Page: Email "Dip" 2
Started 12.07.2026
Updated 22.07.2026
Open Format
Started 12.07.2026
Updated 22.07.2026
Open Format
Hello, Sheila.
I do love catching up with the HGS site occasionally. It brings back so many happy memories of what now seems to be a bygone age. I am writing in response to a feature about collecting rosehips. My hazy recollection from the early Sixties is that Miss Metcalfe weighed the rosehips and paid 4d per pound, and that the rosehips were sent to Delrosa, manufacturers of rosehip syrup. I must add that I never actually collected any myself but think I may have helped with the weighing.
Kind regards and thank you for your work on the site. It is much appreciated.
Christine Evans
Apr 5, 2013
I do love catching up with the HGS site occasionally. It brings back so many happy memories of what now seems to be a bygone age. I am writing in response to a feature about collecting rosehips. My hazy recollection from the early Sixties is that Miss Metcalfe weighed the rosehips and paid 4d per pound, and that the rosehips were sent to Delrosa, manufacturers of rosehip syrup. I must add that I never actually collected any myself but think I may have helped with the weighing.
Kind regards and thank you for your work on the site. It is much appreciated.
Christine Evans
Apr 5, 2013
It's an HGS fact.
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1929-30
One of the original members of the school Rugby team, Stanley Smith, was chosen to represent England against the Australiansin the last Rugby test match at Headingley. 5 boys from the school took part in the great emigration movement of 1930. They went to British Columbia to be trained in fruit-farming. One of the Needlework Prizes given on Speech Day went to M. Metcalfe. Ainge, J.A. L6A.Guest |
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Miss Metcalfe
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The Form L6A 1952-53
Back Row L-R: Jim Ainge, Peter Wall, Warden A, Christopher Birkinshaw, Rodney Wood.
Front Row L-R: A. Brook, Betty Allen, Miss Whitworth, Mary Stansfield, Prudence Limb.
Also in this Form were: Daphne Akred, Marcia Gunhouse, G. Jones and Monica Weston.
Front Row L-R: A. Brook, Betty Allen, Miss Whitworth, Mary Stansfield, Prudence Limb.
Also in this Form were: Daphne Akred, Marcia Gunhouse, G. Jones and Monica Weston.
A message from Peter
I have just discovered your marvellous site, thanks to Terry O’Marr. I was at HGS from 1947 to 1954 and was in Price House. I married Betty Allen also 1947 - 1954 who was in Guest House. I should like to comment on specific items in the Forums (I am sure Miss. Whitworth would have preferred me to write Fora), but I am not quite sure how to do it. Could you advise? I hope to make a fuller contribution when I have sorted out my old photographs.
Peter Wall, June 2003
Peter Wall, June 2003
On a personal note, Peter was my HGS 2A Form Teacher for a while in School Year 1956-57. This was when Miss Collins (Mrs Podmore) left HGS.
Dave
Dave
Miss Collins (Mrs Podmore)
Subject Taught: English
Extra-curricular: Netball and Drama
Subject Taught: English
Extra-curricular: Netball and Drama
Form 2A 1956-57
This photo was sent in by Janet Marston. Thank you, Janet.
Back Row L-R: Gordon Bond, Robert Taylor, David Hartley, Peter Kaye, Brian Stead, David McKenzie, John Turner
Third Row L-R: Neville Mozley, Edward Pickles, Neil Whalley, Michael Harrison, Frank Picken, Godfrey Wass, Leonard Linsey, Brian Lees, Louis Taylor
Second Row L-R: Christine Whittaker, Margaret Smith, Sheila Baker, Janet Marston, Brenda Nettleton, Patricia Miles, Patricia Cockburn, Jean Hardcastle, Geraldine Walker, Patricia Whitehall
Front Row L-R: Joan Foster, Barbara Wilby, Margaret Birkin, Doreen Tyrrell, Mr. Wall, Keith Gainey, Albert Parkin, Wray Vamplew, Ray Griffiths
The Form Prize was awarded to Wray Vamplew.
Back Row L-R: Gordon Bond, Robert Taylor, David Hartley, Peter Kaye, Brian Stead, David McKenzie, John Turner
Third Row L-R: Neville Mozley, Edward Pickles, Neil Whalley, Michael Harrison, Frank Picken, Godfrey Wass, Leonard Linsey, Brian Lees, Louis Taylor
Second Row L-R: Christine Whittaker, Margaret Smith, Sheila Baker, Janet Marston, Brenda Nettleton, Patricia Miles, Patricia Cockburn, Jean Hardcastle, Geraldine Walker, Patricia Whitehall
Front Row L-R: Joan Foster, Barbara Wilby, Margaret Birkin, Doreen Tyrrell, Mr. Wall, Keith Gainey, Albert Parkin, Wray Vamplew, Ray Griffiths
The Form Prize was awarded to Wray Vamplew.
