Who can remember the list of available Sheffield Grammar schools in or around 1956?? Unfortunately I was not one of the successful entrants but life has turned out pretty good in the "big picture". Thank you in advance for any help offered - from an ex Arbourthorner here Toronto.

Just a start ------maybe there's some others to add on :--

Abbeydale Boys Grammar , Abbeydale Girls Grammar [ may have been called Abbeydale Grange ? ] , Nether Edge Grammar , closed 1958 [ became the new Abbeydale Boys Grammar ; High Storrs----Girls and Boys Grammar ; King Edward V11 ; City Grammar school ; Firth Park Grammar [ Mixed ? ]
Now a bit of memory lapse ------I think there was a sort of Grammar school at Hinde House Lane and another one near Middlewood hospital.
The big one in the private sector was the Girls High school , near Clarkehouse Road . There were a couple of Catholic Grammar schools , I think , for girls and boys , both called Notre Dame .
There was also the City Technical school in town , near Leopold Street .
Apologies , in advance , for any missing from the list ; not nice to have your old school missed out !

It was the Central Technical School. There was also Rowlinson which was of technical bent and the boys' catholic grammar school was De La Salle on Scott Road. Chaucer was also an eleven-plus school and Grange Grammar School for Girls. Then there was Ecclesfield Grammar School which came within the Sheffield boundary.

I seem to recall a Greystones grammer near Ringinglow road, long time ago
could be wrong,memory banks failing.

I seem to recall a Greystones Grammar near Ringinglow Road, long time ago
could be wrong,memory banks failing.

I'd been mulling over that but couldn't be more specific. I remember a navy uniform with a plain yellow bird on the crest. I fancy it might have been on Greystones Road but you might have opened the discussion here?

There was also Marlcliff. I think that it might have been a girls school. My sister went there.

Don't forget Woodhouse Grammar School, which was a mixed school at, er, Woodhouse!

The three grammar schools at Abbeydale were 'in a line' with parts of their playing fields having shared boundaries- Abbeydale Boys Grammar School then Abbeydal Grange,this was a separate school to Abbeydale Girls Grammar School which was the closest to the town. Abbeydale Grange had a brwon uniform and was housed in an old house, where as Abbeydale Girls Grammar School had a blue uniform and had a more 'modern' building. The headmistress's (Dr FM Green) memorable statement was her reference to 'our neighbours over the wall' when referring to the members of Abbeydale Boys School. Being seen with a member of the boy's school whilst wearing school uniform was punishable by detention, even if seen in town, !

The headmistress, I believe, of Abbeydale Grange G.S. was Miss H.M.Rawlings who moved with it, under a different guise, to King Ecgbert School at Totley.

I don't live in Sheffield any longer and just as a matter of interest , what has become of the Abbeydale Grange and Abbeydale Girls Grammar School buildings ?
I know the old Nether Edge Grammar School , after a few changes over the years , is now , I think , a block of flats . Whenever I've passed by the Abbeydale complex , I 've never been able to see over the wall !

I don't live in Sheffield any longer and just as a matter of interest , what has become of the Abbeydale Grange and Abbeydale Girls Grammar School buildings ?
I know the old Nether Edge Grammar School , after a few changes over the years , is now , I think , a block of flats . Whenever I've passed by the Abbeydale complex , I 've never been able to see over the wall !
I was a scholarship girl at [U]Grange Grammar School for girls.[U] It didn't change to A G till a long time after I left in 57. Miss Reid was the head mistress and the french teacher was Miss Rigby and she was horrible. I'm in my 60s now but will never forgive the way she treated me for coming from the wrong side of the tracks and being clever. (came from Pipworth rd school)

Greystones was not a Grammar school but an Intermediate,you still had to pass the 11+ to get in.I did and thought it sounded very romantic, when I got there it was a stone victorian school like Burgoyne Rd Walkley which I'd just left.
The bird mentioned in the link was called a Martlet as was the school magazine.We had a school motto "Labore Vingam" to work is to succeed.It was a very strict regime with the 1or 2 teachers that terrified everyone bu t overall they were good times.
The school closed when I was in the 3rd year 1956 with the boys joining the boys at Rowlinson and the girls from this school and Greystones girls going to the brand new King Ecgberts.
We had to swap our navy knickers for maroon ones to match the new uniform,ahh Happy Days!!!

Galena, I can also remember that it was a sin to be seen eating in the street whilst wearing our school uniform (Abbeydale Girls Grammar School), how things have changed. I would love to know what happened to the school. I was in Fry house

I have a feeling the building is still used in that not so long ago, I think my daughter took a graded music exam there. Perhaps someone can answer more definitively?

Abbeydale Grange was the merging of Abbeydale Boys' and Girls schools, And the Grange grammar, if i have my facts right.

this was when comprehensives came in in the late 1960's, replacing Grammar schools.

Abbeydale boys was what became the lower school, on Hastings Road, the Girls schol became Upper school, (Bannerdale/ Carterknowle Rd side), and the holt house, and grange buildings ( which were impressive old houses) became the sixth form centre.

the land and buildings that were holt house, and the grange are now a housing development.

I don't know what the school badges were before the schools merged, but the badge on my blazer, back in the mid 70's was a circular design, in shades of blues, interwoven, with triangle shaped middles, whose lines were rounded off.

PT

Owler Lane was a scolarship pass, but was termed an Intermediate school the same as Marlcliffe. The uniform was grey and maroon and the motto "Per Ardua Ad Alta". I attended there until Xmas 1959. HM was Pop Gregory, others, Fairest, Boardman, MacDonald, Pegg, Holmes, Gladsby, Lupton and others I cannot remember.

Plain Talker, the badge for Abbeydale Girls Grammar School was a shield consisting of a gold key on a red background at the top and two gold chevrons on a dark blue background below. Around the outside of the shield was the motto " and trouthe shal delivere". I know this is correct as I have my O.G.A. badge in front of me at the moment

Brincliffe Grammar School is often overlooked in these discussions. It replaced the old Nether Edge Grammar school which transferred to Abbeydale in 1958 and I think it was the only 'mixed' grammar school in Sheffield. It shutdown altogether in 1964 or 1965 when Blunkett finally got his way and abolished grammar schools in Sheffield.

Not sure if De La salle and Notre Dame could be considered as grammar schools, I know they were fee paying Roman Catholic schools but STR they admitted some kids on scholarships.

Brincliffe Grammar School is often overlooked in these discussions. It replaced the old Nether Edge Grammar school which transferred to Abbeydale in 1958 and I think it was the only 'mixed' grammar school in Sheffield. It shutdown altogether in 1964 or 1965 when Blunkett finally got his way and abolished grammar schools in Sheffield.

Not sure if De La salle and Notre Dame could be considered as grammar schools, I know they were fee paying Roman Catholic schools but STR they admitted some kids on scholarships.

Don't recall any fee paying lads at De La Salle when I was there (1969-1976; God, I'm feeling old now!). There were two intakes - 1st year for those who passed 11-plus, then a 3rd year intake for pupils transferring from other schools, though I can't recall why that was. It wasn't any sort of elitist establishment though - some of my best mates were variously the sons of miners, bus drivers, dentists and lawyers.

Abbeydale Boys grammar was a brand spanking new building with its first intake, including little me, in Sept. 1958. It took over from Nether Edge Grammar.

Black blazer with a badge of crossed olympic style torches; black, red, and white diagonal striped tie.

The Grange was next to us separated by woodland and then next to the Grange was Abbeydale Girls grammar. Grange girls wore an all brown uniform and Abbeydale Girl were in dark blue.

We were forbidden to go in to the woods BUT it happened as we got older!

1st headmaster was George Wilkinson, a grand old chap, who wore the cape and mortar. He retired after about two years and the new Head was a guy named Massey- totally opposite of George and a mutual hatred developed between me and him.

Some good old teachers I remember:-

Hodge; Vinny Cooper; Pomfret; Ramsbottom; Fielding; Cookson; Charlie Simpson; Johnny Mann; Jepson; Claude; Otto.

Happy days I think....

Mr Ramsbottom is a familiar name to me... A chap of that name taught my class R.E. in the 1970's.

Same one I wonder...? Surely there can't be two teachers with such an outstanding name as that, at the same school so close together...?

PT

I graduated from Nether Edge in 1947, the uniform at that time was a kind of orangey brown. Weren't there a couple of Intermediate schools as well? Sort of in between Grammar and elementary.

Brincliffe Grammar School is often overlooked in these discussions. It replaced the old Nether Edge Grammar school which transferred to Abbeydale in 1958 and I think it was the only 'mixed' grammar school in Sheffield. It shutdown altogether in 1964 or 1965 when Blunkett finally got his way and abolished grammar schools in Sheffield.

Not sure if De La salle and Notre Dame could be considered as grammar schools, I know they were fee paying Roman Catholic schools but STR they admitted some kids on scholarships.


Notre Dame was a High School and when I was there (1947) had fee paying and scholarship children. I think the same was said for De La Salle.
To get into Notre Dame on scholarship you had to pass the City Scholarship and the entance exam for Notre Dame. The latter being the most important.

hazel

Mr Ramsbottom is a familiar name to me... A chap of that name taught my class R.E. in the 1970's.

Same one I wonder...? Surely there can't be two teachers with such an outstanding name as that, at the same school so close together...?

PT

I believe the said gentleman was nicknamed "Rabbi"?

I too went to Abbeydale Girls Grammar, and was there at the transition to Abbeydale Grange, which had the geometric badge. Abbeydale Girls' badge had the school motto on it "And trouthe shal deliver" (Chaucer) - I still have mine. And I remember not being allowed to go within a certain distance from the walled boundary with the boys school - was it ten feet or something? I originally accessed this site in the hope of finding out what happened to our headmistress, Dr Green, who took the opportunity to retire when the schools merged. While my mother was alive, I know she would have alerted me to any news she saw in the local paper, but she died two years ago, and I no longer have a spy in the area. Does anyone know?

What about King Edwards Grammar and also my old school, the City Grammar School off Leopold Street. That was, I believe, the first mixed grammar school. The web site is Omnes Amici.

