasm for the role and appropriate humour have been greatly appreciated by so many with stories about the “Two Ton Thames Trader” and “The Four Ages of a Cricketer” being two of my favourites.

From: Martin Sellens

Happy birthday Jack, and thank you. You are an unforgettable inspiration. Jack's teaching style was traditionally didactic. He gave precise instructions as to where on the page the dates and title should go, and lessons focussed on the accurate transfer of information from the text book to the exercise book. It sounds dull, but Jack’s exposition somehow made it entertaining and informative. Furthermore, any lack of engagement, particularly in practical classes, would provoke an attention-restoring impact of metre rule on table top; just to check our adrenaline levels were topped up.

Some practical classes might have fallen foul of 21st century sensitivities. One such involved dissecting a sheep’s eye. One class-mate’s attempt to penetrate the fibrous capsule by stabbing it with a scalpel resulted in a dramatic squirt of fluid and admonishment by Jack, addressing him loudly and memorably as ‘butcher Booth’, a moniker he was stuck with thenceforth.

We collected frogs on one occasion from a mill dam on Sharp Lane. Jack expertly despatched them by pithing, a process that involved inserting a mounted needle through the foramen magnum into the brain, stirring it round, then redirecting it down the spinal canal. The image of the unfortunate amphibian terminally impaled on the instrument of its demise, spreadeagled and surprised, was the stuff of nightmares for my classmates. We couldn't bare to watch, but did so with horrified fascination. Then I suppose Jack must have demonstrated a sciatic gastrocnemius preparation to illustrate neuromuscular stimulation.

Jack found humour everywhere and I stole one of his best jokes to enliven my own lectures on mammalian reproduction, though I couldn’t replicate his peerless timing or unique intonation. Noting that the tube that carries spermatozoa from the testis to the urethra is called the ‘vas deferens’ Jack observed wryly that this explained the vas deferens (vast difference.…geddit?) between males and females.

From: Bob Field Memories of Jack Taylor - a legend in his own lab!

football pitch and playing cricket. Gentleman Jack would always pick up the opposing centre forward after having given him

I worked with Jack between 1973 and 1989 and always appreciated his company and companionship - in school, on the one of his special tackles.We shared a common sense of humour and I recall many hours reminiscing about the latest episode of Sergeant Bilko which was our favourite TV programme at the time. Jack was not averse to pulling the leg of colleagues, especially Roger L’Amie. The last grammar school intake had one Asian pupil in 2A called Khalid Ismael. Roger was not the best with names and Jack convinced him that there were two Asian pupils kat abolic Function’. in that class, one called Khalid, one called Ismael. Much to Jack’s amusement, Roger claimed he couldn’t tell them apart!

I am sure lots of pupils in Jack’s classes did not appreciate his sense of humour. In Biology, Jack taught the Catabolic Function by dictating notes to the class.When revising their notes at some later date, the pupils would have read ‘the Kitty number of times but we always laughed. It was the way he told them. Jack was a one off, a great colleague, friend and teacher.

Jack's deadpan delivery made him one of the best after dinner speakers I have ever heard: he could tell, the same joke a

From: Martin Priestley

My memories:

1. Individual accent, whether contrived or not!; 2. Big, powerful booming voice; 3. A stickler for the way we must set out our work: what line of the page in our exercise book; whether the margin was to be used; whether something was all in capitals; whether it was underlined; etc. It was a bad idea to depart from what he wanted.; 4. Had a metre rule which he would (terrifyingly) smash down on the bench. I never saw him lay a finger on any pupil: the metre rule provided just enough fear so that classroom discipline was effortless; 5. And of course I looked forward to his classes because he was so very very funny…

Quick-fire questions on parts of the human body (3rd year) would invariably lead to answers that most of us had never heard of. Jack would set someone up: “So where’s your pituitary gland, Parker?” “By my liver, Sir?” “Hey, Laddie, you’re in need of surgery. Report for a medical check-up at half three!”

We had Jack after morning break in the 3rd year. When we were studying nutrition he might ask what if anything we’d eaten during that break. “Rowe?” [Richard Rowe, shortest boy in the class.] “A Kit-Kat, Sir.” “Smallwood?” [Dave Smallwood, 5’6’’ when he was in the 1st year, tallest boy in the class.] “An apple, Sir.” Jack: “Hey, Rowe, see what an apple could do for you!”

Continued from page 27 er on the all-weather surface nearer the School. On one occasion, Harry Gledhill was tasked with timing the 100 yards race and recorded a winning time of 3 minutes 55, 56, 57 seconds, having inadvertently forgotten to switch his stop-watch off. On another occasion, Mr Walker, then a Geography master, was measuring distances in the Throwing the Cricket Ball event. He was not a strong disciplinarian and as he was about to make a vital measurement a group of ‘saboteurs’ launched a volley of cricket balls in his direction, creating absolute chaos.

The major changes in the 1970s

I was, of course, at the School in the 1970s when Kirklees, in its wisdom, decided to convert the School into one of three Sixth Form Colleges. I was on a number of ‘panel’ meetings leading up to the reorganisation and the recurring theme was that there would not be enough students to support three sixth form colleges.This proved to be true, and after a couple of years the School became a coeducational 13-18 comprehensive and then, a few years before I retired, the 11-16 com- prehensive it is today. Of course, the latter change was very unsettling for the staff and a number of the grammar school teachers didn't like the prospect of losing their advanced level teaching.Those who stayed, like myself, obviously had to adjust to the new situation.

