Visitors 16

1. Pauline Chambers 1945-50

►Hi,
My grandmother, Pauline Chambers (Photo Above) has identified herself in one of the photos on your website and has also recognised some of the other faces that were in the photo. She has spotted herself in the photo for form 1B from 1945-46 and it says to "Help identify any other people in the photo". My grandmother has seen the following people in the photo:-
Third row: 4. Brian Troy
Second row: 1. Edith (not sure of surname); 3. Edith (not sure of surname); 6. Grace (unsure of surname)
Front row: 1. Silva (unsure of surname); 2. Pauline Chambers (my grandmother); 3. Joan Parker; 4. Pauline Miles; 6. Betty Glover;
I hope this has been helpful,
Thanks,
Steve Ovenden

August 2008

2. Dora Middleton 1960-64

►Having discovered your wonderful web-site I was intrigued to found myself on a photo. It evoked many memories particularly as I have no form photos of my own...in fact the only one I do have is of myself in a school production. In the photo of 3C for forms 1962-63 I am in the 3rd row (5) i.e 5th left.

Thanks for producing this web-site.

Yours sincerely

Dora Middleton

3. Kevin Taylor 1967-68

►Hello Dave.

I have been fascinated by the website on Hemsworth Grammar. It certainly brought back memories. I was in the final year (67-68) to join before it turned comprehensive. I don't actually recall any form or group photos that year but I do remember individual photos being taken as I still have my own from that first year. I was in 1 Normans and Terry McCroakam was my form tutor. Happy days. Would you be interested in me sending a copy of that?

Regards.

Kevin Taylor

4. Mary Griffiths 1939-47

►Dear Sheila,

I’ve just discovered the web site and I’m thrilled! I was at HGS 1939-47 (Talbot) and was a little disappointed to see so few faces from that era. However it was good to see photos of my fellow athletes… Pash. Tate and Derek Wilkinson (I remember the site of the photo,) and those of Messrs. Hamilton and Leonard. I started in September 1939…that was the expectation, but our start was erratic as the air raid shelters were not ready. Actually we were very fortunate compared with other parts of the country, and I do not think any of our visits to the shelters were emergencies. I remember picking currants in the kitchen gardens for jam-making and brewing coffee in large pans for the staff who were on fire watch duty. Obviously I have many more memories, especially of people, staff and pupils, who played such a significant part in my life. I have much to be thankful for. I left South York ’s when I left school, but I would love to hear something about my contemporaries at Hemsworth. Thanks for your work on the site.

Mary Griffiths

November 2008

5. Arthur Hanley 1941-48

►I have just discovered the HGS site and find it fascinating. I've already "wasted" about 10 hours looking through the various stories and photographs and feel I've only just touched the store of treats!

I was at HGS from 1941 to 1948 and went through 1c, 2b, 3a, 4s, 5s, L6s and U6s. Most of that time I shared my Form with Graham Hamilton, the Headmaster's son and Peter Collette son of L N Collette who was to become Senior Master after Mr Philip Crossland (for some reason always referred to as "Percy", but not to his face!) and Betty Storer, daughter of Mr (JAS) Storer. This, I suppose, was a mixed blessing for us all as they were expected to show exemplary behaviour and I guess we wondered if our suspect deeds would be reported. (It has only just struck me - was it coincidence that the three teachers' children were in the same class?)

I have my Report Book, one Form photograph, a ruler stamped WRCC and my Prefect's badge from those days at HGS - plus many memories which have been swelled by looking through your site. The photograph is already on the site, the first one for 1942-43 labelled 2B. I think it should be a year earlier and is 1C and one of my colleagues of the time, George Greenhough, believes the same. I think it was our first form so it would be 1941-42 1C.

I believe I can give the names of all the class members.

Back row: Leonard (Tosh) Terry, Keith Dwyer, Alwyn Ogley, Arthur Hanley (that's me!), Graham Hamilton, Bob Lumb

Second row: Peter Collette, Les Brown, Harry Jagger, Christina Maskell, Clara Chambers, John(ny) Orange, Tony Corbett, Dennis Ralston, George Greenhough

Front row: Joan Bailey, Elizabeth (Betty) Storer, Barbara Harwood, RWH ("the Boss"), Miss George, Marion Roberts, Joan Everett, Mary Healy.

A Miss E L Moffatt had been our Form teacher but I believe she was absent or had left by the Summer Term 1942 and Miss George, a new young teacher, took over which is probably why RWH is on a Form photograph. There were 29 in the Form so where were the other 8?

