Old Boys, Girls and Teachers Guestbook

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Welcome to the Guestbook
Feel free to add messages relating to the site and the school. The only rules are: real names only, no personal attacks and no unrelated messages (inappropriate messages may be edited/withdrawn without warning).

It would be appreciated if you gave an email address, where you now live and said when you were at the school, but you don't have to.

Plase note that if you click on an email address below you will need to replace ~DOT~ with . and ~AT~ with @ in your email program. The Guestbook presents these this way to avoid email address harvesters collecting your email addresses from the page. I know it's a pain, but it's very much better than the alternative.

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There are 500 messages in the guestbook
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Viewing messages 451 to 460

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

Now then!

As Mike Hannard will have noticed if he has read through earlier entries in the Visitorbook the majority of the contributors were of a certain generation i.e. lots of 40s and 50s (as in years of the 20th century) and some, including our illustrious leader, nudging into later years.

Several of the older boys have lamented that there are not that many reminiscences from those of subsequent years and all have said how much we (the oldies) would love to know what happened next.

So, Mike, London, Australia what did happen next and in between? A response may "encourager les autres" as Dr Skilling may have said. Sorry, the reference to Doc Skilling will be lost on those who we wish to "encourager".

Any support forthcoming?

Tue 2-Oct-2012 19:41 - Ruskington, Lincolnshire

Michael Hannard - 1965 to 1972 | Mikehannard~AT~gmail~DOT~com

I just found 6L from 1972. My word, I thought I had avoided all photos since 2nd year but there I am next to Ed Wraith. We all look a glum lot but, really, that was a great year to be alive. My first job from leaving was in London and I was just a baby! And now in Australia.....what happened?

All the best to you who read this, Micky Hannard

Thu 20-Sep-2012 12:59 - Sydney, Australia

Neale Backhouse '46- '51. | nealebackh~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hi Mike
Now that my responsibilities extend to little more than emptying the dishwasher and putting out the garbage, it has taken a prod from Bruce and Michael to shake off my ennui and get me tapping again.
I was listening to a CBC radio interview this morning with Dustin Hoffman,still acting and directing at seventy five. I liked what he said about staying involved as we grow older. "Of course we don't have the staying power which we had as young men but if you are doing something you love, even if it's only at ten percent, don't give up." Good life lesson I'd say.
September remains semi-tropical here in Victoria (not quite Californian)but warm nevertheless. We seem to have a high pressure system permanently parked over BC. It seems like it will never rain again but I know that that will change to "Will it ever stop", once we're into November.
I was encouraged to leave my perch recently and play a round of golf, which I do infrequently and badly, with son David and Grandson Ryan (13). I was astounded when this babe in arms, of only yesterday, launched a drive at least fifty yards farther than his Dad and a furlong longer than my miserable effort. It's occasions like this that make the perch feel more welcoming. But then as Dustin says, 10 percent is better than giving up.
Cheers, Neale.

Tue 18-Sep-2012 03:48 - Victoria BC, Canada

Michael Lawrenson 1946 | lawrenson~AT~hollyburn~DOT~plus~DOT~com

Hi Mike

Bruce asks where all the regular correspondents are. Just to let you know that we’re still here, grimly hanging onto those perches and waiting to see the youngsters from the 60s, 70s , 80s and 90s do their bit. It’s a long wait…

Mon 17-Sep-2012 23:28 - Scotland

Bruce Graham

At the reunion held in 2002 at the Westoe Rugby Club there was a fair representation of ladies from the Girls High School - in the afternoon at least. I exchanged some very pleasant reminiscences with them looking at the photographs that were on display.

The reason that there isn't an equivalent site for the girls school is that they have not (yet) produced a Mike Todd. Without him the site would not exist.

I know that there is significant interest out there among the girls - particularly of that vintage - but somebody needs to get things starting. I don't know if Mike has had conversations, or enquiries, with our female opposite numbers about the possibility of a corresponding site?

By the way, where are all of the regular correspondents in the Visitorbook? I know we're all getting old but I hope that we're still hanging onto the perch. Having watched the Great North Run this morning and seen an episode of Inspector George Gently last week with the penultimate scene filmed on Cleadon Hills I'm sure there are more contributions to come.

Sun 16-Sep-2012 20:07

Kath Hedley

I have been looking at this site and have found pictures of my brother, and of my husband. My brother is in the photo 1955-5ld, and his Christian name is Brian (Youll). A really good site and full of memories and information. A pity that there is nothing similar for the Grammar School for girls in South Shields where I attended in the fifties.

Sun 16-Sep-2012 15:47 - UK

From Mike T: Thanks for the name.

There are actually two possible Youll entries in the school records, and your message has identified which one this is.

I've noted it, and it'll get changed when I next do a name update.

David Carrick | dccarrick~AT~bigpond~DOT~com

I was a student from 1956 to 1961.

I've just found the site and recon it's fantastic.

I'd be very happy to hear from anyone who was there at the same time.

Sat 11-Aug-2012 10:05 - Australia

Bryan Cooper | bryglen~AT~bryancooper~DOT~wanadoo~DOT~co~DOT~uk

Hi Mike,
Just to muddy the McDougle/McDougall further: Ian is brother to Bruce, see 3S 1958/59 and note strong family resemblance. Both are sons of Hugh McDougall who taught Chemistry.

Mon 23-Jul-2012 18:26 - North Wales

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~co

Mike

Congratulations on completing the first step in your mammoth task of updating the school photographs.

I can help with a few of the christian names on the new 6th form pictures for 1955/6.

In the 6C group it is (James) Sharp and (Harry) Abernethy.

In 6U(Prefects) it is (Billie) Edgar abd (Cyril) Jefferson.

Lastly, in 6UX it is (Ian) McDougall, (Roy) - not Alan - Thompson and (Robert) Chritiansen.

Fri 6-Jul-2012 14:26 - Ruskington, Lincolnshire

From Mike T: Thanks for the comment, Bruce, and for the name updates.

McDougle (which is how the name is spelt in all the school records) is actually George Ian McDougle, and I just assumed he went by his first name (a surprising number didn't)

Roy Thompson was in a different name sequence in the admission records, along with Robert Christiansen. Now they're found and updated.

Thanks

Andrew Scarth | andrewscarth~AT~hotmail~DOT~co~DOT~uk

The school trip to Italy Gary.Kev Waughs probably still got the crutches.

Mon 2-Jul-2012 19:19 - Jarrow

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