Visitors 13
| 1. Rod Foster 1961-68 | |
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►Gallery item: School Play 1966-67. I believe the character on the far right of the 'photo (6) is probably David Baxendale. Number 5 may be Janet Herbert but not sure of this. Regards, Rod Foster (June 2005) |
| ►Dear Rod, Thank you for the information. I have now added it to the site. If you could help us with anything else, please do. Best wishes, Dave McKenzie, HGS 1955-62 ►Dear David, Thanks for your prompt reply. I will try and supply as much info. as I can. I am studying the school choir photo and remember just about all the faces but my fading memory can't put names to a lot of them. I will send the ones I can remember. Thanks for a most evocative site. A lot of memories came flooding back. I was stunned to see my "words of wisdom" about the Esperanto club appear on the Internet after a lapse of over 40 years. What also intrigued me was the 1927 photograph which I believe is of the first form. The reason I say this is that the lad in the top left hand corner looks suspiciously like my father - H.E. Foster, but I don't yet have a positive ID. The timing is right. He was born in April 1916 and went to HGS aged 11. This meant he would have started Sept. 1927. If it is him that really would be a bolt from the blue. Best Regards, R.P. Foster (1961-68) ►Dear Rod, Thank you for your HGS site compliments. I have always regarded HGS as a very special place. It is pleasing to find that so many people agree with me. Could you let me know which House you were in? I will then add your name to our growing list. Best wishes, Dave ►Dear Dave, As to the Esperanto, I found out I recently I was a third generation Esperantist. I knew my father was involved with Esperanto at school but what I hadn't realised was my grandfather Charles was also involved in Hemsworth Esperanto circles. He had nothing to do with HGS as such but was a member of a group that included Messrs. Collette and Hamilton. Back then the Fosters lived near the Collettes on Barnsley Road. I suppose you know that as well as Esperanto Mr. Hamilton embraced vegetarianism, which was quite a radical thing to do in the 30's. Best Wishes, Rod Foster, 1961-68, Guest House. | |
| 2. Cyril Senior 1934-38 | |
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►Hello, My father, Cyril Senior, attended Hemsworth Grammar School (on a scholarship, I believe) between Dec 1934 and July 1938. I have Dad's Pupils Report Book, with entries between these dates. I've looked at the Panoramic photograph dated 1936/37, and believe that I can identify Dad as No 4 in the first row of part 4/6. After leaving school he worked locally until he enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1939. He was eventually posted to H.M.S. Repulse, and was aboard when she was sunk. He survived the sinking, and was taken to Singapore, in time to be captured by the Japanese. Dad survived the POW camps, and the Burma Railway, and was eventually repatriated at the end of the war. |
| He married a girl he'd met while stationed at Chatham, and lived his life thereafter in Kent. Dad died in April 2002. Andrew Senior (June 2005) ►Dear Andrew, Thank you very much for contacting the HGS site and for the information about your father. I have attached a clearer copy of the group photograph which you mention. Best wishes, Dave McKenzie HGS 1955-62 ►Dear Dave, Thanks for your reply and the attached photo. I more convinced than ever that the person I identified to you is indeed Dad. Having looked at the 1936 panoramic shot, he's also in that (4/6, front row, no. 4) If anyone is interested, there is a brief biography of Dad at the link below. Because of the nature of the site, the biography is slanted towards his wartime experiences rather than his schooldays. Congratulations on a great site. It's kept my brothers and I fascinated for the last couple of nights. Best regards, Andy Associated link: www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/ Go to the section on Crew Biographies (HMS Repulse) | |
| 3. Peter Hodgson 1962-69 | |
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►Hi, The photo in Class Pages 1962/63 of the Normans has got my name wrong. On the third row third along, it has one of the Chapman twins in my place. They are already both correctly identified later on in the photo. They were my best friends at school. Regards, Peter Hodgson HGS 1962-69, Holgate House (July 2005) |
| 4. Dennis Goodinson | |
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►Forms Index 1965/66, photograph of 3s supplied by Geraldine Coope. Some missing names : Back Row L-R: 1. Barry Malloy, 2. Alan Layburn, 3. David Chapman, 4. Dennis Goodinson (myself), 5. John Wotherspoon Middle Row: No 7 was ? Jones Front Row: I think Anne was Marley not Marlow. Good Luck with the website, Kind Regards, Dennis Goodinson (July 2005) |