I've just looked back through the thread and you are absolutely correct D.S. I am amazed that King Edward V11 and the green and red uniform of City Grammar hadn't been mentioned.
The iron fist of Clapton ruled King Ted's in those days, a school which was accepted as being top of the list? City Grammar, along with the Central Technical School buildings are currently being developed into a 21st Century project, a hotel and other facilities etc. Iron railings across Bow Yard used to separate the girls of CGS and the lustful boys at the CTS!

http://www.omnesamici.co.uk/CGS2001STAR.html

Hi Forester, it was nice to hear from someone who went to AGGS even though you went there at a later date. I too still have my badge and when I first arrived in Oz I wore it in the hope that I would meet another former pupil of the school, but no such luck. Dr Green was rather formidable wasn't she? Though I always found her to be fair. A few of the teachers who might have been there in your time were Misses Partridge, Evans, Schmidt. I remember not being allowed anywhere near the boys school and also not being allowed to eat in the street whilst in our uniforms. I enjoyed my time there and regretted having to leave at the end of my fifth year.

I seem to recall a Greystones grammer near Ringinglow road, long time ago
could be wrong,memory banks failing.

Greystones was a Secondary Modern

Firth Park Grammar was all boys then, and generally known as the Redcaps, because of the school uniform of red blazers and caps. The badge had the words "Each for all and all for each" . However the sixth form had a different uniform of dark blue blazers with a more elaborate badge with latin around the bottom, "Non Nobis Sed Allis". Anyone guess what the usual translation was?:thumbsup:

not for ourselves but for others.

According to a spy (my wife) Rabbi was alive and kicking two years ago and living just off Carter Knowle Rd (Glenorchy?)

Thanks for the details about the AGGS badge.I was at Abbeydale starting 1947 for 7 years before all the changes.The grounds were absolutely beautiful in those days,very extensive.We used to watch red squirrels jumping from tree to tre in the winter from the Geography room
I thought Dr Green was old when I was there but of course she wasn't really and I know was still there many years later

King Ted's had Clapton as head, the diminutive but evil Jackson as dep head, and others by the name of Bridgewater (who was nicknamed "Ponto", from the French for Bridgewater - Pont / Eau), Thompson (slug), Harrison, Twyford, Helliwell, Bert Towers, and the scoutmaster, Anderson (who went a long way to getting scout masters a bad reputation.)

I've still not figured out why I had to do 3 years of Latin........

King Ted's had Clapton as head, the diminutive but evil Jackson as dep head, and others by the name of Bridgewater (who was nicknamed "Ponto", from the French for Bridgewater - Pont / Eau), Thompson (slug), Harrison, Twyford, Helliwell, Bert Towers, and the scoutmaster, Anderson (who went a long way to getting scout masters a bad reputation.)

I've still not figured out why I had to do 3 years of Latin........

So you could understand the school song, 'Tempus est ut concinamus etc'.
It was our class, I think in about '58 who christened 'Ponto'. Also 'Shorty Burns'. Ginger haired chemistry teacher we called Red Fred as we happened to be discussing triplumbic tetroxide commonly known as red lead.
'Billy's Bus' was the single decker number 44 to Bamford as Billy Effron lived Moscar way. He was as old as the hills and taught French, Geography and was well versed in many other subjects. Mr Twyford was called 'Twiddles' for som unknown reason.

Hi eileent, you must have come into contact with a few of my old teachers at AGGS - Misses Partridge, Evans, Durrant, Jean Smith, Schmidt, to name a few. Like you, I thought Dr, Green was old when I was there and behind her back I used to think of her as Julius Ceasar. I can always remember one Saturday morning when I was reserve for the hockey team and I had to spend the entire game walking up and down the sidelines with her, she must have thought I was dumb as I just didn't know what to talk about. I don't think the kids of today would have that problem. The grounds were certainly beautiful and I recall doing many lessons in the shade of the beach trees ,they were good days that I have never forgotten. Send me a pm if you like and perhaps we can share some memories

So you could understand the school song, 'Tempus est ut concinamus etc'.
It was our class, I think in about '58 who christened 'Ponto'. Also 'Shorty Burns'. Ginger haired chemistry teacher we called Red Fred as we happened to be discussing triplumbic tetroxide commonly known as red lead.
'Billy's Bus' was the single decker number 44 to Bamford as Billy Effron lived Moscar way. He was as old as the hills and taught French, Geography and was well versed in many other subjects. Mr Twyford was called 'Twiddles' for som unknown reason.


"Quisquis Edwardensium"
Forgot to mention Norman Barnes, music teacher and E L Vernon, chemistry.
I recall I got lots of house points for swimming and PE, but only because I was in Chatsworth House and PE / Swimming teacher Harrison was the House master.

Was it Harrison? not sure now, need some more brain powders.

"Quisquis Edwardensium"
Forgot to mention Norman Barnes, music teacher and E L Vernon, chemistry.
I recall I got lots of house points for swimming and PE, but only because I was in Chatsworth House and PE / Swimming teacher Harrison was the House master.

Was it Harrison? not sure now, need some more brain powders.

Norman Barnes once asked me if I'd like to sing in Ranmoor choir but that wasn't my scene. He had digs in Watt Lane Crosspool. There was a physics teacher, quite old, round glasses, small but I can' remember his name. I've still got all my school reports somewhere so his name will be on there. I had J.B.A. Burridge for history in my second year. He appeared quite fearsome but it was his way of making sure everyone did their homework. We had a Latin teacher we called Marcus Gaslampus cos of his great height. Watling??
'Jim' Harrison could often be seen working out in the gym but I think someone told me he died of a heart attack when he was only 40 something.
Was it quidquid or quisquis Edwardensium?. Mr Hemmings took us for German.
When we were travelling from Whiteley Woods to Castle Dyke, he would yell at us 'Come on, jomp on the boss! My form Masters were 'Tug' Wilson, Billy Effron, George Lair, Bert Towers, 'Fred' Etherington and Tom Tailor.

I passed the 11+ at Hatfield House Lane school in 1943 & went to Firth Park Grammar school, the red caps, I think my father had to pay towards my books. It was only boys then.

Hi eileent, you must have come into contact with a few of my old teachers at AGGS - Misses Partridge, Evans, Durrant, Jean Smith, Schmidt, to name a few. Like you, I thought Dr, Green was old when I was there and behind her back I used to think of her as Julius Ceasar. I can always remember one Saturday morning when I was reserve for the hockey team and I had to spend the entire game walking up and down the sidelines with her, she must have thought I was dumb as I just didn't know what to talk about. I don't think the kids of today would have that problem. The grounds were certainly beautiful and I recall doing many lessons in the shade of the beach trees ,they were good days that I have never forgotten. Send me a pm if you like and perhaps we can share some memories

Hi Gosling,You must have been there a little later than me as it was all girls in my time.Things must have changed if you had Dr Green connected with hockey.It was just the class room teachers that took us.
I would love a digital image of the original badge[is there another sort?if anyone has one!

Thanks for resurrecting this page - thought it had died some time ago. Which girls school had burgandy uniforms in the late 50's and 60's? I'm hoping to track down Sandra Wragg who went to this particular school. If any old timers recall the school or Sandra, it would be greatly appreciated. p.s. I have received a couple of pm's on other subjects, but seem to be having trouble opening them, please don't lose faith I will find out what the problem is and respond. Thankyou.

Brincliffe Grammar School is often overlooked in these discussions. It replaced the old Nether Edge Grammar school which transferred to Abbeydale in 1958 and I think it was the only 'mixed' grammar school in Sheffield. It shutdown altogether in 1964 or 1965 when Blunkett finally got his way and abolished grammar schools in Sheffield.

Not sure if De La salle and Notre Dame could be considered as grammar schools, I know they were fee paying Roman Catholic schools but STR they admitted some kids on scholarships.

Heaven forbid I should defend Blunkett on any score, but I don't think you can hold that one against him Greybeard, he was still at school himself! (Though I'm sure if they'd still been around when he led the Council they wouldn't have lasted long!)

King Edwards School Song.....

Hi, Mike, I don't know if you've found this website yet, but they have the old school song on there, including a translation....!!!

www.oldedwardians.org.uk

There's loads of photos from your time there as well!!!! Happy Hunting......

King Edwards School Song.....

Hi, Mike, I don't know if you've found this website yet, but they have the old school song on there, including a translation....!!!

www.oldedwardians.org.uk

There's loads of photos from your time there as well!!!! Happy Hunting......

Thanks Carol. The photo of me in form 1(2) 1954-5 makes me wonder if I ever was that person. The camera never lies. Funny how I remember the school song. Haven't sung it since 1959, and then badly. Wonder if its still sung. Surely not!

My father (DOB 14.04.1935) went to Firth Park Grammar and was a 'redcap', he was the school and Sheffield Boys FC keeper aswell, any body out there remeber or know of him Eric Broughton? (originally from the manor)

Was it quidquid or quisquis Edwardensium?.

Having checked on the aforementioned KES site, it was apparently "quicquid" although there was a "quisquis" in verse 2. Well that's cleared that up.
The site also brought back to me the name of one of the teachers "Charlie" Baker, who replaced Eli Vout in R.E. He was a sadist who would cane you just for breathing loud, or coughing, and used to take a few practice swings with the cane right outside the door so that the pupils could see him through the glass.

We are in touch with Charles Cameron Baker, once of KES (and also Anderson, mentioned earlier) ... (Old Edwardians)

Thanks for resurrecting this page - thought it had died some time ago. Which girls school had burgandy uniforms in the late 50's and 60's? I'm hoping to track down Sandra Wragg who went to this particular school. If any old timers recall the school or Sandra, it would be greatly appreciated. p.s. I have received a couple of pm's on other subjects, but seem to be having trouble opening them, please don't lose faith I will find out what the problem is and respond. Thankyou.

Just found this forum/thread but thought I'd answer the uniforms query.

One school that has hardly had a mention (just one in passing!) was King Ecgbert Secondary Technical School for Girls to give it the full title when I was there!!! I was there in the early 60's and wore the uniform of maroon and light blue. Winter was blue blouse and maroon pinafore dress and summer dresses were blue and we had maroon caridgans, blazers and raincoats. Maybe Sandra went to this school although I don't recall the name.