I have a few more memories and tales I could recount if you're interested. George Pacy, who was probably a teacher in your day, was a contemporary and friend, I had a younger brother at the School, 3 cousins and 2 second cousins so the family was steeped in HGS ways.

Thank you for the thrill of living some old times.

Arthur Hanley

December 2008

6. John Atkinson 1965-70

►I was at HGS 1965-1970 Celts and Guest. I vividly remember a couple of the respondents, Linda Rochnia and Kelvin Higginbottom both from my old form. I also remember Graham Hesketh, Tony Dacres, Cynthia Jones, Lynn Jones, Alison Caldwell, Harold Wood, Gloria Elsworth, Linda Barrat from my old form. Linda, Kelvin, look forward to reading more from you. Unfortunately I was not the most academic of pupils (something I have lived to regret) but I learned many more lessons from HGS that were to serve me well in later life so my time at HGS was not all wasted. Like Linda Rochnia I find these writings evocative and as I sit here writing in the grip of the worst snowfall in 18 years my mind drifts back to those snow covered days at HGS when I like so many other sproggs would be dragged off by a lynch mob of Upper Sixth (some of whom had taken an oath to protect the weak, otherwise known as Prefects) to the Fives Court (never saw a game of fives played on that court) to be bombarded with previously prepared and therefore very icy snowballs. By the way not all the Prefects throwing the snowballs were male, now thats what I call equality.

During my first year (1965) I had two sisters at HGS, Liz Atkinson in the Fifth Form, and Pat Atkinson in the Third Form. I would be happy to pass on any regards to them. My wife Kathryn, nee Holt, was at HGS from 1967-1972. Lastly I had an half cousin in the same year as me Catherine Atkinson from Kinsley. If you are reading these pages get in touch.

Great school, great times. If only I had known that then. Happy Days

John Atkinson

February 2009

7. Phyllis Stoker (Head Girl 1930-31)

►I came across your picture of my step-grandmother Phyllis Stoker in the victorious 1931 choir recently. Phyllis was delighted when my parents showed her the picture, and remembers the competition well. She spent many years working as a teacher in Kidderminster. Her interest in music has remained active. Phyllis asked me to mention that the teacher in the picture was Miss Phyllis Wright.

Regards,

Hugh Hudson

February 2009

8. Christine Sellars 1962-66

►Hello,

Had a good look at the site this morning and it brought some good memories back along with the realisation of how I didn't appreciate how privileged I was then. What a special school it was.

On the form photographs 1963-64 - Class 2B - left to right on second row are 1. Christine Sellars (me), 2. Elaine Firth, 3. Jean Kirkwood, 4. Ruth Douglas.

Regards,

Christine Sellars

April 2009

9. David Nuttall 1956-63

►I have very fond memories of my time at Hemsworth along with my brother Peter and sister Jean. We were all three in Price House and my time there was from 1956 to 1963. All three of us went into Primary teaching but are all three now retired. My memories of the school mainly focus on the many friends made and the endless opportunity for participating in many sports....particularly cricket, cross country and rugby....UNION of course as Mr. Hamilton did not recognise the other code !!!

David Nuttall

June 2009

10. Ken Jones 1964-69

►Hi Sheila/Dave,

I’ve known of the site for awhile, hours spent trying to remember names and faces, but this is my first contact. Firstly forms 1965/1966 form 3S Alan Layburn is Alan Laybourn I believe Barbara to be Barbara Lawton and Jones is Ken Jones myself.

Here is my question: as I was travelling home from work I followed a school mini bus with the title Wakefield Independent School, on the rear door was the school badge and motto. What took my eye was the motto LABOR IPSE VOLUPTAS Is there any connection with Hemsworth Grammar School? I look forward to your reply.

Regards,
Ken Jones

June 2009

Dear Ken,

Many thanks for your mail and for the identifications you made for us. You’re right – it does take hours to remember those faces and give them names, and we are always grateful to anyone who makes the effort. Please do keep sending them! Have you seen the Panoramas?

Concerning the motto of ‘Labor Ipse Voluptas’ at the back of the school mini bus of Wakefield Independent School, I don’t think that HGS have any connection there at all that we know about. Of course, we are always open for information on that! There’s always a possibility that an Old Hilmian was involved in the suggestion of the motto when that new school was being established nearly 30 years ago, but that’s only a theory. The background shield of the motto is different from the HGS one. Maybe there’s a book of School Mottoes somewhere, and they used a pin! We will certainly display any new information which comes our way.

Sincerely,

Sheila