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.

Staff Plays 1940s

1940 "Eldorado"

Although there were only four actors in the staff play, "Eldorado", it was a great success. The play tells how James, a farmer, and his son, Henry, try to buy two pounds of Eldorado potatoes, supposed to be worth £200 from Mrs. Burrows, a widow, who is unaware of their value. They manage to get a pound but their success is short lived, for Betsy, a servant, boils the potatoes for dinner. Mr. L. T. Hyde was excellent as James, and Miss Euler, Miss Kenward and Mr. Birdsall were good as Mrs. Burrows, Betsy and Henry respectively. Members of the staff were responsible for the production and the lighting effects.

1941 "The late Christopher Bean"

For their annual production, the staff of Hemsworth Grammar School chose Emlyn William's comedy-drama, "The Late Christopher Bean," and pleased large audiences with their performances on Wednesday and Thursday. The story concerns the reactions of a country doctor and his family to the news that paintings, done at their residence by a boy they adopted and secretly regarded as a wastrel, have been acclaimed by art connoisseurs as ranking among world treasures. Their mixed emotions at finding that paintings they considered worthless are priceless and their plottings to rob their servant girl of a portrait of herself provide both comedy and pathos. As the harassed Dr. Haggett, Mr. L. T. Hyde gave a fine portrayal, and his wife was well played by Miss E. Shortridge. Miss Euler and Mr. J. D. Hamilton were helped by their native tongues in their parts as Gwenny, the Welsh servant girl, and Bruce McRae, the Scottish artist. Dr. Haggett's two daughters were played by Miss G. M. Garman (Susan) and Miss J. Rainford (Ada). Other players were Mr. R. W. Hamilton (Tallent), Mr. M. M. Waters (Rosen) and Mr. W. J. Leonard (Davenport). The play was produced by Mr. L. N. Collette. April 5th 1941

1947 "Berkeley Square"

Once again the Staff have proved their ability in the dramatic field by this year's production of "Berkeley Square" by J. L. Balderson and J. C. Squire. Mrs. Burn made her bow as the producer and we can safely say that she is a success. Of the cast, though all did well, Mr. Smith, in his presentation of Peter Standish, was outstanding, while Dr. Sass in his role as the Duke of Cumberland created a good deal of laughter. A feature of the production was the very attractive scenery, painted by Mr. M. Davies, and the capable management of Mr. Atack. On the whole the audience appreciated the somewhat unusual plot very well; the general impression seemed favourable to the Staff and since the opinion of the audience is what really matters, I think I am justified in saying that "Berkeley Square" was a success. Wilkinson. D. D. L6A Holgate.

1948 "Distinguished Gathering"

A murder thriller, "Distinguished Gathering" by James Parish was chosen for this year's Staff Play. The play enjoyed considerable success with its audiences, being presented to a well-filled Hall on each of its three performances. It owed its success to the way in which the plot held the audiences in a state of suspense until practically the last minute. In fact, so complicated was the plot, that a competition was held amongst the members of the School present on the first night to guess the culprit before the end of the second Act. However, fellow pupils and I felt that the play was not up to the standard of the previous year, due perhaps to the choice of the play which did not bring out the quality of acting we have come to expect of the Staff. The better individual performances came from Miss Davies as Mrs. Montague, a "delightful" hostess, Miss Whitworth as Dorinda Caswell, a young society gossip, parasitic on her divorced husband, and Mr. Johnson as Mr. Vines, an author around whom the play revolved. The production of the play was in the capable hands of Mr. Johnson whilst Mr. Foy was responsible for a well arranged stage and Mr. Davies presented us with a pleasingly decorated set. Brian Beaumont, U6A.

1949 "Pygmalion" by G.B. Shaw

Wed. April 6th, Thurs. April 7th and Sat. April 9th at 6.30p.m. The programme cost Threepence The original Pygmalion was a legendary Greek sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had made and prayed to the gods to bring it to life. His prayer was granted and so he had created a new human being. Shaw uses this legend to provide the title of a play about a professor who also in a sense, creates a new human being. Professor Higgins, an expert on speech, trains a cockney flower girl to speak and behave like an aristocrat, effecting an astounding transformation and incidentally causing much amusement and raising many problems. PROGRAMME Act. 1. The Porch of St. Paul's Church, Covent Carden. 11. 15 P.M. Act. 11. Professor Higgins' Study. Next morning. Act 111. Mrs. Higgins' Drawing Room. Three months later. Act IV. Professor Higgins' Study. Midnight - Three months later. Act V. Mrs. Higgins' Drawing Room. Next morning. INTERVAL - MUSIC Sorcerer's Apprentice - Dukas. Schwanda the Bagpiper - Weinberger. Chanson Hindoue - Rimsky Korsakov. Emperor Concerto - Beethoven. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Mozart. Polonaise in A flat - Chopin. CAST. (In order of appearance.) Clara Eynsford-Hill - B. J. Woodward. Mrs. Eynsford-Hill - M. Sykes. Bystanders - K. Allan, L. N. Collette, K. Wimpenny, J. A. Swinbank. Freddy Eynsford-Hill - T. Manning. Eliza Doolitte - M Burn. Colonel Pickering - R. W. Hamilton. Professor Higgins - J. L. Johnson. Taximan - G. A. Hewson. Mrs. Pearce - M. Jackson. (Prof. Higgins' Housekeeper.) Alfred Doolittle - J. A. Storer. Mrs. Higgins - N. F. Harris. (Prof. Higgins' Mother.) Maid - K. Wimpenny. Production. Producer - W. J. Leonard. Stage Manager - W. Farrar. Stage Staff - J. R. Askew, P. Maw, W. R. Bell, G. Hamilton, P. Sutcliffe., C. Fozzard Business Manager - J. Stockill. Property Mistress - K. Ward. Wardrobe Mistresses - E. Wilson, M. Metcalfe. Scenery - H. M. Davies. Make up - W. J. Leonard. Prompter - M. Smith. Yet again have the Staff proved beyond all doubt their ability in the field of drama by this year's production of Shaw's "Pygmalion", Mr. Leonard making his bow as a producer with undeniable success. The entire cast portrayed their respective roles with great insight. Mrs. Burn was outstanding as the Cockney flower-girl. Her accent, minus any Northern trace delighted and surprised everyone, and Mr. Storer as Mr. Doolittle was the cause of much amusement. Once more has Mr. M. Davies proved his worth with regard to the scenery, whilst Mr. Farrar and Mr. W. Davis showed themselves to be capable stage-managers. The Hall, for the first time for many years, was packed to capacity each night. Judging from the audiences' appreciation it can truly be said - a good play well performed. Gladys Alderman, L6A (Holgate).