Miss Rawlins was mentioned in a previous post and she taught games whilst I was at the school and the head was Miss Janet Coates (usually known as Kitty). Miss Rawlins took over as head when she left. Other teachers I can remember are Miss Byard, Miss Lent, Mrs French, Mr Solway, Mrs Singleton, but most well known and probably most well liked was Mr Shaw who taught mainly commercial classes (office work/typing/shorthand etc).

Anyone recall any more from that era?

I was at King Ecgbert when it first opened.Remember most of the teachers.There was a huge mural in the foyer of the crowning of King Ecgbert.Was told it was painted by Mrs Carey's husband[she taught French].What happened to this as I believe the original building was demolished.
The wallpaper around the Hall was black with huge gold lions printed on it reputedly £13 per roll a fortune in those days.
And does anyone remember the crushes on the bottom corridor as the bell rang for change of lesson and the whole school moved,then someone came up with the bright idea that it might be safer if the teachers moved with the bell!
And yes Mr Shaw was everyone's favourite.The only male teacher on the staff then but a good teacher and gentleman

I am pleased to report that Mrs.Carey is enjoying her retirement after further yeoman service at High Storrs where she also taught German and became Head of House.

Hi,

I attended Nether Edge Grammar between 1950 and 1956. Called up for national service in 1959 and never returned to Sheffield other than to visit relations. This is my first posting on this forum so you will have to bear with me until I find my feet.

Brincliffe Grammar School is often overlooked in these discussions. It replaced the old Nether Edge Grammar school which transferred to Abbeydale in 1958 and I think it was the only 'mixed' grammar school in Sheffield. It shutdown altogether in 1964 or 1965 when Blunkett finally got his way and abolished grammar schools in Sheffield.

Not sure if De La salle and Notre Dame could be considered as grammar schools, I know they were fee paying Roman Catholic schools but STR they admitted some kids on scholarships.

High Storrs and City Grammar were also "mixed".

Abbeydale Boys grammar was a brand spanking new building with its first intake, including little me, in Sept. 1958. It took over from Nether Edge Grammar.

Black blazer with a badge of crossed olympic style torches; black, red, and white diagonal striped tie.

The Grange was next to us separated by woodland and then next to the Grange was Abbeydale Girls grammar. Grange girls wore an all brown uniform and Abbeydale Girl were in dark blue.

We were forbidden to go in to the woods BUT it happened as we got older!

1st headmaster was George Wilkinson, a grand old chap, who wore the cape and mortar. He retired after about two years and the new Head was a guy named Massey- totally opposite of George and a mutual hatred developed between me and him.

Some good old teachers I remember:-

Hodge; Vinny Cooper; Pomfret; Ramsbottom; Fielding; Cookson; Charlie Simpson; Johnny Mann; Jepson; Claude; Otto.

Happy days I think....

Hodge Whaley, Vin Cooper, Ken Ramsbottom, Joe Fielding, Charlie Simpson, ? Jepson, Claude Rains and Otto Robertshaw taught me, at Nether Edge. George Wilkinson (lovely chap) became the head at Nether Edge upon the retirement of H Smith about 1954. As far as I remember, all the masters wore gowns there.

High Storrs and City Grammar were also "mixed".

High Storrs wasn't mixed when they were grammar schools.

High Storrs wasn't mixed when they were grammar schools.

Sorry Just trying to remember. I recall a friend of my mother's who died last year at the age of about 85, telling me that she went to High Storrs and secondly, I had a girlfriend about 1957/9 who I though went there although she was actually at some tech college where they taught catering, when we were going out. When did it become co-ed then?

Suggest, off the top, 1969?

Thank you, I bow down to your superior memory, after all, I haven't lived in the steel city since 1959. I have become a bit of a hayseed over the years, living in the sticks as I do and advancing years are now lending a hand. :confused:

Thank you Chairboy, I can't reply to your private message as I have insufficient postings. Actually this is my ninth and I only joined today; I don't seem to be able to get away from it.

Just for the record, I wasn't at Abbeydale, I was at Nether Edge (1950 - 1956).

Regards, Mike

Hi,

I attended Nether Edge Grammar between 1950 and 1956. Called up for national service in 1959 and never returned to Sheffield other than to visit relations. This is my first posting on this forum so you will have to bear with me until I find my feet.
Welcome to SF, Puffin... pull up a chair, have a cuppa, and a natter. You'll soon find out how addictive it is on here! lol It's a bit like Royston Vaasey:- "you'll never leave!"

You mention a Ken Ramsbottom... I'm sure he must be the same Mr Ramsbottom who taught RE at Abbeydale Grange whilst I was there in the mid 1970s (before I transferred up to High Storrs)

High Storrs wasn't mixed when they were grammar schools.

technically, yes, but the two sexes used one building, even before comprehensives came in in 1967/ 9-ish.

I can still remember only a few years on from that, ther still being a feel of "boys'" side and "girls' " side there wiht two lots of laboratories, and the needlecraft and domestic science rooms were still housed in the "girls' " side, and the woodwork, metalwork and the MVM workshops in the "boys' " side.

I wanted to do MVM ("Motor Vehicle Maintenance") and woodwork, but they would not let me, as "girls can't do those subjects" :rant: (their reasoning for the refusal to let me do those subjects!)

I was forced into doing Child Care and Typing, instead.

As I said at the time, "At least if my car breaks down, I will be able to type the AA or RAC a nicely laid out letter asking them to come and fix the car...."

Hi Plain Talker,

Many thanks for your welcome; I am only new to SF, I already subscribe to my village forum. Hopefully I will now come across some of my old friends after 48 years absence lol.

Regards, Mike :D

No one has mentioned a school in the Totley area - was there a Dore and Totlley Grammar school??

No one has mentioned a school in the Totley area - was there a Dore and Totlley Grammar school??

I think there was but as far as I know it was a private school and obviously pupils were charged fees! If my (old) memory serves me correct, they wore a uniform based on brown, but I maybe wrong there. I'm not certain if it was an all girls school too. I was at King Ecgbert (which was all girls at the time), not far away and so used to come across pupils on the buses.

Don't remember a school there; Girls' High School and Hurlfield (next door to Abbeydale) wore brown, as did we at Nether Edge up to about 1953 when it changed to black.

Nobody has mentioned Carfield, not a grammar but an intermediate like Marcliff. I think it was at Meersbrook (is that a place in Sheffield?) but it was relocated to Norton and became Rowlinson Technical School

Don't remember a school there; Girls' High School and Hurlfield (next door to Abbeydale) wore brown, as did we at Nether Edge up to about 1953 when it changed to black.

Nobody has mentioned Carfield, not a grammar but an intermediate like Marcliff. I think it was at Meersbrook (is that a place in Sheffield?) but it was relocated to Norton and became Rowlinson Technical School

Hurlfield is not near Abbeydale, Hurlfield was near Manor Top. Things changed, there, throughout the late 70's into the 80s, there was no uniform, then, once it merged with Ashleigh, and became "Myrtle Springs", they brought uniform back, a maroon sweatshirt with the school's rainbow logo, over a white polo shirt.

these days it, and Waltheof, on Manor, have been taken over by one of these christian PFI -ish things like the one owned by Reg Vardy of Car sales fame, up in Sunderland, and is called something like "Sheffield Springs Academy", it has a uniform, black blazer, white shirt, and school tie IIRC.

Hi PT,

Just checked on Friends Reunited and it is shown as Hurlfield Grammar School, The Grange Buildings, Millhouses, Sheffield.

Regards, Mike

Hi PT,

Just checked on Friends Reunited and it is shown as Hurlfield Grammar School, The Grange Buildings, Millhouses, Sheffield.

Regards, Mike

I'm mystified by that and remember the brown uniforms which I thought were those of Grange Grammar School. The schools from Bannerdale Road outwards were the Abbeydale Girls GS, then Grange followed by Abbeydale Boys GS at Hastings Road. Obviously, I see they were the "Grange Buildings" becase it was Grange Grammar School. I had some friends who went there.
My take on Hurlfield and its location is pretty much as described by PT and would be confirmed in threads of CTS/Ashleigh?

Hi Chairboy,

Your information noted however, I think we are operating in different time zones. You write of Abbeydale boy's school being on the site at Hastings Road but that didn't come about until the mid 60's. When I was at Nether Edge, our playing field was at Hastings Road and different school years used it on different days. After spending an afternoon there, we exited via the Abbeydale Girls Grammar School and went home on the tram, from the gate. We shared that tram with girls from both schools. I left Nether Edge in 1956. The new school was subsequently built on the playing field site.

I think the Hurlfield girls had a blazer badge which was a monogrom of HGS; I remember feeling, at the time that it could be confused with girls high school.

Could it be that the school name was changed because of PT's Hurlfield being formed at Manor Top?

Regards, Mike

I'd be talking approx 1959. The link below confirms Sept.1958

Howard Wilkinson would have been at Nether Edge about 1954? Pictured in 5P pic. of 1959.

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/NEGS/abbeydale.html

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/index_negs.html

Thank you Chairboy, two years after I left. All I can say for the moment is that some 80 former pupils listed on Friends claim to have attended the Hurlfield Grammar School to which I referred. I will give the matter some more thought when I have time.

I am getting vibes from my wife downstairs that I have been on the net too long today.

Regards, M

Perhaps some former Grange girls can enlighten us as to when Grange GS for Girls opened? It later moved to form part of the King Ecgbert school at Dore.
I don't remember Hurlfield in your context but I can be wrong.

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/index_negs.html


Eeeek ! - I'm in that photo :gag:

Wilkie is sat in the middle. I thought he stayed with the school for a while after it moved to Abbeydale ?

Yes I'm in it too. Fourth row down, right hand side to the left of the chap with the teddy boy hairstyle (Phil Porter). Difficult to number from the right as the row doesn't go right to the end.

Perhaps some former Grange girls can enlighten us as to when Grange GS for Girls opened? It later moved to form part of the King Ecgbert school at Dore.
I don't remember Hurlfield in your context but I can be wrong.

There's a note about Hurfield Girls Grammar School here...

http://www.chrishobbs.com/abgs5.htm

My mother and both her sisters went to a school on this site but before the new school was built in 1939 and I now can't remember whether it was Hurlfield or Abbeydale Girls Secondary School.