Happy after Hockey in 1967
Photo: Batey
L-R: Anna Nye (up), 2, Dianne Sell, Jennifer Jones, Jenny Swift, 6, 7, Kath Byra
Photo: Batey
L-R: Anna Nye (up), 2, Dianne Sell, Jennifer Jones, Jenny Swift, 6, 7, Kath Byra
Table of Contents
1. Michael Copley, HGS 1951-56
2. Mr. Terry McCroakam, HGS as a pupil 1950-57 and HGS as a teacher 1965 onwards (Mathematics)
3. John Harrow, HGS 1957-62
4. Christopher Haigh, HGS 1960-68
1. Michael Copley, HGS 1951-56
2. Mr. Terry McCroakam, HGS as a pupil 1950-57 and HGS as a teacher 1965 onwards (Mathematics)
3. John Harrow, HGS 1957-62
4. Christopher Haigh, HGS 1960-68
1. Michael Copley, HGS 1951-56
Michael Copley
Dave,
Congratulations on the new site. I was at Hemsworth from 1951 to 1956. I have 3 new photos for you. The first shows my 1B form in1951/52 when the form master was Mr Young. I am No.10 on the next to back row and Jeffrey Curran is at No. 9. Clearly Tony Pickering is at No. 3 on the back row. The second shows the Ilkley 7s team of 1955/56. I am No. 5 on the back row. The third is an alternative photo of the 1st XV of 1955/56. I am No. 9 on the back row. I have also made the following observations:
a. Rugby 2nd XV 1954/55
Middle Row: 1 = Colin Thomas, 3 = Michael Copley
Front Row: 1 = Jeffrey Curran.
b. Rugby 1st XV 1955/56
Middle Row: 2 = Michael Copley.
c. Panoramics: 1951/52
Photo 5/5 Front Row: 5 = Michael Copley, 6 = Jeffrey Curran; 1954/55 Photo 5/7 back row 9 = Jeffrey Curran, 10 = Michael Copley.
d. Form Groups: 1953/54 3A
Back Row: 1 = Michael Copley; 1955/56 5S back row 1 = Michael Copley, front row 2 = Jeffrey Curran. 3 = A Ward (I think).
I hope this is OK.
Good luck,
Michael Copley
Oct 20, 2010
Congratulations on the new site. I was at Hemsworth from 1951 to 1956. I have 3 new photos for you. The first shows my 1B form in1951/52 when the form master was Mr Young. I am No.10 on the next to back row and Jeffrey Curran is at No. 9. Clearly Tony Pickering is at No. 3 on the back row. The second shows the Ilkley 7s team of 1955/56. I am No. 5 on the back row. The third is an alternative photo of the 1st XV of 1955/56. I am No. 9 on the back row. I have also made the following observations:
a. Rugby 2nd XV 1954/55
Middle Row: 1 = Colin Thomas, 3 = Michael Copley
Front Row: 1 = Jeffrey Curran.
b. Rugby 1st XV 1955/56
Middle Row: 2 = Michael Copley.
c. Panoramics: 1951/52
Photo 5/5 Front Row: 5 = Michael Copley, 6 = Jeffrey Curran; 1954/55 Photo 5/7 back row 9 = Jeffrey Curran, 10 = Michael Copley.
d. Form Groups: 1953/54 3A
Back Row: 1 = Michael Copley; 1955/56 5S back row 1 = Michael Copley, front row 2 = Jeffrey Curran. 3 = A Ward (I think).
I hope this is OK.
Good luck,
Michael Copley
Oct 20, 2010
Form 5S 1955-56
Photo from Ron Newitt. Some names from Michael Copley. Thank you.
Back Row L-R: Michael Copley, Terry Newitt, Ken Bramham
Front Row L-R: Ron Stansfield, Jeffrey Curran, Ann Ward, Mr. Manning, Kath Cooper, Les White, Stanton E.
Also in this class were the four boys: Crofts, A.R., David Cutts, Colin Nye and Peter Toon. The missing two girls in the class are Doreen Honeyben and Gaynor Vaughan-Birch.
Back Row L-R: Michael Copley, Terry Newitt, Ken Bramham
Front Row L-R: Ron Stansfield, Jeffrey Curran, Ann Ward, Mr. Manning, Kath Cooper, Les White, Stanton E.
Also in this class were the four boys: Crofts, A.R., David Cutts, Colin Nye and Peter Toon. The missing two girls in the class are Doreen Honeyben and Gaynor Vaughan-Birch.
The Form Prize Winner for 5S in 1955-56 was Peter Toon, who is shown here.
