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Entries (5)
Any new pages, articles or changes to the existing content will be indicated or shown here.
Content may change at any time.
The above photograph was taken on the 4th July 1967 during the last week of the Summer Term.
The change from HGS to HHS had already started.
The change from HGS to HHS had already started.
27.08.2024
Today's Staff Member is Mr Minards
Today's Staff Member is Mr Minards
Mr Minards
Mr Minards (Geography) joined the HGS Staff in School Year 1961-62.
Mr Minards (Geography) joined the HGS Staff in School Year 1961-62.
The HGS Staff 1961-62
Back Row L-R: Mr. Hudson, Mr. Coar, Mr. Butler, Mr. Williams, Mr. Glenn
Fifth Row L-R: Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Burnell, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. Twigg, Mr. Gray, Mr. Pacy
Fourth Row L-R: Mr. Tate, Mr. Minards, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Hodson, Mr. Hassall, Mr. Knox
Third Row L-R: Mr. Davies, Mr. Reed, Mr. Catley, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Shelton, Mr. Crompton, Mr. Jakes, Mr. Wharton
Second Row L-R: Miss Radford, Miss. Couperthwaite, Miss Parkin, Mrs. Bistis, Miss. Evans, Miss. Tate, Miss. Musgrave, Miss. Jennings
Front Row L-R: Mrs. Williams, Miss. Ward, Miss. Metcalfe, Miss. Smith, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Collette, Mr. Atack, Mr. Swinbank, Mr. Owen
Fifth Row L-R: Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Burnell, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. Twigg, Mr. Gray, Mr. Pacy
Fourth Row L-R: Mr. Tate, Mr. Minards, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Hodson, Mr. Hassall, Mr. Knox
Third Row L-R: Mr. Davies, Mr. Reed, Mr. Catley, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Shelton, Mr. Crompton, Mr. Jakes, Mr. Wharton
Second Row L-R: Miss Radford, Miss. Couperthwaite, Miss Parkin, Mrs. Bistis, Miss. Evans, Miss. Tate, Miss. Musgrave, Miss. Jennings
Front Row L-R: Mrs. Williams, Miss. Ward, Miss. Metcalfe, Miss. Smith, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Collette, Mr. Atack, Mr. Swinbank, Mr. Owen
I met Mr Minards outside Room 13 (Geography Room) on what was possibly his very first day on the Staff after his interview. He was going around the school meeting people and getting to know his way around. We got along very well and had a long chat.
Dave
Dave
Mr Minards on a Geography Field Trip to Malham in 1966
Photo: Batey
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Photo: Batey
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Men in White take a break (1966)
L-R: Mr Minards, Mr McCroakam, Mr Ramsden, Mr Shelton, Mr Parkin. |
Mr Minards relaxes after or before batting in the Staff v School Cricket match in 1966. The photo was taken in the Cricket Pavilion.
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Photo: Batey
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Photo: Batey
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26.08.2026
Today's Staff Member is Mr McCroakam
Today's Staff Member is Mr McCroakam
Terry McCroakam
A former HGS pupil, Head Boy (1956-57) and HGS Staff Member (Mathematics)
A former HGS pupil, Head Boy (1956-57) and HGS Staff Member (Mathematics)
The HGS Staff 1965-66
Back Row L-R: Mr. Jones, Mr. Minards, Mr. S. Harrison, Mr. J. Murray, Mr. A. Davies, Mr. T. McCroakam, Mr. Cooling, Mr. T. Connolly
Third Row L-R: Mr. Warren, Mr. Baker, Mr. L. Plummer, Mr. F. Morley, Mr. G. Pacy, Mr. M. Shelton, Mr. G. Parkinson, Mr. Ramsden, Mr. D. Wilkinson, Mr. D. Howdle, Mr. D. Hudson, Mr. A. Greensmith
Second Row L-R: Mr. P. Glenn, Mr. R. Tromans, Mr. D. Burnell, Mr. Coates, Miss. M. Margolis, Miss. Alliott, Miss Williams, Miss. Rankin, Mr. G. Knox, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Millican, Mr. D. Bavister
Front Row L-R: Miss. P. Couperthwaite, Miss. P. Evans, Miss. K. Ward, Miss. M. Metcalfe, Miss. Smith, Mr. R. Hamilton, Mr. Groome, Mr. E. Atack, Mr. J.W. Swinbank, Mr. C. Owen, Mr. Hodson
Third Row L-R: Mr. Warren, Mr. Baker, Mr. L. Plummer, Mr. F. Morley, Mr. G. Pacy, Mr. M. Shelton, Mr. G. Parkinson, Mr. Ramsden, Mr. D. Wilkinson, Mr. D. Howdle, Mr. D. Hudson, Mr. A. Greensmith
Second Row L-R: Mr. P. Glenn, Mr. R. Tromans, Mr. D. Burnell, Mr. Coates, Miss. M. Margolis, Miss. Alliott, Miss Williams, Miss. Rankin, Mr. G. Knox, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Millican, Mr. D. Bavister
Front Row L-R: Miss. P. Couperthwaite, Miss. P. Evans, Miss. K. Ward, Miss. M. Metcalfe, Miss. Smith, Mr. R. Hamilton, Mr. Groome, Mr. E. Atack, Mr. J.W. Swinbank, Mr. C. Owen, Mr. Hodson
The Transition
The change from HGS to HHS ie. from an 11-18 Grammar School to a 13-18 Comprehensive was the brain child of politicians. The reasons were to make all pupils 'equal' and do away with the 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 Holgate, Talbot, Guests and Price 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 broken but they tried to mend it and are still doing so today'.
