This school is becoming an enigma to me. I went to AGGS from 1954 to 1958 leaving at the end of 4th year to go to work instead of staying on for the GCE. (Went to night school instead - did advanced English successfully). I have tried contacting several classmates and no-one ever answers. It's almost as if the school never existed. I recently read one comment "there's not many of us left now!" written by an older AGGS attendee and I am concerned. Are there any of you out there?

There are still some out there. My Mum went there from 1953 to 1958.

I know Lynda Pasini (nee Frith) and am sure she went there in the mid to late 50's ~ now lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Thanks for replies. I don't think I know Lynda Frith unless she worked in the Treasury dept of Sheffield Town Hall. I knew some girls in 1953-1958 classes (year older than myself) Was your mum called Kathleen or Pauline.

I am actually looking for a copy of the photos published in Sheffield Star around 1957. I was in AGGS school choir. We did a Gilbert & Sullivan performance with full orchestra for the public and 2 pictures were published in the paper. The p.r. staff for The Starr cannot find these. Has anyonE a copy of these please?

This school is becoming an enigma to me. I went to AGGS from 1954 to 1958 leaving at the end of 4th year to go to work instead of staying on for the GCE. (Went to night school instead - did advanced English successfully). I have tried contacting several classmates and no-one ever answers. It's almost as if the school never existed. I recently read one comment "there's not many of us left now!" written by an older AGGS attendee and I am concerned. Are there any of you out there?

I made the comment about AGGS you referred to. I did get a reply from Australia. But you are right nobody seems to reply to the messages. I have a friend who is a few years older than me and she went to AGGS but so far I have a drawn a complete blank. I should love to hear from anybody who was there in my years 1942 to 1947.

Thanks for replies. I don't think I know Lynda Frith unless she worked in the Treasury dept of Sheffield Town Hall. I knew some girls in 1953-1958 classes (year older than myself) Was your mum called Kathleen or Pauline.

If this was a reply to my post, then unfortunately, no my Mum is called Doreen

Thanks Magjim and Convict 621. It seems almost as if AGGS never existed. I wrote to a few classmates registered with Friends Reunited, noone answered. Many of them are now living overseas, spread around the world. The only school photo we had, a cinemascopic picture of the entire school year(it had to be rolled up because of it's width) I left in Sheffield and never saw again.....One of the reasons I am searching for the pics printed in the Star.

There were only four houses in our year. Someone has added "MARVEL" as a fifth house.. Not too sure we had this one. Elizabeth Fry was the yellow house and I think Fry replace the name Marvel. As I remember from sports events only four colours: blue, green, yellow and red...cavell; darling; fry and nightingale.

[QUOTE=sydneygirl;3616144]There were only four houses in our year. Someone has added "MARVEL" as a fifth house.. Not too sure we had this one. Elizabeth Fry was the yellow house and I think Fry replace the name Marvel. As I remember from sports events only four colours: blue, green, yellow and red...cavell; darling; fry and nightingale.[/QUO


Thanks for the reply sidneygirl. I was in Elizabeth Fry House from 1942 to 1947 and the colour was blue, still have my badge somewhere I think. They obviously changed things round after that, but we definitely had Marvel as one of my friends was in it.

Yes they must have changed the houses. The yellow house was Fry. I wonder why they changed. I recently found there's a mountain in Canada named after nurse Edith Cavell. Wonder if the rest of the houses can be found in the Atlas.

Hi sidneygirl. The reason I remember these houses so well is someone (not me I hasten to add) made up a silly rhyme
"Cavell is a Marvell when she Frys her Darling Nightingale"
Never did find out who penned this, probably kept it quiet.
Anyway it was an easy way to remember the houses. This is complete nonsense but thought it might amuse you.

There were only four houses in our year. Someone has added "MARVEL" as a fifth house.. Not too sure we had this one. Elizabeth Fry was the yellow house and I think Fry replace the name Marvel. As I remember from sports events only four colours: blue, green, yellow and red...cavell; darling; fry and nightingale.

I was at AGGS from 1947 to 1954. Fry house did not exist then but Marvel did.I think Marvel was green.I remember there were around 600 girls only in those days So much better than a 1000+ school!We were lucky!
My cousins Betty and Gwen Laws were there in the years before I arrived on the scene

Yes, a few of us are still around but it seems that not many are on the net. I attended there from 1944 to 1949 & so far have only been able to catch up with 1/2 doz. former pupils.

Sent you a pm sydneygirl. I think I can remember all the girl's names from Lydgate Lane junior school who took the 11 plus in 1954 and I'm sure a few went to Abbeydale.

'Yes, a few of us are still around but it seems that not many are on the net.'
Surprise surprise. Fancy meeting you here Gosling!Would be nice to have more people we know find this site!

Can you think of any way to encourage them to come forward. Nice to meet you here eileent

Gosling,will mull it over but not optimistic I will come up wi' owt

I moved to Abbeydale Girls Grammar School from Totley county school in 1957. I have some good and a lot of bad memories. Some of the teachers were strict and impatient and I underachieved a lot of the time. Miss Lucas and Miss Tomlinson (both nice) had actually taught my Mum too when she was there. Miss Woodland would bring her dog into maths lessons. I thought that the Fry house was for the academically gifted but maybe it was a rumour. As mentioned by Sharrovian above, I have also lived in Switzerland for the last 33 years.