The First XV Rugby 1955-56 - Formal
Image from Jacqueline Leonard. Thank you, Jacqueline.
Back Row L-R: Terry Newitt, Roy Homer, Don Maltby, Bill Baxendale
Middle Row L-R: John Riggott, Michael Copley, Peter Donaldson, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Leonard, Roland Hawcroft, David Toulson
Front Row L-R: Howard Taylor, Brian Moore, Barry Longden, Walter Hebden, Ron Smethurst, Bill Greasley, Terry McCroakam
Back Row L-R: Terry Newitt, Roy Homer, Don Maltby, Bill Baxendale
Middle Row L-R: John Riggott, Michael Copley, Peter Donaldson, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Leonard, Roland Hawcroft, David Toulson
Front Row L-R: Howard Taylor, Brian Moore, Barry Longden, Walter Hebden, Ron Smethurst, Bill Greasley, Terry McCroakam
The First XV 1955-56 - Ready to play
Back Row L-R: John Riggott, Howard Taylor, Gary Jordan, Roy Homer, Terry Newitt, Colin Appleby, Peter Donaldson, Barry Longden, Michael Copley
Front Row L-R: David Toulson, Bill Greasley, Christopher Butcher, Walter Hebden, Brian Moore, Ron Smethurst, Don Maltby
Front Row L-R: David Toulson, Bill Greasley, Christopher Butcher, Walter Hebden, Brian Moore, Ron Smethurst, Don Maltby
The Ilkley Sevens Squad
Photo from Michael Copley. Thank you, Michael.
Back Row L-R: John Riggott, Barry Longden, Roy Homer, Don Maltby, Michael Copley
Front Row L-R: David Toulson, Brian Moore, Walter Hebden, Ron Smethurst, Bill Greasley
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), Copley, Smethurst, Butcher, Maltby, with Longden and Homer in reserve.
Back Row L-R: John Riggott, Barry Longden, Roy Homer, Don Maltby, Michael Copley
Front Row L-R: David Toulson, Brian Moore, Walter Hebden, Ron Smethurst, Bill Greasley
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), Copley, Smethurst, Butcher, Maltby, with Longden and Homer in reserve.
The Under 14 Rugby Team
Photo and names from Peter Whitehead. Thank you, Peter.
Back Row L-R: John Cartwright, John Cooper, Maurice Randall, Mr. Colley, Peter Douglas, Peter Whitehead, William Jones
Front Row L-R: Peter Richmond, Peter Lockett, Geoff Cartledge, Howard Widmore, Michael Moxon, Richard Brennan, Philip Steele, Sykes Beaumont, Ronald Nunn
Back Row L-R: John Cartwright, John Cooper, Maurice Randall, Mr. Colley, Peter Douglas, Peter Whitehead, William Jones
Front Row L-R: Peter Richmond, Peter Lockett, Geoff Cartledge, Howard Widmore, Michael Moxon, Richard Brennan, Philip Steele, Sykes Beaumont, Ronald Nunn
The Rugby Overview
The 1st XV started the season badly by losing the first four matches, but since then the team has gone from strength to strength and has won 12 out of the last 14 games. At times, even under very trying conditions, the team has produced some really excellent open football. We reached the peak of form just after Christmas when we visited Heath G.S., and won a spirited battle, by 14 points to 3, completed in a snowstorm. Moore, a strong-running centre-three-quarter, has been outstanding in every department, and is worthy of special mention.
Brian Moore
The Second XV has had a very good season, having won most of its matches. The Colts XV, the Under 14 XV and the Junior XV possess players who have shown the makings of fine footballers, and with a little more experience will undoubtedly do well, if they continue to show the same interest when they enter into senior rugby.
Under 13 (Junior) XV
Back Row L-R: John Morrissey, Ron Hooley, Roger Wilson, Mr Swinbank, Paul Toon, Neville Edwards, David Wigglesworth.
Front Row L-R: Eric Eden, David Hawcroft, Peter Weston, Edgar Matthews, Jim Atkins, Michael Cuthbert, John Mannifield, Albert Parkin, Rodney Jennings
Front Row L-R: Eric Eden, David Hawcroft, Peter Weston, Edgar Matthews, Jim Atkins, Michael Cuthbert, John Mannifield, Albert Parkin, Rodney Jennings
Under 13 (Junior) XV
The Junior XV have had a disappointing season. It was clear from early October who would play in the team - there were many promising players - but although they continued to show enthusiasm and vigour after a string of defeats, they failed to play as a team and they forgot, in the stress of a match, the running and passing which they performed so well in practices. Although Atkins and Cuthbert tried hard as Captain and Vice-Captain, the team lacked 'old hands' - no member of last year's team was eligible to play. On occasions, Wilson ran well, Jennings kicked and tackled well, Wigglesworth showed promise at scrum half, while Tibble, Matthews and Morrissey were tireless amongst the forwards.
