To contact the site email Dave davmckenz@aol.com or Sheila sheilan@bethere.co.uk . Material has been received from Harry Parker (HGS 1936-40). Photos have been received from Mr. Parkinson (HGS Staff member 1960-67). These include an unknown Third Form 1960-61. Could you please let us know the name of the Form? Letters written by Major Jenkinson to pupils and staff of the first school at which he was Headmaster are now on the site's School History Section. If you have a Prefects photo for 1955-56 or 1959-60 could you please let the site have a copy? Thank you.

Rugby Sevens 1950s

1950

During the Easter holidays, a team consisting of Perry, Askey, Henry, Whittaker, Fozzard, Beckett, and Ramsden, went to Ilkley to represent the School in a Seven - a - Side Tournament. 26 schools were competing but the team gained distinction in this strenuous type of rugby by reaching the final where they were beaten 6-3 by Acklam Hall Grammar School. It was a very pleasant day's sport and next year's team should look forward to paying another visit to Ilkley. Perry J.D., U6S.

1951

Photo from Geoff Dykes. Thank you, Geoff. Back Row L-R: Mr Leonard, Dennis Ramsden, Geoff Dykes, Bernard Milner, Mr Swinbank Front Row L-R: Keith Bruce, Dick Whittaker, Schofield, Eric Sale, 5 On the 27th March a 7-a-side team consisting of Whittaker, Stead, Sale, Bruce, Ramsden, Henry and Schofield visited Ilkley to take part in the tournament. In the first game we were successful in heating Ermystead G.S., Skipton by 18-0 but were not so successful in the 2nd round, being beaten 14-11 in a very exciting game with Bradford G.S. The winners of the tournament were Heath G.S.; Halifax and Wakefield were runners-up. The members of the team would like to thank Mr. Swinbank for the amount of work he has put in, arranging practices. Perry, last year's captain, was presented with an illuminated scroll, the reward of our success in last season's competition, when we were runners-up. P. Schofield, L6S.

1952

32 of the premier rugby-playing schools of Yorkshire and Durham took part in the 3rd Annual Tournament at Ilkley On April 5th. The standard of play in this competition has improved greatly as schools have come to regard this as a regular event in the sports calendar in spite of this, however, Hemsworth won and deserved a place in the final. There were a few moments of doubt in the first round against Hymers College, Hull, when the score was 10-10, but the greater stamina of the Hemsworth team brought the 6 further points in the last few minutes. Gaining confidence from this success, the Hemsworth team went on to play delightful football in defeating Otley (11-0), Rothwell (16-0), and Silcoates (16-5). Their heavy defeat of Rothwell was particularly praiseworthy since Rothwell had previously eliminated last year's finalists, Wakefield, by 3-0. The Hemsworth success was due not to one or two individuals but to the unselfish way in which all kept the ball moving and did everything possible to avoid being tackled in possession. After giving the backs a good share of the ball from both serum and line-out the forwards backed up well and there were occasions when the ball passed through every pair of hands on its way to the line. Heath G.S. had won the competition in 1951 and they still had 5 of last year's team available. Moreover, they had been given a bye into the second round and so had played only 3 games (v. Harrogate, Barnard Castle, and Keighley) to Hemsworth's 4 to reach the Final. Hemsworth was twice in the lead but, in the end, Heath won 11-6. They had one or two backs who were faster than anyone on the Hemsworth side but they had been kept in check by resolute tackling particularly by Stead and Sale, until the last few minutes. The Final is of longer duration than the other rounds and the fresher Heath team lasted the extra time better. They were greatly assisted too by vocal support from the touchline of greater volume than Hemsworth could provide. Bruce, Manning, Frost, Schofield (capt. Photo above), Stead, Sale and Whitehead represented the school.

1953

A 'bus load of spectators accompanied the school "Seven" to Ilkley on March 28th, hoping to see Hemsworth repeat their success of last year. When the 1st of the 31 matches of the tournament began at 11 a.m. the weather was perfect for good rugby, but by mid-afternoon rain was falling almost continously to damp the enthusiasm of the Hemsworth contingent, particularly since their team had been defeated in the 2nd round. It was unfortunate that injury had deprived the school of the services of Stead, but the team selected Sale, (Capt), Frost, O'Marr, Ward, Poole, Hebden and Birkinshaw encouraged the hopes of their supporters by a first round victory over Silcoates School (10-3). Tries, scored by Poole and Sale, were both converted by Frost. The 2nd round match against Crossley and Potter School, Halifax, was a hard struggle in which, through errors of defence and lack of speed, Hemsworth were 6 points down at half-time. After the interval they rallied and Frost forced his way over for a try but there was no further score. The competition was eventually won by Heath Grammar School, Halifax, for the third successive year. J. A. Swinbank.

1954

Awaiting information

1955

Awaiting information

1956

Of the 34 schools which took part in the annual School's 7-a-side Competition at Ilkley, Hemsworth Grammar School played well to reach the last eight. The opening minutes of two of our three rounds proved decisive. In the first round, Moore ran over half the length of the field to score under the posts for Hebden to convert. Although we looked like scoring more, we had to be content with those five points, whereas Acklam, our opponents, showed enterprise, mastered our forwards and fought back with a try in the corner too far out to convert. Our new opponents, Rothwell, who had won a convincing victory in their first round, were a tall, heavy and speedy side. Our team, however, rose to the occasion and deserved to win 8 - 5 after a converted try had at one time put Rothwell in the lead. Both our tries were scored by Moore, one when he kicked through the Rothwell side to dribble over the line, the other after a move in which all the backs handled the ball. Hebden converted. In the opening minutes of Round three, from a line-out near our try line, a Bradford forward slipped over for a try which was converted. They hung on to this lead, keeping a tight hold on Moore, our main try-scoring hope. Our players all struggled hard, particularly Maltby in the line-out, and towards the end, Hebden went over on the blind side for a try - but it was too far out to be converted. In the next Round, Bradford lost to Keighley, who eventually won the competition. SCHOOL TEAM:- Moore, Toulson, Hebden (Captain, Photo Above), Copley, Smethurst, Butcher, Maltby, with Longden and Homer in reserve.

1957

Awaiting information

1958

On March 29th a team consisting of Wild, Toulson, Trueman, Appleby, Ardron, Douglas and Moore represented the School at the annual Seven-a-Side Tournament at Ilkley. 34 schools were competing, and the side gained distinction in this strenuous type of Rugby by reaching the semi-finals. We were beaten 13-0 by Heath Grammar School, who went on to win the final. Brian Moore, UV1A.

1959

A team consisting of Lockett, Beaumont, Brennan, Trueman, Cooper, Cartledge and Wild represented the School in this years' Tournament. It was a fast and light side - too light to hold the huge Wakefield forwards, who gained possession from every line-out and scrum. This inevitably resulted in defeat for Hemsworth - by 14 points to 3. Wakefield were beaten in the quarter-final by Heath, the eventual winners. Jim Wild, UV1A.