Terry
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 Holgate, Talbot, Guests and Price 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 broken but they tried to mend it and are still doing so today'.
Terry
24.08.2024
Today's Staff Member is Mr Hodson
Today's Staff Member is Mr Hodson
Mr Hodson (History) was a member of Staff from 1956-68 (when HGS closed).
The HGS Staff 1956-57
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, 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
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, 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
“I wonder how many remember the very last end-of-term Grammar School Assembly in July 1968? Mr. Hamilton had retired at the end of 1967 and the new Head showed scant regard for the Grammar School and its traditions in his preparations for September 1968. History is littered with tales of spontaneous uprisings: there was a mini one on that last afternoon of the Grammar School’s life.
The new Headmaster deliberately cut short the final Assembly…..and walked out, leaving Staff and pupils to follow. No-one moved. The whole school stayed put and sang the School Song with an enthusiasm and intensity I guess had never been experienced before. Mr. Hamilton would have been very proud at the sincerity of that final rendering.”
Mr Hodson
The new Headmaster deliberately cut short the final Assembly…..and walked out, leaving Staff and pupils to follow. No-one moved. The whole school stayed put and sang the School Song with an enthusiasm and intensity I guess had never been experienced before. Mr. Hamilton would have been very proud at the sincerity of that final rendering.”
Mr Hodson
21.08.2024
The HGS website Viewing Trends over the last 4 weeks
The HGS website Viewing Trends over the last 4 weeks
20.08.2024
Today's Staff Member is Mr Sale.
Today's Staff Member is Mr Sale.
Mr Sale (Biology and General Science) was a member of Staff from 1955-61.
The HGS Staff 1955-56
Back Row L-R: Mr. Owen, Mr. Tate, Mr. Wood, Mr. Sale, Mr. Young
Third Row L-R: Mr. Boyd, Mr. Collins, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Bulley, Mr. Colley
Second Row L-R: Mrs. Podmore (Miss. Collins), Miss. Hampshire, Miss McGlade, Miss. Yates, Mrs. Lumb, Mr. Walker, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Burnett, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wharton
Front Row L-R: Miss. Parkin/Mrs Blatherwick, Miss. Elliot, Miss. Ward, Miss. Metcalfe, Miss. Harris, Miss. Smith, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Manning, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Atack, Mr. Lock, Mr. Farrar, Mr. Swinbank
Third Row L-R: Mr. Boyd, Mr. Collins, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Bulley, Mr. Colley
Second Row L-R: Mrs. Podmore (Miss. Collins), Miss. Hampshire, Miss McGlade, Miss. Yates, Mrs. Lumb, Mr. Walker, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Burnett, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wharton
Front Row L-R: Miss. Parkin/Mrs Blatherwick, Miss. Elliot, Miss. Ward, Miss. Metcalfe, Miss. Harris, Miss. Smith, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Manning, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Atack, Mr. Lock, Mr. Farrar, Mr. Swinbank
Staff Basketball and Tennis
I don't know whether you knew we had a Staff Basketball team where we got fit and active, led and coached by Les Tate who audaciously submitted us to torture by arranging a match with a team from Doncaster one evening. 3 periods of 20 minutes to improve our levels of skill and fitness. Les was always fit, quick and strong coming from the Rugby league. The opposing team was bigger, faster, more skilful, and ran us ragged, winning hands down. I do remember scoring a few baskets and Les a lot, but we were submerged by a far superior team.
Mr Tate
I must mention that I played Staff tennis - often annoying the lady Staff players because I poached at the net being just too enthusiastic. I was told off more often than I care to mention because of my selfish ways. That also was an excellent way to calm down from the day's activity. I also remember the Saturdays over the winter. Invariably I was expected to referee in the morning, welcome visitors, provide refreshments which the girls always did brilliantly, and say goodbye to their member of staff. Then it was home for a quick lunch, and with one or two staff, travel to Wakefield to watch Trinity, or if Wigan were in the area, go to watch them because Billy Boston the flyer played on the wing. We travelled to Castleford, Featherstone, Bradford, Leeds and other places just to watch Billy's runs up the wing as they were so often breathtaking. It was not that the Yorkshire clubs were poor, because they were not, but one could guarantee a thrill of excitement as we enjoyed the mastery of Wigan. Sometimes it was playing hockey somewhere in the area when I was available.
Ken Sale, HGS Staff 1955-61
Ken Sale, HGS Staff 1955-61
The HGS Lady Staff Tennis Players
Back Row L-R: Miss Whitworth, Miss Kilner, Miss Saville
Front Row L-R: Miss Wimpenny, Miss Parkin, Miss Elliott/Mrs. Whittake
Front Row L-R: Miss Wimpenny, Miss Parkin, Miss Elliott/Mrs. Whittake
Mr Sale also played for the Staff Cricket team. An example is shown below.
Dave
Dave
Staff Cricket 1956
Back Row L-R: Mr. Dodd, Mr. Colley
Middle Row L-R: Mr. Tate, Mr, Wharton, Mr. Bulley, Mr. Farrar, Mr. Manning
Front Row L-R: Mr. Taylor, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Walker, Mr. Sale
Middle Row L-R: Mr. Tate, Mr, Wharton, Mr. Bulley, Mr. Farrar, Mr. Manning
Front Row L-R: Mr. Taylor, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Walker, Mr. Sale