The Junior XV have had a disappointing season. It was clear from early October who would play in the team - there were many promising players - but although they continued to show enthusiasm and vigour after a string of defeats, they failed to play as a team and they forgot, in the stress of a match, the running and passing which they performed so well in practices. Although Atkins and Cuthbert tried hard as Captain and Vice-Captain, the team lacked 'old hands' - no member of last year's team was eligible to play. On occasions, Wilson ran well, Jennings kicked and tackled well, Wigglesworth showed promise at scrum half, while Tibble, Matthews and Morrissey were tireless amongst the forwards.
Mr Swinbank
(Coach)
(Coach)
Jim Atkins
David Wigglesworth
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Michael Cuthbert
Michael later became the HGS 1st XV Captain for the two years 1960-61 and 1961-62. 
Edgar Matthews
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Roger Wilson
John Morrissey
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Rodney Jennings
C. Tibble
No photo available |
Early in the Spring Term, the teams lost the services of Mr. Leonard; we are pleased, however, to hear he is now well on the way to complete recovery; at this point we would like to congratulate Mr. Taylor on being a really grand substitute. Once again, the Rugger teams extend their thanks to Mr. Rhodes (the human snow-plough) for taking great care with the pitches; to the kitchen staff for preparing the refreshments, and to all the various members of Staff who have helped in coaching the teams.
Mr Leonard
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Mr Taylor
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Mr Rhodes
No photo available |
Summary of the Results
The First XV - Played 18, Won 12, Lost 6, and scored 218 points, with 126 points scored against.
The Second XV - Played 15, Won12, Lost 2, Drew 1, and scored 239 points, with 82 points scored against.
The Under 14 XV - Played 5, Won 1, Lost 4, and scored 15 points, with 48 points scored against.
The Junior XV - Played 8, Won 1, Lost 7, and scored 15 points, with 138 points scored against.
The First XV - Played 18, Won 12, Lost 6, and scored 218 points, with 126 points scored against.
The Second XV - Played 15, Won12, Lost 2, Drew 1, and scored 239 points, with 82 points scored against.
The Under 14 XV - Played 5, Won 1, Lost 4, and scored 15 points, with 48 points scored against.
The Junior XV - Played 8, Won 1, Lost 7, and scored 15 points, with 138 points scored against.
Walter Hebden, Captain, U6A
2. Mr. Terry McCroakam, HGS as a pupil 1950-57 and HGS as a teacher 1965 to 1990 (Mathematics)
Terry as a pupil.
Head Boy 1956-57 |
Terry as a member of the HGS Teaching Staff
Subject: Mathematics |
Hi Dave
What a great web site. I found it through Sheila Kelsall. I can answer some questions. The hole in the wall repair was once the GREEN gate. There is a book about the House. According to Geoff Graham the ISBN number is 0 901 869 139. The title is: Hemsworth High Hall: A Georgian Country House by G. Holdsworth. He mentions it on the memories page of Friends Reunited. I met Mr Burnett (living in Leicester) about 8 years ago at Miss Smith's funeral in Bradford. After leaving HGS in 1957 I went back to teach there for 25 years with Kath Ward, Alf Swinbank, Ernie Atack... and many others. If you want an aerial photo of the school as it was in 1950, I can send you one.
Terry McCroakam (June 2002)
What a great web site. I found it through Sheila Kelsall. I can answer some questions. The hole in the wall repair was once the GREEN gate. There is a book about the House. According to Geoff Graham the ISBN number is 0 901 869 139. The title is: Hemsworth High Hall: A Georgian Country House by G. Holdsworth. He mentions it on the memories page of Friends Reunited. I met Mr Burnett (living in Leicester) about 8 years ago at Miss Smith's funeral in Bradford. After leaving HGS in 1957 I went back to teach there for 25 years with Kath Ward, Alf Swinbank, Ernie Atack... and many others. If you want an aerial photo of the school as it was in 1950, I can send you one.
Terry McCroakam (June 2002)
Sheila Kelsall
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Geoff Graham
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Mr. Burnett
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Miss Smith
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Miss Ward
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Mr. Swinbank
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Mr. Atack
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Dear Terry,
Many thanks for contacting the website and being so positive about it. I hope you will keep in contact and give us the benefit of your knowledge as a pupil, Head Boy and teacher at HGS. The aim of the website is plain to see - a permanent record of a school which offered so much to so many people. My 7 years there were demanding but very satisfying. I received encouragement at every turn to make the most of what I had. Support from all the staff was excellent. Mr. Collette in particular became a rock for me. I worked with Les Tate for two years at Dinnington High School and with Kath Ward at Willowgarth High School for 15 years. Both were impressive in terms of commitment. I spoke to Kath at length on the phone recently and she will be sending material through for publication.