Quite a fascinating site. Wilkinson certainly taught at Abbeydale but when and where he qualified, I'm not sure, given his footballing career. Another footballer of similar vintage was Stuart Threapleton who I remember playing for Hallam.
I looked at the masters' page and saw some names with which I am familiar.
G.F. Linstead who was the Morning Telegraph music critic, covering the Halle's Philharmonic Concerts at the City Hall.
Carl Biltcliffe - who received bollockings himself from no lesser person than Sir John Barbirolli. Biltcliffe was the organist for the Halle.
Ronald Bee, who with co-author Gray, wrote a trigonometrical text - from which I learnt and later taught!
Andy Walker who went on to teach me. It's a very good picture of him. He played trumpet in a trad jazz group that played in a West Street pub!
This is top-notch nostalgia. Full marks to site coordinator.

On trying to find "Hurlfield", I arrived at Richard Caborn on Wikipedia, where it says: "Educated at Hurlfield comprehensive school". I note that he was born in 1943 so by the time he'd left school, comprehensive schools hadn't been born - so that's erroneous!

I remember Andy Walker well but I'm afraid that he didn't play trumpet with the Apex Jazz Band at the Hallamshire, he played banjo.

At this time, I played double bass with the Gloryland across West Street at the Mail Coach.

I remember Andy Walker well but I'm afraid that he didn't play trumpet with the Apex Jazz Band at the Hallamshire, he played banjo.

At this time, I played double bass with the Gloryland across West Street at the Mail Coach.

Andy Walker - "Played Trad Jazz (trumpet) in Pub West Street." - quote from site!
As I was still at school, I wouldn't have seen him playing whatever it was!

Sorry, I hadn't considered your comparative youth. I started playing when I was in the sixth form. Incidentally, Carl Biltcliffe was my music teacher at school but my mother also taught music.

Regards, M

There's a note about Hurfield Girls Grammar School here...

http://www.chrishobbs.com/abgs5.htm

My mother and both her sisters went to a school on this site but before the new school was built in 1939 and I now can't remember whether it was Hurlfield or Abbeydale Girls Secondary School.

Thanks for that link which explains the Hurlfield/Grange link.
1954 then when Grange Grammar School assumed it's name and place sandwiched between the two Abbeydale GS's.

Thanks for that link which explains the Hurlfield/Grange link.
1954 then when Grange Grammar School assumed it's name and place sandwiched between the two Abbeydale GS's.

Well not quite :) I'm not sure when they started building the boys grammar school but probably not until 1957. My recollection is that the girls in brown were still Hurlfied in 1956 and those in blue were Abbeydale Grammar.

But to be honest, after sports on Friday the little group I mixed with were more interested in a game of snooker under the Abbeydale cinema than gawking the girls :D

There's a note about Hurfield Girls Grammar School here...

http://www.chrishobbs.com/abgs5.htm

My mother and both her sisters went to a school on this site but before the new school was built in 1939 and I now can't remember whether it was Hurlfield or Abbeydale Girls Secondary School.
on the site greybeard links to, it says:-

"In 1918 Holt House was bought from the Firth family by Sheffield Education Committee to house Abbeydale Girls Secondary School later to become Abbeydale Grammar School. The School was housed here until the new school was built in 1939. The Grange then became part of Hurfield Girls Grammar School sharing a building with the Arbourthorne Central Junior School (my italics)

Arbourthorne school (which has been on Eastern Avenue since the 1930s, icluding the rebuild in the mid 2000's) could not possibly have transposed itself four miles across the city to the hastings road area.

the two old houses, Holt house and the Grange, which were Sixth-form centre when I was at AGS, were the beautiful old buildings which housed holt house and Grange grammar schools prior to the 1930s building going up (the girls' school, latterly AGS upper School)

Hi There definitely was a grammar school called Hurlfield along Abbeydale Road in the 50's. Richard Caborn went to Hurlfield Boys Secondary Modern - that was on East Bank Road, and is now called Myrtle Springs (or was until last year). Iwas in the same class as Richard and we left in 1958.

Well not quite :) I'm not sure when they started building the boys grammar school but probably not until 1957. My recollection is that the girls in brown were still Hurlfied in 1956 and those in blue were Abbeydale Grammar.

But to be honest, after sports on Friday the little group I mixed with were more interested in a game of snooker under the Abbeydale cinema than gawking the girls :D

Sorry, distracted by the Grange article. I'd confirmed on page 4 that Abbeydale Boys Grammar School moved from the Nether Edge GS site in September 1958.

Hi There definitely was a grammar school called Hurlfield along Abbeydale Road in the 50's. Richard Caborn went to Hurlfield Boys Secondary Modern - that was on East Bank Road, and is now called Myrtle Springs (or was until last year). Iwas in the same class as Richard and we left in 1958.

Thanks Royston - Re- Caborn, that's as I perceived it to be, so Wikipedia needs altering! I know it's that sort of site but I wish things were more accurate.
I can't get my head round 'Hurlfield' being on Abbeydale Road but certainly believe you. I did exist in the 50's but my first knowledge of the 'three' schools on Abbeydale Road was when the middle one was called Grange, presumably from circa '58 onwards in my experience.
Hurlfield at Millhouses? Well there's "Hillsborough Electrical" at Crookes and "Ecclesall Bakery" at a site miles away from Sheffield 11, so why not?

on the site greybeard links to, it says:-

"In 1918 Holt House was bought from the Firth family by Sheffield Education Committee to house Abbeydale Girls Secondary School later to become Abbeydale Grammar School. The School was housed here until the new school was built in 1939. The Grange then became part of Hurfield Girls Grammar School sharing a building with the Arbourthorne Central Junior School (my italics)

Arbourthorne school (which has been on Eastern Avenue since the 1930s, icluding the rebuild in the mid 2000's) could not possibly have transposed itself four miles across the city to the hastings road area.

the two old houses, Holt house and the Grange, which were Sixth-form centre when I was at AGS, were the beautiful old buildings which housed holt house and Grange grammar schools prior to the 1930s building going up (the girls' school, latterly AGS upper School)

Hi PT. I suspect we need somebody with access to SEA archives to sort this one out :D

To be honest I was just aware that in the period 1950-56 there were two schools on the site. The Abbeydale Grammar School for girls, - in what appeared to be a very modern bulding compared with what we had to endure at Nether Edge, and the other, which I recollect seemed to be known as both the Grange Grammar and also as Hurlfield.

Strangely when my mother and her sisters went there they were living in Totley which at the time was in Derbyshire.

Hi Greybeard,

If you were at NEGS between 50 and 56, we were contemporaries. Those were my dates too.

Regards, Puffin4

There was also Marlcliff. I think that it might have been a girls school. My sister went there.

No my brother went there

Abbeydale Boys grammar was a brand spanking new building with its first intake, including little me, in Sept. 1958. It took over from Nether Edge Grammar.

Black blazer with a badge of crossed olympic style torches; black, red, and white diagonal striped tie.

The Grange was next to us separated by woodland and then next to the Grange was Abbeydale Girls grammar. Grange girls wore an all brown uniform and Abbeydale Girl were in dark blue.

We were forbidden to go in to the woods BUT it happened as we got older!

1st headmaster was George Wilkinson, a grand old chap, who wore the cape and mortar. He retired after about two years and the new Head was a guy named Massey- totally opposite of George and a mutual hatred developed between me and him.

Some good old teachers I remember:-

Hodge; Vinny Cooper; Pomfret; Ramsbottom; Fielding; Cookson; Charlie Simpson; Johnny Mann; Jepson; Claude; Otto.

Happy days I think....

they were happy days I remember Bill Massey especially his smoked filled office, do you remember `Buzz Schorer?`(deputy head) Drake

Mr Ramsbottom is a familiar name to me... A chap of that name taught my class R.E. in the 1970's.

Same one I wonder...? Surely there can't be two teachers with such an outstanding name as that, at the same school so close together...?

PT
True he was my form master(1R) back in 64

I think Hurlfield was moved to Arbourthorne Central because of the war. As I was going to school (Arbourthorne Central on Eastern Ave ) as a child during the war, Hurfield shared the building. My friends sister who was older went to school in her brown uniform.
hazel

"Quisquis Edwardensium"
Forgot to mention Norman Barnes, music teacher and E L Vernon, chemistry.
I recall I got lots of house points for swimming and PE, but only because I was in Chatsworth House and PE / Swimming teacher Harrison was the House master.

Was it Harrison? not sure now, need some more brain powders.

It was actually ".. quicquid Edwardensium". In case any Old Edwardians feel inspired to burst into song, here are the words:

Tempus est ut concinamus quicquid Edwardensium
nunc adestis, hoc sit omnis thema nostri carminis;
qualis est qui cuique nostrum semper aemulandus est?

ille verus Edwardensis, quisquis humani nihil
a sese alienum putabit, usque consors ceteris
sive gaudebunt secundis seu laborabunt malis.

strenuus labore mentis, corporis non negligens,
omnium sententiarum perspicax inquisitor;
semper artium bonarum pervicax videbitur.

D.B. Harrison was indeed P.E./swimming master. Sadly, he died young of a heart attack in 1967.

See http://nlc.oldedwardians.org.uk/

I started at Abbeydale Girls Grammar School in 1944 and am sure that Hurlsfield Grammar was moved into buildings adjacent to Abbeydale Rd about that time. I know that the girls definately wore a brown uniform as I had a friend who was a pupil there at that time

I was speaking to a former teaching colleague in the supermarket yesterday, she being in her 80's, and she mentioned Hurlfield. You recall the brown uniform so I suggest that was the school that became known as Grange Grammar School.
I think this has been thrashed out earlier in the thread when I expressed surprise at the name Hurlfield in a Millhouses location but it was the case.

Abbeydale Boys grammar was a brand spanking new building with its first intake, including little me, in Sept. 1958. It took over from Nether Edge Grammar.

Black blazer with a badge of crossed olympic style torches; black, red, and white diagonal striped tie.

The Grange was next to us separated by woodland and then next to the Grange was Abbeydale Girls grammar. Grange girls wore an all brown uniform and Abbeydale Girl were in dark blue.

We were forbidden to go in to the woods BUT it happened as we got older!

1st headmaster was George Wilkinson, a grand old chap, who wore the cape and mortar. He retired after about two years and the new Head was a guy named Massey- totally opposite of George and a mutual hatred developed between me and him.