| 5. Geoff Dykes 1944-51 | |
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►Dear Dave, I have emailed you a collection of school photos from 1944-51. I haven't got any earlier photos since I was transferred into the lower school from Mexborough Grammar when my father changed jobs during the war years. I wasn't able to keep in touch with the school or district since I left the area completely within 12 months of going to university in 1951 and didn't visit the area again for over half a century! Not a great deal seemed to have changed in the area though the additions to the front of the school building were something of a shock. Thanks for reawakening old memories with your site. Best wishes, Geoff Dykes (July 2005) |
| 6. Rachel Linton 1966-71 | |
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►I would love to know more about the planned reunion. I attended HGS from September 1966 (Normans I & II) until 1971. Unfortunately due to the huge changes that were taking place at the time, new buildings, teachers leaving etc., I have no recollection of class or year photos unless anyone out there can tell me otherwise. It was a real walk down memory lane perusing the photographs. |
| I have memories of some of the staff and pupils. Mimi, the French student used to ask us to sing 'Puppet on a string' for her. I never asked Mr Davies (French teacher) if he spoke Welsh, because now I do, and back then didn't realise it was still a viable language. On the last full assembly of 1968 in the gym, Mr Hamilton's & Miss Ward's last, we were told that the school song was banned but a group of 6th formers were going to rebel and lead us into verse and sure enough the chorus of 'Labor ipse voluptas' echoed across the playing fields for the final time. I could go on forever! Regards Rachel Nicholas (Linton) (July 2005) | |
| 7. Robin Dixon 1954-60 | |
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►Sheila, Many thanks for contacting me and pointing me to the Willowhemhistory site. As yet I haven't managed to find the time to fully explore what you and Dave have acquired, but a quick scan has certainly whetted the appetite and created a desire to find time to do a full search. I will also check what, if any, photos I may have and what recollections I think are worthy of passing on. Many thanks once again for your contact, Robin (August 2005) P.S. Have you any idea when Russell William Hamilton died? |
| 8. John Colley 1955-62 | |
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►Mac, I have been living in Australia for the last 34 years with the odd year in Indonesia, after getting married in S. Africa. I'm still working as an engineer specialising in geotechnical works, bridges etc. I spend my leisure time playing golf, riding motorcycles and pushbikes and succumbing to my wife's demands for visits to wineries. I still come regularly to the UK and often go to the Hemsworth Rugby Club where I see Brian May. |
| I stopped playing rugby (well, a sort of rugby - golden oldies) nine years ago but I am still passionately interested in the game and go to all the Wallabies matches when they are scheduled in Perth. I have maintained close links with a number of former pupils over the years such as Dick Bateman and Dave Thorpe. Looking back to HGS, two teachers who particularly impressed me were Les Tate and George Pacy. I haven't caught up with your brother again on the golf course, but no doubt will when I spend more time down in Mandurah. Cheers, Jes Colley (August 2005) | |
| 9. Janice Hanwell 1959-66 | |
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►I attended HGS from 1959 until 1966. I was in Holgate House and Danes then 2A, 3A, 4A etc. Had a few laughs looking at the panoramic photographs - it is a shame there are not more photos of my year as I lost all my school photos in a house fire in 1964. Keep up the good work - this site brings back some happy school memories! Janice Hanwell (August 2005) |
| 10. Brian Stead 1955-62 | |
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►Hi, Dave. I've just been looking with amazement at the HGS website - wonderful work. Getting it through 'Friends Reunited' and an email from Sheila. On reflection, I owe so much to Mr Atack, who gave me the direction in life I might not otherwise have found for myself. I've been trying for some time to contact a long-lost friend, John Blake in New Zealand and I notice an entry on the website from him. If possible (and if you have his email address) could you pass mine on to him? Thanks, Brian (September 2005) |
| 11. Mary Harrison 1962-67 | |