Best wishes,
Dave McKenzie
Hi Dave,
I understand (02/11/2002) that the War Memorial Lectern has been taken away and has been refurbished. It is to be used, apparently, in school for the forthcoming Poppy Day Assemblies. I will try to get a photo for the site a.s.a.p.
The article about Mr Crossland:
Mr Percy Crossland, as we called him, died I think in 1950 and was succeeded by Les Collette as Senior Master and that is why Mr Collette is sitting next to RWH on the 1952 Panoramic photo. I will, when I get time, try to get a look at the local papers of the year, in Wakefield library.
Regards,
Terry.
(November 2002)
Many thanks for contacting the website and being so positive about it. I hope you will keep in contact and give us the benefit of your knowledge as a pupil, Head Boy and teacher at HGS. The aim of the website is plain to see - a permanent record of a school which offered so much to so many people. My 7 years there were demanding but very satisfying. I received encouragement at every turn to make the most of what I had. Support from all the staff was excellent. Mr. Collette in particular became a rock for me. I worked with Les Tate for two years at Dinnington High School and with Kath Ward at Willowgarth High School for 15 years. Both were impressive in terms of commitment. I spoke to Kath at length on the phone recently and she will be sending material through for publication.
Best wishes,
Dave McKenzie
Hi Dave,
I understand (02/11/2002) that the War Memorial Lectern has been taken away and has been refurbished. It is to be used, apparently, in school for the forthcoming Poppy Day Assemblies. I will try to get a photo for the site a.s.a.p.
The article about Mr Crossland:
Mr Percy Crossland, as we called him, died I think in 1950 and was succeeded by Les Collette as Senior Master and that is why Mr Collette is sitting next to RWH on the 1952 Panoramic photo. I will, when I get time, try to get a look at the local papers of the year, in Wakefield library.
Regards,
Terry.
(November 2002)
An article from Terry
The Transition
The change from HGS to HHS ie. from 11-18 Grammar School to 13-18 Comprehensive was the brain child of politicians. The reasons were to make all pupils 'equal' and do away with 11+. This resulted in many of our sports opponents eg Rothwell GS, Kings Pontefract, Thorne GS, Percy Jacksons etc... going the same way. At Hemsworth, HGS was destroyed both in the structural/material sense and its academic/traditional sense. Anything to do with the grammar school had to go. The House system was dismantled, the cups and shields went (although some mysteriously reappeared years later), honours boards were taken down and many were destroyed. School assemblies went. They were replaced by year assemblies. The uniform went. Sports Day as we/you knew it went. Competition was frowned upon at that time. The school became a place without tradition. The changes to the buildings were tremendous or horrendous as some of you have witnessed. The outside concrete slabs covering the front of the house can be seen elsewhere on this website. This became the new hall, but not big enough to hold the whole school. The woodwork, metalwork and pottery rooms were knocked down to enable a 3 storey concrete slab to be put up. The bulldozers were waiting for the Easter assembly to finish and some of the staff were still on the site when they started. Inside the old part, the hall became a library, the library became the staffroom, male and female staffrooms were converted into study rooms for the 6th form. Room 9 behind the Head's office became an entrance hall from the front. The area around the bike shed and boys' cloakroom entrance became an entrance and staircase up to a 6th form library area. The boy prefects' room became a matron's room. Girl prefects became a cloakroom and so it goes on... Some of you may well recall that teaching went on during the changes, with workmen in corridors and classrooms. I had an electrician in my maths lessons so often I thought I would have to either do a report or enter him for 'o' level. All in all not a happy time for ex-pupils on the staff and probably more so for Mr. Hamilton.
I believe that if the change was necessary, the good traditions of HGS should have been retained and added to e.g. another house or two added to H.T.G.P. but it was not to be. Any of you who were privileged to be present at the FINAL ASSEMBLY when the new head walked out at the impromptu singing of the school song will know what I am trying to convey. Some of us on the staff did try to get things changed or kept but to no avail. I believe we are now seeing the results of 'education not being broke but they tried to mend it and are still doing so today'.
Thanks to Dave McKenzie and this website and the enthusiasm shown for it by many, HGS is not dead but just asleep. I am sure RWH, Les Collette et al. would be proud of it.