Some good old teachers I remember:-

Hodge; Vinny Cooper; Pomfret; Ramsbottom; Fielding; Cookson; Charlie Simpson; Johnny Mann; Jepson; Claude; Otto.

Happy days I think....


More names - R.J.S."Noddy" Wiseman, Len Buchan, Roger Hinckley, Freddie Potts, Parsons, Biltcliffe, Albert Hill, Ken Cook. What about the head's secretary, Faith?

Mr Kenneth "Rabbi" Ramsbottom is to be found in the South stand at Bramall Lane at home games. Not so good at getting around these days, but still got an active brain and a good memory!

There's a photo here of the whole school in 1954

http://history.youle.info/NEGS/photos/1954_panarama.jpg

I can name many of the masters on there but don't recognise Ramsbottom - who's the one to the right of Claude Raines with the glasses ?

Tall member of staff, with gown, Andy Walker?

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/NEGS/abbeydale.html - more staff names.

Biltcliffe used to play the organ for the Halle/Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus - concerts.
George Linstead who was music critic for the defunct Sheffield/Morning Telegraph was once a member of staff and there was also a Maths teacher called Ron Bee who wrote a geometrical text called "Bee & Gray".

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/NEGS/teachers.html

There's a photo here of the whole school in 1954

http://history.youle.info/NEGS/photos/1954_panarama.jpg

I can name many of the masters on there but don't recognise Ramsbottom - who's the one to the right of Claude Raines with the
glasses ?

Found myself on there but no longer look like that, I am now disguised with bald head and handlebar moustache.

Claud Raines is between Charlie Simpson and Gus Platt.

Mike

Owler Lane was a scolarship pass, but was termed an Intermediate school the same as Marlcliffe. The uniform was grey and maroon and the motto "Per Ardua Ad Alta". I attended there until Xmas 1959. HM was Pop Gregory, others, Fairest, Boardman, MacDonald, Pegg, Holmes, Gladsby, Lupton and others I cannot remember.

I also attended Owler Lane Intermediate, leaving in July 1957. Remember all those names you mentioned. You forget to mention Dolly Hardwick, Miss Wade, Miss Steward, Miss Unwin. There is another site on Owler Lane if you are interested!

Simpson was as I thought, - another mystery is the one who took us for Latin - sitting between Buchan and Fielding. I liked that man - he had the difficult job of teaching Latin with a lisp.

I recognise the faces of most of my year on that photo but can put names to no more than fifteen of them now. I couldn't initially identify myself without reference to another picture of about a year later !

Can't miss Freddie Potts with his galss-bottom optics, - even with them I don't believe he could see more than five feet in front of him :D

Did you ever get slippered by Buchan ? - it seemed to be a badge of honour in the first year (I think it meant he liked you ;))

Mostly happy days !

Hi Greybeard,

I missed the honour of being slippered by Len Buchan as he never taught me. I understand he was a sarcastic piece of turf. Joe Fielding was responsible for my slim grasp of the language throughout my six years at NEGS.

The chap between Fielding and Buchan, whose name escapes you, is Pop Houldsworth who filled in with my form for a couple of maths lessons. Besides Latin, I understand that he also taught Greek (the classical variety).

Do you remember (Flo) Nightingale, Chemistry, who used a bunsen burner tube as his particular instrument of torture?

Regards,

Mike

Buchan had an obsession with the negative, continuous and passive forms of the subjunctive, if you could get that right you were home and dry - and generally unslippered :)

I too had Fielding for English most of my time there- he was well liked. Potts is the only science master I remember well as I dropped physics and chemistry at an early stage.

Do you remember Sellars (sp?) ? - he's on the photo. He used to reek of stale tobacco and seemed to pop-out for a few drags at least once every lesson.

Hi,

Yes I do remember Spiv Sellars, wasn't he geography? I think he took me for one year but I think Joe Fielding, as well as English, taught me most of my geography.

Similarly, I think Freddy Potts taught me chemistry for one year and Palmer for a couple of years but I gave it up and actually took Physics-with-Chemistry for GCE. I think Whaley taught that. That contained enough science for my eventual employment in aerial photography.

I went to Grange Grammar School from 1963 - 1967. Our uniform was brown and our badge was a red squirrel. Miss Rawlings was still head and Miss Rigby was still strutting her stuff. I remember that our day finished earlier to prevent us from associating with Abbeydale Boys!
We had the two beautiful old buildings of the Grange and Holt House and various prefabs in between. Beautiful setting but a dreadful establishment as far as education was concerned. SAY NO TO SINGLE SEX SCHOOLS!!:rant:

Re Nether Edge/Abbeydale

Think Ken Ramsbottom is between Potts and Simpson on the schoool photo.

Andy Walker once dived into a swimming baths, cracked his head on the bottom and broke his neck. He was at school for ages with a cast round his head.

I started at Grange Grammar in 1958 but because we knew we were moving to Derbyshire I was allowed to not wear uniform. On the school photo I stand out being the only girl in a kilt instead of uniform. Three years later we were back in Sheffield and I returned to GG which was far better than the horrible snobby Lady Manners School in Bakewell, where I was bullied by kids and teachers. Ruined my education having to go there.

I'm mystified by that and remember the brown uniforms which I thought were those of Grange Grammar School. The schools from Bannerdale Road outwards were the Abbeydale Girls GS, then Grange followed by Abbeydale Boys GS at Hastings Road. Obviously, I see they were the "Grange Buildings" becase it was Grange Grammar School. I had some friends who went there.
My take on Hurlfield and its location is pretty much as described by PT and would be confirmed in threads of CTS/Ashleigh?

I went to Grange grammar School and have the 1963 school magazine here(when I was in the 5th Form (5a)).It quotes that Grange is 25yrs old this year . It opened in 1938 as Hurlfield Secondary and changed to Hurlfield Grammar in 1944.later changing to Grange grammar school situated mainly in two old houses and many prefabs, next door to Abbeydale Boys. The badge was a squirrel and the uniform was mainly brown with yellow blouse.

I seem to recall a Greystones grammer near Ringinglow road, long time ago
could be wrong,memory banks failing.

I went to Greystones from Annes Road School in 1948 and in answer to Chairboy the uniform was navy blue blazer ,grey trousers and BLACK shoes(you got detention if you dressed any other way)The Headmaster was Mr Reaman and we were split into four Houses - Furnival (green) Lovetots (red) Talbots (yellow) Howards (blue)

I went to grammar school in the 50's. The list we used to get when sitting the 11+ included. Girls high school (girls only) Hurlfield Grammar school(later became Grange Grammar.) (girls only. City Grammar. (mixed school)High Storrs(mixed)Firth Park. (boys only) King Edwards.(boys only.)Notre Dame.(girls only) De la Salle.(boys only) Abbeydale(boys only.) That's all I can remember.

Hi Jemima, Happy New Year,

The list also included Nether Edge Grammar, my school and boys only (in the early 60's this transferred to the new Abbeydale boys grammar the building became Brincliffe College), Woodhouse Grammar, mixed, Abbeydale, girls only (this was an entirely separate school from the boys although it was on the same campus). Then there were secondary grammars Carfield and Greystones. There was also Marlcliffe which I think was classed as intermediate, whatever that meant!

Mike

I went to grammar school in the 50's. The list we used to get when sitting the 11+ included. Girls high school (girls only) Hurlfield Grammar school(later became Grange Grammar.) (girls only. City Grammar. (mixed school)High Storrs(mixed)Firth Park. (boys only) King Edwards.(boys only.)Notre Dame.(girls only) De la Salle.(boys only) Abbeydale(boys only.) That's all I can remember.

High Storrs Boys and High Storrs Girls were very definitely two separate entities and only became co-ed schools when comprehensive education came into being.
I believe that Chaucer was one of the schools offering entry from the 11+ examination? Rowlinson was another.

Rowlinson came into being in the mid 50's when it replaced Carfield as a secondary technical school. It had a bias towards technical subjects rather than arts and sciences and was not considered a grammar school.

Rowlinson came into being in the mid 50's when it replaced Carfield as a secondary technical school. It had a bias towards technical subjects rather than arts and sciences and was not considered a grammar school.

I am fairly certain that Rowlinson was one of the options on the 11+ selection list which is what Jemima B was discussing. True, it did follow a technical curriculum but it wasn't a local secondary school in the 50's for people living at Meadowhead. If a technical bent was what one needed, you made it a prominent choice in your selection. That's how I remember it but 50 years on, could be wrong?

That's how I remember it but 50 years on, could be wrong?

Was never sure of the status of Rowlinson. A pal of mine, - a year younger than me failed his 11+ and was put in Abbeydale school. In his second year there he underwent some kind of re-assessment and was moved to Rowlinson.

Hi Chairboy,

We have not spoken for some time. I was not disputing the fact that Rowlinson was on the list of preferred choices for selective secondary education; you are quite correct in what you said. I was merely pointing out that, whilst it replaced Carfield, it did not exactly duplicate it's role.

Hi Greybeard,

I think you are correct in your assumption that Rowlinson was used as a second chance for 11 plus failures, in the same way as The Central Technical School.

A Happy New Year to you both.

Mike

Hi Chairboy,

We have not spoken for some time. I was not disputing the fact that Rowlinson was on the list of preferred choices for selective secondary education; you are quite correct in what you said. I was merely pointing out that, whilst it replaced Carfield, it did not exactly duplicate it's role.

Hi Greybeard,

I think you are correct in your assumption that Rowlinson was used as a second chance for 11 plus failures, in the same way as The Central Technical School.

A Happy New Year to you both. Mike

Thank you Puffin4 - May I return your compliments and extend them to all the Nostalgia scribes on here - adding healthy as well.
I had no connection with Rowlinson other than a good, continued pal who went to Rowlinson via Greystones.
I just wanted to give Rowlinson OB's credit as I was sure they arrived there by some entrance examination which I thought was the 11+. He is one of a pair of twins; one went to Nether Edge and the other to Rowlinson - and I'm sure I've heard a name of a master mentioned who served at both those schools - 'Gem' Belcher, whose nickname was attributed because of a nasal feature? I seem to recall he was a practical subject teacher but I am reaching 'senior moments'!

Hi Chairboy,

I was at Nether Edge between 50 and 56 and don't recall the name Belcher, could be attributable to advancing years though. Not a name one would forget when referring to a master.