Second-longest-serving teacher

Of course, I went on well beyond 100 terms, and eventually completed 38 years.The head at that time, Clive Watkins, pointed out that I was the second-longest- serving teacher in the history of King James’s Grammar School.The longest serving was Rev Samuel Brook, who was headmaster from 1727 to 1771. My final retirement in 1997 was recognised, again in a school assembly, in conjunction with the retirement of Pat Reid. I entered the hall to an accompaniment of Tina Turner’s rendition of “Simply the Best”. In addition to presentations, my wife presented me an inscribed wrist watch.

My Science Department colleagues recognised my retirement with an informal pub lunch and their presentation to me of a gardening encyclopaedia.

I subsequently shared a Presentation Dinner, attended by the majority of colleagues, again with Pat Reid, at the Durker Roods Hotel, Meltham. In addition to the speeches, I was presented with a pair of hiking boots, a rucksack, framed paintings of the Dales and a number of books.

Following the formal dinner, my wife and family, organised an ‘Open House’

Film debut: Jack is the presenter of the special video produced to mark the School’s 400th anniversary in 2008 at our home. In addition to teaching colleagues, I was pleased to welcome a number of the School’s ancillary staff.

In the November of the same year, at the traditional Old Almondburians’ Society Dinner at the former McAlpine Stadium, I was presented with a cheque in recognition of my service to the School. The dinner was extremely well attended and the calibre of the speeches contributed to a most convivial evening.

Life after retirement

Shortly after my retirement I was asked by the School if I would agree to the naming of a newly created House, namely ‘Taylor House’, along with a ‘Bush House’. Unfortunately, after readily agreeing, after a time, due to internal reorganisation, the School reverted to the traditional four houses.

Later, I was invited to become a School Governor, when I served two periods consecutively of four years. For a time I was Chair of the Curriculum Committee. I am pleased to relate that my period as Governor coincided with head teacher Robert Lamb’s considerable input into the School’s continued success.

Immediately on retirement, my wife and I became members at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and over many years we watched games at Headingley and Scarborough. We were fortunate to see my former pupil Ryan Sidebottom in his heyday on many occasions.

I also used my new found spare time to enrol at the local college to study Computer Science and Spanish Conversation . Whilst I obtained a ‘Driving Licence’ certificate in computers, I found greater satisfaction in successfully ordering a round of drinks in the native tongue whilst on holiday in Spain.

One year into my retirement, in 1998 I was honoured to be invited by the acting Head to the annual School Presentation Evening at the Town Hall. After presenting certificates and prizes to all the successful students I addressed the assembled school and parents, bringing back memories of so many previous Presentation Evenings.

On retiring as a Governor at the School, I helped with reading on Friday afternoons at the Barkisland Junior School. I found the experience at junior level extremely rewarding after a teaching career at secondary level.

At this time also, I returned toSchool on several occasions to referee and umpire School and House games. A former teaching colleague Bob Field, whilst teaching at Greenhead College, invited me to referee Wednesday afternoon soccer matches at the School. In addition, former pupil Martin Tunnacliffe, Head of PE at Shelley High School, asked me to referee after school matches.When I was also approached by Huddersfield New College, unfortunately I had to decline owing to time constraints.

I maintained my membership of the OAS Executive Committee until my mideighties. In 2008 I was delighted to make my film debut by becoming the presenter of the special video produced to mark the School’s 400th anniversary.

I continued to play cricket with the OACC into my early seventies. However, I was disappointed not to emulate Doug Thorpe of Cartworth Moor CC who continued playing into his mid-eighties.Throughout the occupation of the Arkenley ground I was chair of the Cricket Club.

Retirement activities

My major past times in retirement have been gardening and walking. After ten years we down-sized our house to a detached bungalow, and what we thought at the time was a smaller garden. With the aid of a gardener who maintains our lawns we continue to keep the garden in shape.

My wife and I have walked in many locations in England and whilst on vacations abroad. We particularly enjoyed walking in the Rockies whilst visiting my sister on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Whilst restricted in active participation in sport, we have supported Halifax RLFC home and away. At home I enjoy watching rugby union onTV. During the summer months, with the sad demise of cricket at Arkenley, I have enjoyed watching cricket at Elland CC,especially since having played there on many occasions in years gone by.

Party time: Jack celebrates his 90th birthday with (clockwise from front): Neil (son, back to camera), Jack, Alan, (son-in-law), Alison (step-daughter), Angela (daughter-in-law), Harry, grandson.

Throughout retirement we have taken the utmost delight in watching and participating as our grandchildren grew. From graduates, undergraduates, secondary school and currently junior school we have shared their successes.

Whilst in retirement, I continued for many years with my many after-dinner speaking engagements. My invitations have varied from Sports Clubs and Probus to the local Dental Association. I derived the most enjoyment and satisfaction when speaking at the many Almondburian functions I attended over the years. I retired from this pastime when distant venues and late conclusions prevented me from further participation.

Over the last decade of retirement I attended twice weekly P.E classes at the gym of my local leisure centre as an aid in recovery from a heart attack.The classes were organised by CREW (Cardiac Rehabilitation through Exercise and Walking) and I made many new friends there.

My continuing interest in the success of the School and the OAS are great incentives for a long and happy retirement. n