Terry McCroakam (Pupil 1948-57 and HGS/HHS Teacher 1965-1990)
I believe that if the change was necessary, the good traditions of HGS should have been retained and added to e.g. another house or two added to H.T.G.P. but it was not to be. Any of you who were privileged to be present at the FINAL ASSEMBLY when the new head walked out at the impromptu singing of the school song will know what I am trying to convey. Some of us on the staff did try to get things changed or kept but to no avail. I believe we are now seeing the results of 'education not being broke but they tried to mend it and are still doing so today'.
Thanks to Dave McKenzie and this website and the enthusiasm shown for it by many, HGS is not dead but just asleep. I am sure RWH, Les Collette et al. would be proud of it.
Terry McCroakam (Pupil 1948-57 and HGS/HHS Teacher 1965-1990)
1952
L-R: Miss Smith (Senior Mistress), Alderman Flavell, Mr Hamilton (Headmaster), Mr Collette (Senior Master)
Alderman Absalom Flavell JP, School Governor 1922-52 and Chair of Governors 1927-52.
As such, he would, of course, have chaired the governing body who appointed Russell Hamilton as Headmaster in 1937.
As such, he would, of course, have chaired the governing body who appointed Russell Hamilton as Headmaster in 1937.
In his political and civic life he was a Labour stalwart: a union man, a Parish, District and County Councillor, and subsequently a County Alderman as well as a Justice of the Peace. Looking back, I sometimes wonder how he managed to fit it all in, particularly as he never had a car and relied mainly on public transport! Absalom Flavell (1875-1958) came from Sedgley in the Black Country, first to Rotherham in 1899 and then to South Kirkby c1910 to work in the local colliery where he spent the rest of his working career as a miner. Although he could have retired, he carried on mining when the Second World War broke out and younger miners were conscripted into the forces. However, he had a near-fatal accident in 1941 at the age of 66 when he was hit by runaway tubs underground, suffered multiple fractures and was not expected to survive. But he did recover - the family always attributed it to sheer will-power and cussed determination! Absalom was also a lay preacher in the Methodist Church based at Barnsley Road Chapel, South Elmsall, where he was a long term Trustee. In addition he served on several church committees as well as being a representative for the Pontefract Circuit Meeting. His lifetime contribution both to the school and to the wider community was truly enormous.
Neville Flavell, HGS 1944-51
Neville Flavell, HGS 1944-51
The HGS Teaching Staff 1956-57
Neville joins the HGS Staff.
Neville joins the HGS Staff.
Back Row L-R: Mr. Sale, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Owen, Mr. Wall, Mr. Farrar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Young Third Row L-R: Mr. Reed, Mr. Colley, Mr. Bulley, Mr. Tate, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Hassall, Mr. Hodson, Mr. Wharton
Second Row L-R: Mr. Swinbank, Mr Flavell, Mr. Burnett, Mrs. Sharpe, Miss. Hampshire, Miss. Woodward, Miss Fleming/Mrs Street?, Mr. Kennedy, 9
Front Row L-R: Mrs. Lumb, Mrs. Whittaker, Miss. Ward, Miss. Metcalfe, Miss. Harris, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Collette, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Atack, Mr. Lock
Second Row L-R: Mr. Swinbank, Mr Flavell, Mr. Burnett, Mrs. Sharpe, Miss. Hampshire, Miss. Woodward, Miss Fleming/Mrs Street?, Mr. Kennedy, 9
Front Row L-R: Mrs. Lumb, Mrs. Whittaker, Miss. Ward, Miss. Metcalfe, Miss. Harris, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Collette, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Atack, Mr. Lock
3. John Harrow, HGS 1957-62
John Harrow
Hello Sheila,
The amazing website evoked memories of long summer lunchtime breaks on the playing fields when nobody bothered to ring the bell!
You will not remember me. I knocked around with John Sumnall and Denis Burton. You were in a trio with Pat Stollard and another. I was there 1957-62. In 1961, I bought flowers from your stall in South Elmsall market each Saturday. There are not many people from my year registered on the site. Of the others, so many became teachers.
Yours sincerely,
John Harrow
(February 2004)
The amazing website evoked memories of long summer lunchtime breaks on the playing fields when nobody bothered to ring the bell!
You will not remember me. I knocked around with John Sumnall and Denis Burton. You were in a trio with Pat Stollard and another. I was there 1957-62. In 1961, I bought flowers from your stall in South Elmsall market each Saturday. There are not many people from my year registered on the site. Of the others, so many became teachers.