Ashamed to say I haven't been on the site for ages. I was interested in the mention of Miss Woodland, Miss Lucas and Miss Tomlinson. I was there from 1942 to 1947 and they were all teaching then. Don't seem to be many using this forum from my years. If there are any please contact me, I would love to hear from you

I went to Abbeydale from 1959 to 1964 and was in Marvel House and our colour was yellow. The other houses then were Darling, Cavell and Nightingale. I am sure that there was a form created from our year called Fry that had the brightest of the year in and they advanced a year. I am sure that there was not a Fry house at that time - altho I am obviously getting on now !!!

I remember Marvel was yellow and Cavell was blue, I think, (I was in Cavell). I know there were 5 houses when I started at Abbeydale and I understood that Fry had just been created that year (1957) yet it has been mentioned as existing earlier than that so I don't understand. What is strange is that there was only a first year Fry when I started and no 2nd, 3rd year, etc. There is probably a simple explanation. It's true that there are not many AGGS girls on Friends Reunited. I did contact one person although we didn't remember each other. I just thought it would be fun to exchange a few general experiences but she wasn't really interested as we weren't in the same class.

Does anyone remember the Christmas parties? I'm not sure if the following happened every year but I remember that we all brought our party dresses to school. The senior art pupils had created huge paper angels which were fastened up high on the walls. There was dancing and some games in the big hall, then we all did the "Dambusters" march and went in a chain down to the dining room. Each table had logs holding candles, the lights were out and there was a lovely spread (we all brought food). Looking back someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make it look lovely. Maybe I was just an impressionable child!

I am the person who has mentioned Elizabeth Fry house earlier. I was in Fry house from 1942 to 1947. Each house had a choir, I was in their choir and we had a competition each year between the houses.I can remember Fry winning the competition two years running.

When I first went to AGGS in 1942 the school had been bombed in the Sheffield blitz, part of it had been destroyed and it took quite a few years to repair it. The headmistress for the first two years was a Miss Mulley, followed by Doctor Green (she was quite strict about school rules and uniform etc).

I went to Abbeydale in 64. There were only 4 houses then, Nightingale, Cavell, Darling and Marvel - all of course named after famous nurses.

Doctor Green was still there in 1969 and still very strict about school rules and uniform!! I still remember how only 6th formers were allowed to use the main stairs, the rest of us having to use the back stairs.

I too remember a Fry house (1959 to 64) when I first joined Abbeydale but had no idea that it only took the brightest. Maybe not bright enough to latch on to that (!!). Does anyone know when Dr Green died? I have sent a message to Crowtrees as she was in my class and year - would love to get in touch.

I moved to Abbeydale Girls Grammar School from Totley county school in 1957. I have some good and a lot of bad memories. Some of the teachers were strict and impatient and I underachieved a lot of the time. Miss Lucas and Miss Tomlinson (both nice) had actually taught my Mum too when she was there. Miss Woodland would bring her dog into maths lessons. I thought that the Fry house was for the academically gifted but maybe it was a rumour. As mentioned by Sharrovian above, I have also lived in Switzerland for the last 33 years.

I too remember Miss Tomlinson and Miss Lucas and also Miss Mumford who taught us domestic science (what a waste of time - who needs tennis parties in a bedsit) but all of them were very patient. And I had a wonderful maths teacher who made it all seem very easy (1959-64). Would love to hear from crowtrees who was in my class and year (Marvel 59-64) or anyone else out there.

I was in Fry House 1944-1949,but don't think I was outstandingly bright !!!!! If I was nobody mentioned the fact.

I was in Fry House 1944-1949,but don't think I was outstandingly bright !!!!! If I was nobody mentioned the fact.

I am told by two ex pupils who became head teachers in and around Sheffield that AGGS only took the top 2%, the mensa equivalent in short, so yes you were bright. And I hope still are. I was a Goslin so was pleased to see a Gosling.

I went to Abbeydale from 1959 to 1964 and was in Marvel House and our colour was yellow. The other houses then were Darling, Cavell and Nightingale. I am sure that there was a form created from our year called Fry that had the brightest of the year in and they advanced a year. I am sure that there was not a Fry house at that time - altho I am obviously getting on now !!!

I was in Marvel too from 1959-64. Janet Goslin. Do you remember me? Would love to know who you were then. Do you remember Jean Gaunt?

There was another Gosling in my form her name was Doreen, no relation to me,I was never able to contact her as I don't know her married name but I was told that a few years ago she was living in Scarborough

Hi, I'm a bit later than most of you. I went to Abbeydale from 1964 to 1967 (at which time we left Sheffield). I was in Cavell. I'm really enjoying reading this thread - thanks!:)

My sister is now 67. She would have been 11 in 1955 so I suppose she would have left in 1960. Anne Barron.
I went to Abbeydale Boys from 1960 and I seem to remember a Grange Grammer on the same site. Reading other theads from later pupils of the schools it seems to be all different. The buildings appear to have been mixed up.