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►Hello Dave, About the photograph of the scholarship pupils from South Kirkby....... The girl on the far right is my auntie Mona Jenkins, now Mona Foster. I have just spoken to her and she says she still has the photograph at home, and can name almost everyone on there. I will be seeing her soon and will get the names for you. She also told me that she and Gordon Lockwood, who is on the front row, were the two youngest pupils to pass the eleven plus that year. They were both in the third year and the others were in the fourth year. I will get back to you soon. Mary Harrison Holgate House (October 2005) |
| ►Dear Mary, Thank you very much for getting in touch with the web site. Thank you also for the offer of information. We just missed each other at HGS. Sheila and I left as you went into the First Form. We were in Holgate too. If you have any school photographs or particular memories please send them in to the site. I am sure they will be welcomed by many of our audience. Best wishes, Dave McKenzie HGS 1955-62 | |
| 12. Dianne Sell, 1960-67 | |
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► Your brilliant site is so addictive! Well done and thank you for the wonderful memories. My time at school was devoted to membership of quite a number of clubs and societies. Most of my education came later. Di Tolan (nee Sell) (October 2005) |
| 13. Denise Longley 1961-68 | |
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►Hi Dave, Just looking at the Hemsworth Grammar Website for the first time which is very interesting bringing back a lot of fantastic memories. I have the very same photograph of the unknown hockey team (Gallery). I think it is either 1967 or 1968. The girl on the far left is me - Denise Longley and standing next to me is Maureen Penn. Kind regards, Denise Muir (nee Denise Longley) (November 2005) |
| 14. Diane Lees 1960-67 | |
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►Lovely to see the school and some of the staff. Not many photos of students from my era, though. I attended from 1960 to 1967 and was in Talbot House. The site is great - look forward to seeing it develop. Diane Lees (November 2005) |
| 15. David H. Haigh 1965-72 | |
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►Thanks for message from Sheila. I was in one of the last groups to enter HGS and saw it become HHS. Something was lost then don't you think? The old photos are very interesting, especially 1965 Romans 1. I can remember most of them, any one got a photo of Danes 1 for the same year? I may have, or should I say my mum may have. I know she has one for Danes 2 with Alan Greensmith as Form Master. I'll dig that out sometime, get it scanned, fill in as many names as I can remember and send it to you. |
| The site reminded me of so many things that had just drifted into the fog of my memory. The ice cream shop within the first year block. Taking the school milk up to the sixth form common room at morning break, not a chore you willingly accepted. The old woodwork block demolished to make way for the new 'three storey' block. Information to add to your site: a. Danes 1 1965/66 Form Mistress (1 term) M? Jones then John Williams? b. Danes 2 66/67 Form Master A Greensmith c. Danes 3 67/68 Form Master S Harrison House - Guest I'll be in touch again. David (December 2005) | |
| 16. Julia Clatworthy 1962-65 | |
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►I attended HGS from 1962 to 1965. I was in Celts and Talbot House. My parents then moved away from the area. My next grammar school was all girls. I always regretted leaving Hemsworth, especially as my dad (Barry) had gone through the same school. Funny to have had the same Headmaster and the same English master, Mr. Colette. Am I the only pupil to also have her dad pictured exactly 20 years previously in 1942 and both of us named in our respective form photos? I can't wait to tell him. |
| Great site. Memories are vivid again after all those years. Do you remember Speech Day at the Hippodrome? I will revisit the site to see if anyone remembers me. Julia (January 2006) | |
| 17. Peter Ackley 1944-49 | |
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►Hello Dave, My name is Peter Ackley and I was at Hemsworth Grammar School from 1944 to 1949 (almost a lifetime ago!!) in Holgate House. My youngest sister (also ex HGS) was trawling the net when she came across your site and told me about it. I have photos of forms 1B, 1944/45 and 2A 1945/46 which I could send to you for copying as I do not have a scanner here. I know most of the names except the girls as we did not mix together much in those days and the old memory box is somewhat jaded too. |
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I have enjoyed looking round the site as it has brought back many happy memories and I certainly benefitted from my education there. If only I had appreciated it more at the time!
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| 18. Peter Donaldson 1949-57 | |
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►We were at HGS (my wife was Ann Bedford) 1949-57. We would welcome any contact from people who knew us. Peter (January 2006) |