Yours sincerely,
John Harrow
(February 2004)
John Sumnall
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Dennis Burton
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Pat Stollard
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Dear John,
Of course I remember you! Funnily enough, you are on my 'to do' list. My role within the set-up of the website is to do the contacting and correspondence wherever possible, and I have already been in touch with John Sumnall. You were to be invited to visit the site very soon - and so you have beaten me to it! Please tell me, how did you learn of the site? I know that some Hilmians have just typed the school’s name into a search engine (Google, AltaVista etc.) and found us, and others have learned of us by word of mouth. Anyway, it's lovely to hear from you. All in all, it's very flattering that we seem to awaken good memories of happy times, and people tell us so. They were such happy days, weren't they! Fancy your remembering that stall on Elmsall market! Directly across from there was another fruit and veg. stall where Pete Dickens, Kathleen Frost and Marcia Bradley - all HGS - worked. At the end of each Saturday, unwilling to take the stocks of ripe bananas back to the shop, first one side would reduce the price by a penny "one and six a pound bananas" would be shouted, and then the others would shout "one and five a pound...." and so it went on, until we were down to threepence a pound! Great fun.
Of course I remember you! Funnily enough, you are on my 'to do' list. My role within the set-up of the website is to do the contacting and correspondence wherever possible, and I have already been in touch with John Sumnall. You were to be invited to visit the site very soon - and so you have beaten me to it! Please tell me, how did you learn of the site? I know that some Hilmians have just typed the school’s name into a search engine (Google, AltaVista etc.) and found us, and others have learned of us by word of mouth. Anyway, it's lovely to hear from you. All in all, it's very flattering that we seem to awaken good memories of happy times, and people tell us so. They were such happy days, weren't they! Fancy your remembering that stall on Elmsall market! Directly across from there was another fruit and veg. stall where Pete Dickens, Kathleen Frost and Marcia Bradley - all HGS - worked. At the end of each Saturday, unwilling to take the stocks of ripe bananas back to the shop, first one side would reduce the price by a penny "one and six a pound bananas" would be shouted, and then the others would shout "one and five a pound...." and so it went on, until we were down to threepence a pound! Great fun.
Peter Dickens
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Kathleen Frost
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Marcia Bradley
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I'm really touched that you have held kind thoughts of me for forty-odd years. You will certainly be able to fill the hours by exploring the site, and I would ask you especially to have a look at your class photos there and try to supply us with any names we have missed. Also on the panoramas there are many gaps. What was your pathway through School? 1A, 2B....etc. Which House did you belong to? Do you have any photos from that time which could augment the records? You must be very busy, I know, but we would be delighted to receive anything you can dig out of your attic/cellar/bottom drawers.
Looking forward to hearing from you again,
Sincerely,
Sheila.
Dear Sheila,
Thank you for replying so fully and promptly. What memories! I suppose we have reached the age when we look back rather than forward. I was in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5A and my House was Price. I found the HGS website from your entry on Friends Reunited several months ago. I wonder why so few of my contemporaries have responded to the website? It would be interesting to know what became of our teachers. We led some of them a merry dance. Mr. Lock and his bubble car; Mr. Swinbank with his lisp; Mr. Hudson and his youth hostelling; Ken Sale; George Pacy; Mr. Boyd trying to teach music against all odds. Mr. Hodgson the geography teacher and Jock Kennedy's Scots/English.
Looking forward to hearing from you again,
Sincerely,
Sheila.
Dear Sheila,
Thank you for replying so fully and promptly. What memories! I suppose we have reached the age when we look back rather than forward. I was in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5A and my House was Price. I found the HGS website from your entry on Friends Reunited several months ago. I wonder why so few of my contemporaries have responded to the website? It would be interesting to know what became of our teachers. We led some of them a merry dance. Mr. Lock and his bubble car; Mr. Swinbank with his lisp; Mr. Hudson and his youth hostelling; Ken Sale; George Pacy; Mr. Boyd trying to teach music against all odds. Mr. Hodgson the geography teacher and Jock Kennedy's Scots/English.
Mr Lock
Mr. Pacy
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Mr. Swinbank
Mr Boyd
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Mr. Hudson
Mr Hodgson
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Mr. Sale
Mr Kennedy
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All my friends liked you because it was rare for someone from an older year to talk to you unless it was as a Prefect handing out punishment. One used to make us stand in the quad next to and in the same pose as the statue, or pick daisies there and make a daisy chain. You were a nice person and I recall quite a good athlete. I suppose one of the attractions of schooldays nostalgia is that we were all innocents (though we thought otherwise) and had no idea what our lives had in store for us.
Sincerely,
John
Sincerely,
John
4. Christopher Haigh, HGS 1960-68
I had an Email from Sheila Kelsall who put me in touch. I've had a fascinating hour just going through and seeing old faces in the photographs that ex pupils and staff have supplied. I'll certainly start looking through some of my stuff. My Mum and my sister still live in Hemsworth. I'm over a few times a year so I can drop it off at the school. One of the photographs, I think, shows the girls’ entrance at the back of the school. I think it was Room 1 and the end was the girls' toilets but I'm surprised at seeing pupils on what I saw as the staff car park! I may be completely wrong. Another photo is of a room which was just down from the Music room and opposite the Needlework room (one of my registration rooms at HGS). I thought it was just an 'overflow room' from Needlework. This was around 1963-64. I saw Mr. Hamilton and his wife most weekends. We were not great friends it's just that I used to deliver his groceries!