Hi girls, or 'ladies' as you all are now ! I have no connection with AGGS but knew well one of your teachers which no one seems to have mentioned. (Dr.) Miss C.E.Tyler. A most erudite academic who I knew well in the 1960's. She lived at No. 30 Abbeyfield Road, Burngreave with her spinster sister. She was a member of the Society for the Presevation of Rural England, as it was then and a keen Halle Orchestra fan. I remember her trying, unsucessfully, to find a copy of 'Ancient Airs and Dances' by Respighi and lamenting the demise of Harvey's Worcester Cream Sherry ! I think I recall drinking 'Java, Old Government Coffee' at their very Edwardian home. Keen also on birds. What may surprise is that Miss Tyler became a member of Sir Oswald Mosley's Union ( of Europe) Movement in the mid 1960's where she became on good terms with Sir Oswald and Lady Diana. I lost touch with those memorable sisters before they passed on in the 1970's.

I remember Jane Shutt and Dr Tyler. I can picture them both (separately of course). Dr Tyler in tweed suits and her hair in a small flat bun at the base of her neck. I was in Nightingale from 64 to 69,

Hi, I'm a bit later than most of you. I went to Abbeydale from 1964 to 1967 (at which time we left Sheffield). I was in Cavell. I'm really enjoying reading this thread - thanks!:)

Was Susan Littlewood in your class, small with long hair?

I too remember a Fry house (1959 to 64) when I first joined Abbeydale but had no idea that it only took the brightest. Maybe not bright enough to latch on to that (!!). Does anyone know when Dr Green died? I have sent a message to Crowtrees as she was in my class and year - would love to get in touch.

Dr Green died on 27th August 1994, I was in Marvel house from 1967 to 1969. Fry didnt exist then . Was anyone else there at the the same time??

My sister was there later, mid 60s I think. Her name was Julie Rawson. My mum has a single record somewhere of the school choir singing Kum Bai Ya.

Dr Green died on 27th August 1994, I was in Marvel house from 1967 to 1969. Fry didnt exist then . Was anyone else there at the the same time??

My friend Janet Cooper was in Marvel from 64 to 69 whilst I was in Nightingale.

My friend Janet Cooper was in Marvel from 64 to 69 whilst I was in Nightingale.

Dont remember her, is Cooper her married name? I had friends in Nightingale but need names please

Dont remember her, is Cooper her married name? I had friends in Nightingale but need names please

No, Cooper was her name then. In Nightingale there was Jean Simmonite,(small with red hair) Jane Parrish (lots and lots of hair), Patricia Walsh? (very tall), Lesley Marshall, Jane Bird, Denise Nichols. No doubt I will remember more when I have finished typing.

I remember Jane Parrish, Jane Bird and Denise Nicholls

I remember Jane Parrish, Jane Bird and Denise Nicholls
Have sent you a PM

have pm`d you back!!

Hi all you AGGS girls, I was there from 1951_1954, was in Nightingale,do any of you remember Miss Partridge, tsught English lit.She looked like old actress Margaret Rutherford, she carried a cushion everywhere with her. what a wonderful opportunity we all had to go to AGGS. I was the only girl from my school to pass 11+,none of my friends that I grew up with ever spoke to me again. My Mum told me, when I was sitting for exam, "it's AGGS or else don't bother, lucky for me I got there, I also took extra exam for Psalter Lane Art school and passed but Mum would not allow me to,however 3yrs later with some pressure from Dr Green, she gave in and I later became an Artist and still am

Anyone remember Wendy Carson 1954-59?

Hi orielanne, I was there from 1944 to 1945 & remember Miss Partridge very well. I thought she had a wicked sense of humour.

made a booboo should have said 1944 to 1949

My mum went to Abbeydale Grange ! Im not sure when,but shes 76 now ! Did people leave school early then ! Her names Margaret ( Holmes ) ,my Aunty went aswell I think ,her names Janet (Holmes )

I was in Marvel too from 1959-64. Janet Goslin. Do you remember me? Would love to know who you were then. Do you remember Jean Gaunt?

Hi

I knew Jean Gaunt for a while. Lovely girl and very bright. She had left school and was in her first year at Uni. I was still in the 6th at High Storrs Boys. Batting a bit out of my league, I suspected.

I was in Marvel too from 1959-64. Janet Goslin. Do you remember me? Would love to know who you were then. Do you remember Jean Gaunt?

Jacquie Wallace - I remember you Janet and Jean too she used to come to the same youth club with 2 girls from Fry Diane Farrand and Chris Nettleton The latter is a close friend still after all these years as is Diana Stuart who was in Darling

hi gosling,miss Partridge was one of favourites ,she did have a wicked sense of humour, I once asked her "may I pass you miss" and she replied "only with great difficulty and many laxatives"does anyone remember Valerie BEAL,she lived on Norton Lane and was at AGGS when i wasalso Olga Kahn,

My Mum attended AGGS in about 1942/43 Margaret Marshall anyone know her?