I had several pals who were attending Carfield at the time of the changeover and they moved on to Rowlinson. This is my only knowledge of the place really, other than impressions picked up from the press at the time.

Mike

http://www.rowlinson-sheffield.org.uk/

Not still contesting, Rowlinson OB's can fight their corner or enlighten us but I thought the above link may generate some interest? The site is still in embryonic form but says the school opened in 1953 as Rowlinson Technical School.
I note a bus pass is shown and think people attended from all parts of the city -from an entrance exam - as otherwise, they'd have gone to their local secondary modern school?

"These pupils were from Greystones, which closed down, so they were relocated to Rowlinson, but only there for about one year. Date was probably around 1958." - This quote was pasted from below a form photograph with this explanation, thus providing the link with Greystones. I wonder if at one time, Greystones was on the 11+ options' list and later changed to Rowlinson?

CUMMING - King Edward V11 G.S.

Former pupils of the school may not know of the passing of Economics master, Mr.Cumming who died just before Christmas in his 80's? I read the above in The Star.

Ron Bee was my father and taught mathematics at the Central Technical School. He collaborated with Edwin (Ted) Gray who I believe was headmaster at Eckington Grammar (??) at that time. Ted was also a very enthusiastic supporter of the scouting movement in Sheffield. Greystones was a composite site in the early fifties - I attended primary and junior schools there. No one has mentioned Silverdale Secondary Modern School which opened at Bents Green about 1956 and this school actively promoted Sheffield's thirteen plus exam for transfer to the Central Technical School. High Storrs School was the grammar of choice in that district and continued to be segregated at least until 1974when I was interviewed for an engineering crafts post there, unsuccessfully.

Ron Bee was my father and taught mathematics at the Central Technical School. He collaborated with Edwin (Ted) Gray who I believe was headmaster at Eckington Grammar (??) at that time. Ted was also a very enthusiastic supporter of the scouting movement in Sheffield. Greystones was a composite site in the early fifties - I attended primary and junior schools there. No one has mentioned Silverdale Secondary Modern School which opened at Bents Green about 1956 and this school actively promoted Sheffield's thirteen plus exam for transfer to the Central Technical School. High Storrs School was the grammar of choice in that district and continued to be segregated at least until 1974when I was interviewed for an engineering crafts post there, unsuccessfully.

I am still in possession of your father's Geometry textbook which was well known as Bee & Gray. I used it as a pupil and subsequently in teaching, especially at High Storrs! Nice to hear from you.

http://history.youle.info/NEGS/teachers.html
Your father is also included on this link, of staff at Nether Edge, along with Andy Walker, both of whom moved to the Central Technical School.

Were there two Hurlfield schools? I went to HURLFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR BOYS in 1957 and it was a comprehensive school.
There was also HURLFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.Which was ruled out of bounds.

Were there two Hurlfield schools? I went to HURLFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR BOYS in 1957 and it was a comprehensive school.
There was also HURLFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.Which was ruled out of bounds.

I think the answer is yes but comprehensive schools hadn't arrived in 1957! I think the Girls' school became Grange Grammar and Hurlfield Boys joined the former Central Technical School to become Ashleigh?

Can anyone help complete our list of Greystones teachers?
Mr Reeman Headmaster Ruff
Mr Morgan Maths teacher Moggy
Mr Christie Maths teacher ?
Mr Godfrey French teacher Spike
Mr Pemberton Maths teacher Prem, Spam
Mr Smith Science teacher ?
Mr Johnson Science teacher Johnnie?
Mr Belcher Woodwork teacher Gem
Mr Gill Mechanics teacher Gillie
Miss Cole Geography teacher Ada
Miss Bayard French teacher ?
Miss Hopwood Music teacher ?
Miss (Mrs?) Marsden History teacher ?
Miss Essenhigh English teacher ?
Miss Baxter Domestic science teacher? ?
Mrs (Miss) Wragg? English/French teacher ?
Mrs/Miss ? Art/English teacher ?

Miss Lant?


I was in 3b when it closed
Jonathan Smith


I was at King Ecgbert when it first opened.Remember most of the teachers.There was a huge mural in the foyer of the crowning of King Ecgbert.Was told it was painted by Mrs Carey's husband[she taught French].What happened to this as I believe the original building was demolished.
The wallpaper around the Hall was black with huge gold lions printed on it reputedly £13 per roll a fortune in those days.
And does anyone remember the crushes on the bottom corridor as the bell rang for change of lesson and the whole school moved,then someone came up with the bright idea that it might be safer if the teachers moved with the bell!
And yes Mr Shaw was everyone's favourite.The only male teacher on the staff then but a good teacher and gentleman

I think the answer is yes but comprehensive schools hadn't arrived in 1957! I think the Girls' school became Grange Grammar and Hurlfield Boys joined the former Central Technical School to become Ashleigh?

I have just joined the Forum which I found through Google. I was trying to find info about my old school Grange Grammar.

I was at the school from 1952 to 1956 (my family then relocated to Kent). While I was there the name was changed from Hurlfield GS to Grange GS and the art mistress designed a new badge showing a red squirrel (we thought it looked more like a kangaroo). I found the reference to the Chris Hobbs web site and have now got pictures of my old school to add to my 'memoires'. My grandchilden are going to be thrilled to read them (if they know what's good for them). Very interested in the Forum - many good memories of Sheffield.

Hi Chairboy,

I was at Nether Edge between 50 and 56 and don't recall the name Belcher, could be attributable to advancing years though. Not a name one would forget when referring to a master.

Mike

I did two years at Nether Edge before we all upped sticks and moved to Abbeydale Boys GS in 1958. I can definitely remember Mr "Gem" Belcher, but couldn't say for sure if he was at both NEGS & ABGS.

Now you've made me realise that it's the 50th Anniversary of ABGS opening this coming September. Pass the zimmer frame!

Hi akura,

Mr."Gem" Belcher only taught at Abbeydale. I attended Nether Edge 1956/58 then moved to Abbeydale where Belcher joined the teaching staff and taught me metalwork. I was only there for one year then my family moved to Lancaster.

http://www.rowlinson-sheffield.org.uk/

Not still contesting, Rowlinson OB's can fight their corner or enlighten us but I thought the above link may generate some interest? The site is still in embryonic form but says the school opened in 1953 as Rowlinson Technical School.
I note a bus pass is shown and think people attended from all parts of the city -from an entrance exam - as otherwise, they'd have gone to their local secondary modern school?

"These pupils were from Greystones, which closed down, so they were relocated to Rowlinson, but only there for about one year. Date was probably around 1958." - This quote was pasted from below a form photograph with this explanation, thus providing the link with Greystones. I wonder if at one time, Greystones was on the 11+ options' list and later changed to Rowlinson?

The 1944 Butler Education act set up the three types of school. Technical schools were supposed to be on a par with grammar schools, only targetted at producing scientists and engineers. Of course, grammar schools then 'appeared' to be better (= more snob value) because they suppposedly dealt with the more acedemic subjects. you still had to pass the 11+ (in Sheffield, at least) to attend technical school. Because they were quite rare (many places didn't set up technical schools) the split became seen to be grammer vs. secondary modern.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_System is quite a good write-up including
"The most important result of the lack of money was the disappearance of the third part of the system- the technical schools. Very few existing schools could fulfil the technical role, and the priority remained grammar and modern schools. The tripartite system was, in effect, a two-tier system with schools for the academically gifted and schools for the others. Without technical schools, the eleven plus became seen as a pass-or-fail exam, either getting children to the grammar or consigning them to a secondary modern."

Don't forget the intermediate schools

I was a pupil at Hurlfield Grammar in the 50s. Classes were divided between the 2 main houses,Holt House and The Grange. The gym was a fairly new building as were the canteen and domestic science rooms.The science lab were in the old stables. I can remember ther was a mounting block in the courtyard of the stables. The music room was in the conservatory of Holt House. Ther was a large lawn outside which we were not allowed on,and a beautiful grassed bank leading up to the woods, which every spring was a blaze of colour when the crocus flowered. The head teachers name was Miss Reid,(Jane Penelope.) and the music teacher whose name I can"t remember played the Cello in the Halle Orchestra. flowered.

There were 3 distinct school buildings on the Ashleigh/Hurlfield site
1 - Hurlfield Boys Sec Mod, sandwiched between East Bank Road and Hurlfield Road and with access off East Bank Road.- later Became Myrtle Springs main site and now renamed Sheffield Springs Academy.
2 - Hurlfield Girls Sec Mod School. Big glass building. Directly south of the boys school, across Hurlfield Road and with access off Hurlfield Road. Later used as a part of Ashleigh, this was the first to be completely demolished.
3 - Central Technical school for boys .(came up from Leopold Street) - further south still, access off Gleadless Road - became Ashleigh - then Myrtle Springs lower school, now demolished.

My wife Rona Eden grew up in their shadow (Gleadless Cresc) and her mum, Agnes Eden, was school secretary at Hurlfield Girls School - Headmistress Miss MacArthur later Mrs Knot.

Rona attended King Ecgbert Technical school from 1959 - 1966 (headmistress Miss Coates) and it was difinitely a girls only school for that time with maroon / pale blue uniform. She can't remember there being another girls' technical school in Sheffield. Girls moved to King Ecgbert from Greystones and Rowlinson when it opened. The school has now been demolished and a new building opened lower down on the same site. Rowlinson Technical School was considered to be the boys' equivalent.

Hi to all previous NEGS posters,

What a trip down memory lane you've taken me, the only thing that hasn't been mentioned was the dreaded "monkey cage run".

I attended NEGS from 1952 to 1957, and agree with brianic that Mr. "Gem" Belcher did not teach at NEGS.

Hi Puffin4,

Was your subsequent career after leaving NEGS influenced by the after school "Flight Club" and especially the meeting on RAF aerial photography?

Jesus,

very strange, sat here talking with my Mother and girlfriend. The murders were very close to us (as in where we lived) our best friends at the time lived next door to them. freaky to come across this after searching for info on the whole episode.

My GF is from Denmark n we were trying to tell her all about this horrific event!

I think Celcad has posted onto the wrong thread-----unless------one of the teachers at the old NEGS was a mass murderer, creeping round the corridors like a 1950's Jack the Ripper. Knowing the old grammar school teachers, that is a distinct possibility !