Keep up the great work and thanks.
Chris Haigh
(March 2003)
Keep up the great work and thanks.
Chris Haigh
(March 2003)
The Girls' Entrance
"A one hundred and eighty degree turn brought me to the doors of the Girls’ Cloakroom. They were locked, but just look at the photo! A wider doormat and a bin in the corner - that’s all the difference I could see from the days of forty-odd years ago! I don’t know whether the cloaks area is now used for the same purpose. It is unlikely that today’s students would place a hat, coat and scarf on a peg with a pump bag beneath as we did, and be able to rely on it’s being undisturbed until the end of the day. I remember seeing the occasional pump bag thrown onto the shelf on the right after it had been found in the wrong place, or had been dropped on the floor elsewhere. Those sensible rounded joints between floor and wall were just as I remembered them all along the Quad corridors too, and that tiled dado was always painted black. The single-glazed windows used to steam up when the conditions were right, giving opportunity for some transient graffiti (usually a heart with an arrow through it and initials) and I recall that on very cold winter days the radiator was very popular! I decided it was time I retraced my steps along past the Hall if I wanted to see more of the Fair and School."
From "Have you been back?" A Visit to the HHS Craft Fair in Nov. 2003.
Sheila Kelsall
From "Have you been back?" A Visit to the HHS Craft Fair in Nov. 2003.
Sheila Kelsall
Sheila Kelsall of HGS (1955-62) and the HGS website.
Dear Sheila,
I just had to say how much I enjoyed reading your account about your visit to our old school when you attended the Arts and Crafts Fair. My only regret on reading the account was that I was not there with you. I would have loved to have had a snoop around. I am so grateful for the web site, as it has enabled me to take a walk down memory lane, which physically I am unable to do, living so far away. I hope you and Dave realise how much pleasure your efforts have given to generations of Hilmians.
Many thanks.
Irene Wright, HGS 1944-51
I just had to say how much I enjoyed reading your account about your visit to our old school when you attended the Arts and Crafts Fair. My only regret on reading the account was that I was not there with you. I would have loved to have had a snoop around. I am so grateful for the web site, as it has enabled me to take a walk down memory lane, which physically I am unable to do, living so far away. I hope you and Dave realise how much pleasure your efforts have given to generations of Hilmians.
Many thanks.
Irene Wright, HGS 1944-51
Mr and Mrs Hamilton in 1948
Hemsworth Grammar School c.1950
This 1950 photograph was sent in by Mr McCroakam (HGS Mathematics). Thank you.
Dear Chris,
Thank you for getting in touch with the site. Your visit seems to have been an interesting one. I hope you have many more. You mention resources which may be of interest to our audience. Either email scans of them or simply post them to the site. I will then scan them and get them back to you as quickly as possible.
Best wishes,
Dave McKenzie
Thank you for getting in touch with the site. Your visit seems to have been an interesting one. I hope you have many more. You mention resources which may be of interest to our audience. Either email scans of them or simply post them to the site. I will then scan them and get them back to you as quickly as possible.
Best wishes,
Dave McKenzie
Mr Pacy
Mathematics |
Mr McCroakam
Mathematics |
Mr Shelton
Science |
Dear Dave,
I forgot to mention that I was in Celts, 2C, 3C, 4T, 5T, L6R, L6S, U6S and also in Price House. Memories of Mr. Pacy taking our House meetings are still with me. If you can pass a message to Terry McCroakam that if he sees Maurice Shelton give him my sincere thanks for all he did for me at HGS.
Chris
I forgot to mention that I was in Celts, 2C, 3C, 4T, 5T, L6R, L6S, U6S and also in Price House. Memories of Mr. Pacy taking our House meetings are still with me. If you can pass a message to Terry McCroakam that if he sees Maurice Shelton give him my sincere thanks for all he did for me at HGS.
Chris
HGS L6R 1964-65
Back Row L-R: Malcolm Ellis, Samuel Hall
Middle Row L-R: Richard Baxendale, Brian Taylor, Christopher Haigh, Derek Coop
Front Row L-R: Linda Morrell, Linda Jukes, Mr. Smith, M. Walton, Christine Arrowsmith
Middle Row L-R: Richard Baxendale, Brian Taylor, Christopher Haigh, Derek Coop
Front Row L-R: Linda Morrell, Linda Jukes, Mr. Smith, M. Walton, Christine Arrowsmith