Could be Leonard Buchan ? :P

Or Albert ? Or Robertshaw ? ........plenty of suspects under the microscope !

The Monkey Cage run may have seemed like murder to a "new starter" ("fag" has a different meaning today :D), but I can't remember any murders taking place in there.
My bet for any mass murderer would have been either, Freddie with his noxious gases, or Biltcliffe with his board cleaner.

In a line from Bannerdale Road, out of Sheffield, the schools were Abbeydale Girls Grammar School, with navy blue and pink colours, Grange Girls Grammar School was next, with brown colours, and then Abbeydale Boys Grammar School. Abbeydale and Grange ammalgamated in or around 1970 and became Abbeydale Grange. Before that time they were 2 completely sepatate grammar schools.

Owler Lane was a scolarship pass, but was termed an Intermediate school the same as Marlcliffe. The uniform was grey and maroon and the motto "Per Ardua Ad Alta". I attended there until Xmas 1959. HM was Pop Gregory, others, Fairest, Boardman, MacDonald, Pegg, Holmes, Gladsby, Lupton and others I cannot remember.

The uniform colours were Navy Blue and gold when I started there in 1948. Grey 7 Maroon came Two years later. Other teachers:- Moss, Mrs Vernon, Hook, Smith, MaCauley, Helliwell, Miss Macintosh, Miss Robinson.:huh:

Owler Lane was a scolarship pass, but was termed an Intermediate school the same as Marlcliffe. The uniform was grey and maroon and the motto "Per Ardua Ad Alta". I attended there until Xmas 1959. HM was Pop Gregory, others, Fairest, Boardman, MacDonald, Pegg, Holmes, Gladsby, Lupton and others I cannot remember.

The uniform colours were Navy Blue and gold when I started there in 1948. Grey & Maroon came Two years later. Other teachers:- Moss, Mrs Vernon, Hook, Smith, MaCauley, Helliwell, Miss Macintosh, Miss Robinson.:huh:

It was actually ".. quicquid Edwardensium". In case any Old Edwardians feel inspired to burst into song, here are the words:

Tempus est ut concinamus quicquid Edwardensium
nunc adestis, hoc sit omnis thema nostri carminis;
qualis est qui cuique nostrum semper aemulandus est?

ille verus Edwardensis, quisquis humani nihil
a sese alienum putabit, usque consors ceteris
sive gaudebunt secundis seu laborabunt malis.

strenuus labore mentis, corporis non negligens,
omnium sententiarum perspicax inquisitor;
semper artium bonarum pervicax videbitur.

D.B. Harrison was indeed P.E./swimming master. Sadly, he died young of a heart attack in 1967.

See http://nlc.oldedwardians.org.uk/

Sad as I am I've just read it through, first time in over forty years. I seem to remember singing it to clementine.
I read a post on here about Red Fred I think he taught me maths not Physics that was B K. Another without a mention was Black Jack I can't remember him having a real name. Also the little gay guy who taught greek, Surgey, Green, Cook, Bray, that's it the dementia's kicked in again. Lucy Lockett.
Little fat scottish English teacher (got to be an Oximoron if thats how you spell it) with a limp and a stick. Max Earl. I've had enough I'm going to bed.

I was at NEGS from 56-58... I only wish we'd known then that the sadistic 'Loobys' real name was Sensicle Harrison Boule, boy! could we have had some fun!

How did you not all know? I was there from 50 to 56, during which time Senc. arrived and everyone was aware of his strange forename. I think he was South African and I also think his speciallity was maths, although he never taught me.

That's strange, because to the best of my recollection, we had no idea of his unusual christian name. Had we realised, I suspect that his nickname would have been 'Non', rather than 'Looby'! ;)

I do seem to recall that he was known to have a market stall, something that we found remarkable for a 'master' to operate at that time...

Yes he took maths and hardly a lesson went by without one of us being slippered for either a real or imaginary offence, it didn't seem to matter which... As I say, he was a sadistic son of a.... And not the only master there who could be fairly described as such either!

A clue... "If you can, do... If you can't, teach... If you can't teach, become a P.E. instructor!"

I guess that being of doubtful parentage was a prerequisite to enable teachers to control a class at that time, the only 'nice guys' that I remember were 'Freddie' Potts & 'Claude' Raines... Both of whose classes invariably ran riot! I suppose, looking back, that we were mainly evil little so-and-so's given half a chance! :)

I also remember the arrival of that PE teacher, either from college or national service. He was also a sadist of the first water.

My first form master, Peter Spinks is the one I will always remember as Mr Nice Guy. He started at NEGS at the same time as me and was my form master on more than one occasion. He also taught maths but, in my case, not very effectively. Perhaps he should have not spared the rod so much.

I was at NEGS from 56-58... I only wish we'd known then that the sadistic 'Loobys' real name was Sensicle Harrison Boule, boy! could we have had some fun!

I was at NEGS from 52 to 57, I think that Senc. started at the same time as me. As Puffin4 has stated he was always known as Senc.

I also remember the arrival of that PE teacher, either from college or national service. He was also a sadist of the first water.

My first form master, Peter Spinks is the one I will always remember as Mr Nice Guy. He started at NEGS at the same time as me and was my form master on more than one occasion. He also taught maths but, in my case, not very effectively. Perhaps he should have not spared the rod so much.

Mr.Spinks was in the position of Deputy Head when I was at Brincliffe Grammar which closed in 1965 as I left.
Have you seen the information about Nether Edge/Brincliffe which was written by Mr.Spinks?

Duffems

How did you not all know? I was there from 50 to 56, during which time Senc. arrived and everyone was aware of his strange forename. I think he was South African and I also think his speciallity was maths, although he never taught me.

Senc. is not South African, he is a Sheffielder, born and bred at Gleadless.
He was a classmate of my brother, and both are on a photograph of Gleadless School Infants in Pauline Shearstone's book, "OLD GLEADLESS, Just a little country village".

His speciality was maths. He never taught me nor was he ever my form master.

I was at NEGS from 52 to 57, I think that Senc. started at the same time as me. As Puffin4 has stated he was always known as Senc.I believe you both but we weren't aware of that fact... although I suppose the nickname 'Looby' was sufficiently derogatory for the time, especially if you cast your mind back to Andy-Pandy and his little friend! <g>

The only regrets that I have about our conduct during that period was the way that we treated poor old 'Claude' Raines (sp?). At ABGS the geography classroom was tucked away at the top of the building, well out of the way and did we ever take advantage of that fact!

We used to light fires in desks at the back of the room and wait for the rising smoke to be noticed... and then watch Claude flying around trying to put them out, as fast as he managed to do this, we'd light another. I remember on one occasion, when lock-knives were all the rage, someone threw one at the rollerboard whilst Claude was drawing a map on it, the knife stuck quivering between the fingers of his outstretched hand, amazingly he calmly removed it, folded it up, put it in his pocket and continued drawing on the board.

His problems were many & varied... Mice were put in his desk drawer, one of which bit his finger and left him sat there sucking blood from the bite, whilst trying to restore order. At other times we'd hide small transistor radios in the light fittings amongst other places and generally torment the life out of the poor guy! :(

All this could well be the reason why I scored 12% in the geography GCE trials! ;)

I do seem to recall that he was known to have a market stall, something that we found remarkable for a 'master' to operate at that time...

Yes he took maths and hardly a lesson went by without one of us being slippered for either a real or imaginary offence, it didn't seem to matter which... As I say, he was a sadistic son of a.... And not the only master there who could be fairly described as such either!

A clue... "If you can, do... If you can't, teach... If you can't teach, become a P.E. instructor!"

I guess that being of doubtful parentage was a prerequisite to enable teachers to control a class at that time, the only 'nice guys' that I remember were 'Freddie' Potts & 'Claude' Raines... Both of whose classes invariably ran riot! I suppose, looking back, that we were mainly evil little so-and-so's given half a chance! :)

I think that you've amply demonstrated with your posts,the apparent steep decline in standards, from a well respected and well run grammar school with ill equipped buildings and facilities, when transferred to new "state of the art" premises. I wonder if it had anything to do with disipline, or lack of?

Finally, if you want to know about the parentage and family of the teacher that you are so dismissive of; and the family business you belittle. I suggest that you obtain a copy of the book that I mentioned in my previous post, and read the section on Seagrave Nurseries.

Manaman... I questioned the parentage as an alternative to using a mild obscenity... As for belittling a family and a family business, I'm afraid you've lost me there, I wasn't aware that I'd done so...

On your other point, when discipline was applied, you couldn't wish for better-behaved pupils, so yes it was most certainly necessary... a salutary lesson for today I think?

BTW... I remember that we had someone just like you impress me as being, in our class, he didn't bring an apple for the teacher every day as far as I know, but he was treated by the rest of us as though he had! ;)

I also remember the arrival of that PE teacher, either from college or national service. He was also a sadist of the first water.

My first form master, Peter Spinks is the one I will always remember as Mr Nice Guy. He started at NEGS at the same time as me and was my form master on more than one occasion. He also taught maths but, in my case, not very effectively. Perhaps he should have not spared the rod so much.

The P.E. teacher started the same time as me. He came straight from Loughborough College, which was and still is a physical training and specialised sports university.

Peter Spinks never taught me nor was he ever my form master, but in any ad hoc dealings with him, I would agree he was a Mr. Nice Guy.

The most effective maths teacher that I had at NEGS was Laurie Arden. He took over from George Wilkinson when George was appointed headmaster. Laurie was a hard taskmaster, but at the same time was able to explain in relatively simple terms the intricasies of the maths in hand, and then give positive encouragement to our problem solving.

Manaman... I

BTW... I remember that we had someone just like you impress me as being, in our class, he didn't bring an apple for the teacher every day as far as I know, but he was treated by the rest of us as though he had! ;)

If you mean that that lad didn't follow the sheep in lighting fires in desks and throwing knives at teachers etc. during lessons, then yes he would have been like me and MOST OF MY CLASSMATES. We did have our moments in both Claude Raines' and Freddie Potts' classes, but nothing like the above.

The lad may have thought it was a privilege to have a grammar school education in order to aspire to, and achieve a better quality of life when reaching adulhood. Especially if his siblings or neighbourhood friends hadn't been lucky enough to have had the same opportunity. It could certainly concentrate the mind.

In hindsight, do you consider that you gained from a grammar school education, or do you think you deprived somebody else from having the opportunity.

...In hindsight, do you consider that you gained from a grammar school education, or do you think you deprived somebody else from having the opportunity.With hindsight I consider that my being able to take advantage of a grammar school education meant considerably more to my parents than it did to me at the time...

However, it taught me a great deal... though not much about geography and chemistry, unsurprisingly!

Len Buchan for example, was an excellent teacher of english, both literature and language and was even able to make The Bard (not Beedle the bard) sound interesting... A great achievement in my estimation.

It was him what learnt me how to write proper, innit!

Senc. is not South African, he is a Sheffielder, born and bred at Gleadless.
He was a classmate of my brother, and both are on a photograph of Gleadless School Infants in Pauline Shearstone's book, "OLD GLEADLESS, Just a little country village".

His speciality was maths. He never taught me nor was he ever my form master.

Hi Manaman,

Thank you for exploding that myth for me. I don't know where I got hold of it but I can now delete it from my memory banks. The only other bit of gen I have on him is my memory of an entry in the births column of The Star " To Jean (?) and Senc. a son, Sensicle". Can you explode that one too? After all, it is 52 years since I left NEGS and 50 since I left Sheffield.

I remember when Vince arrived, he wore a blazer with a Loughborough crest on the pocket; I think it was more his demeanour which put me in mind of the sadistic PTI's that I met a few years later when I joined the RAF.

Mike

I think it 's a measure of the respect / fear that we had of our teachers at NEGS that, even after more than 50 years, I can still remember as a 1st. Year, seeing the door to our classroom open and Len Buchan 's 5 fat, white fingers, curling round the door, signalling his entrance into the classroom.. A shudder of fear went through most of us at the thought of the ordeals, learning and possible punishments to come, during the next40 minutes.However, as somone has said, he was a very effective teacher, and was never physically brutal. Our ' wonderful ' , overpaid, educational bureaucrats have never learned the simple lesson that
if you take away the authority and fear of the teacher, the vacuum will be filled by bullies-------and hence the almost total mess that education is in today. Still.......if the sheep-like British Public don 't mind wasting billions of pounds on what passes for education today, so be it ......! Perhaps you don 't need education to watch Big Brother......etc.... ?

I graduated from Nether Edge in 1947, the uniform at that time was a kind of orangey brown. Weren't there a couple of Intermediate schools as well? Sort of in between Grammar and elementary.
I remember the orangey brown blazer at Nether Edge. We wore that uniform when I started there in 1953(now I really feel ancient)! I think that the brown blazers were phased out maybe the following year and the black blazers, still featuring the two crossed torches became the uniform.This uniform was carried forward after 1958, when the School was moved to become Abbeydale Grammar for boys.

Hi Manaman,

Thank you for exploding that myth for me. I don't know where I got hold of it but I can now delete it from my memory banks. The only other bit of gen I have on him is my memory of an entry in the births column of The Star " To Jean (?) and Senc. a son, Sensicle". Can you explode that one too? After all, it is 52 years since I left NEGS and 50 since I left Sheffield.

I remember when Vince arrived, he wore a blazer with a Loughborough crest on the pocket; I think it was more his demeanour which put me in mind of the sadistic PTI's that I met a few years later when I joined the RAF.

Mike

Hi Puffin4,
I didn't know any thing about Senc's private life as an adult because my family moved away from Gleadless before I was born. In fact it was while I was at NEGS that he asked me if I was any relation to to an old school mate of his, because I had the same surname. I told him it was my brother.

I have done an Ancestry search on the family. Jean is the Christian name of his wife, and they did have a son in the summer of 1956 called Nicholas J. S. presumably the S standing for Sensical.

I know what you mean about Vince, we had an ex RAF PTI for physical fitness training when I played in junior football. I think that their similarities extended to more than their demeanour.:D

Len Buchan for example, was an excellent teacher of english, both literature and language and was even able to make The Bard (not Beedle the bard) sound interesting... A great achievement in my estimation.

It was him what learnt me how to write proper, innit!

Hi Pseudonym.
Len Buchan, what a teacher! I agree with everything you've said about him. I can picture him now at the front of the class, acting the part of that old Shakesperian rogue Sir Toby Belch. Not only did he have the right physique for the part, but he had the acting ability and voice as well.

I think it 's a measure of the respect / fear that we had of our teachers at NEGS that, even after more than 50 years, I can still remember as a 1st. Year, seeing the door to our classroom open and Len Buchan 's 5 fat, white fingers, curling round the door, signalling his entrance into the classroom.. A shudder of fear went through most of us at the thought of the ordeals, learning and possible punishments to come, during the next40 minutes.However, as somone has said, he was a very effective teacher, and was never physically brutal. Our ' wonderful ' , overpaid, educational bureaucrats have never learned the simple lesson that
if you take away the authority and fear of the teacher, the vacuum will be filled by bullies-------and hence the almost total mess that education is in today. Still.......if the sheep-like British Public don 't mind wasting billions of pounds on what passes for education today, so be it ......! Perhaps you don 't need education to watch Big Brother......etc.... ?

Hi Fareast.
I had Len Buchan in the 2nd year. You describe perfectly how we felt as he entered the classroom. Can you remember his enormous briefcase that was always full to bursting point with pupils' homework. Can you remember that if you got a question wrong you had to stand at the front of the class; and within 10mins of the class starting, everyone apart from the odd one or two would be stood at the front of the class.:D

When I was in the 5th year I had Len again. He was completely different in his attitude from the earlier year. The lessons appeared to be given with a more relaxed attitude and we looked forward to the lessons. This did not mean we didn't work as hard, far from it, with "O" Levels at the end of the year.

Years later I often wondered why he had such a difference in attitude to the respective years; was it because he preferred to teach older boys, or was it to instill discipline in the earlier years, i.e. NEGS equivalent to "square bashing", so that by the 5th year we were fully immersed in the ethos of the school and also more mature. I suspect it was the latter case, which would reinforce your above argument about authority being essential in schools.
The essential skill for the teacher is then to turn that fear/authority into respect, which Len could certainly do.

manaman... Glad to see that we're in agreement about Len Buchan, I owe him a great deal. Before reading the many links posted on here (for which, my thanks to the contributors of these, they were fascinating), I hadn't realised that he'd actually passed away at the school. I remember attending his funeral, it was a sad day for me. He never struck me as a strict disciplinarian, although he had no difficulty in controlling a class. Not only could he portray shakesperian characters (I was told that he was a keen amateur dramatics player), he could also interpret the hidden meaning behind their utterances, it was a real eye-opener to find that Shakespeare was a writer of satire, Len made his works come alive!

George Wilkinson, whose nickname to us was never anything but 'The Boss', gives an indication of the respect in which he was held! I remember that on the rare occasion that he took a class, he'd select the tough-guy, bad-boy pupil and stand at the front with him, his arm around him, apparently being quite affectionate... an action that would probably give rise to the possibility of prosecution nowadays! He was very skilfull though, whilst the poor lad was squirming under his grip and the undivided attention of the class, The Boss would cleverly 'frisk' him, removing illicit items from his pocket and confiscating them... Lock-knife (all the rage at that time, we used to play 'splits' with them, remember that game?), chewing-gum, etc. All this whilst asking questions of him and the class concerning the lesson. Never a word was said by either the frisked or the frisker about the various items removed, examined and either replaced or confiscated.

'Gem' Belcher... Metalwork teacher... New to ABGS... A mutual hatred developed between us, I'd invariably be told to get out of the class each week which suited me fine, it was the last 'double-period' each wednesday, so I'd bunk off early each week. :)

'Charlie' Simpson... Struck fear and terror into us, always wielded a thundering great slipper and the signal for his arrival in the classroom was this thing flying through the door and landing on the desk, he rarely had to call for quiet!

I can't cease this rambling before I mention 'Vince', his favourite 'exercise' seemed to be what came to be known as 'The Slipper Game', the idea being that at a given signal, you scrambled for a purchase on designated pieces of equipment, falling off or failing to secure a place clear of the floor meant that you soon understood how the game got its name!

How I remember working-up a sweat in winter-time in the 'gym'(the dual-purpose dining-hall at NEGS) and then having to dash across the road to the main building to get a shower! BRRR!

Yes, discipline was certainly essential and those that successfully applied it gained our respect, albeit often grudgingly. Those that failed in this regard, looking back, must have had a heck of a time of it! :(

WOODHOUSE GS - There was a photograph of the First Class at WGS, taken in May 1953, in the Weekender Past Times page of Saturday 6th Dec's Star. I'm not involved with the school but the master in charge of this class is none other than Peter Horton who became Chairman of Sheffield Education Committee and Lord Mayor of Sheffield in 1987. Peter died in 2005.
See school site link below.

http://www.j31.co.uk/woodhousegrammar.htm

Yes, Manaman----very interesting comments about old Len ! I hope I didn 't give the wrong impression in my previous comment about Len [ ' the fear ', ' the five fat fingers....etc.....] because, although we only had him in our 1st. year, I 'm sure almost all the class, including me, enjoyed his lessons. [ Nothing wrong with a frisson of fear to make a lesson interesting ! ].

I can well understand him relaxing the regime for the 5 th. Years. Against all expectations, I 've been a teacher myself now for 24 years and if my experience is anything to go by, the general way of it is this :- I think all teachers feel [ or should feel ! ] a little nervous about a new class......or starting in a new school. Usually, the best technique in dealing with this is to be quite strict at first and then to ease off as the teacher feels more confidence in the class 's behaviour and the class feel happy with the teacher 's rules......etc....

It 's not a perfect system.......or the whole story ! But, I think a lot of teachers do use that system ; well, I do-----and it sounds as if Len did too ! Yes, a talented man with a great deal of charisma and a lot of us will remember him with fondness.

Strangely enough, despite the fact that ' Spiv ' Sellars never made the slightest attempt to ' relate ' to anyone at all, I used to rather like his lessons. He was one of the few teachers who set some work, you got on with it--------and he left you alone. You couldn 't fool around, of course, but, there was no feeling of pressure ! It just shows how not all styles of teaching are ' good ' or ' popular '. I'm sure most students like a bit of variety. The problems in the modern classroom are partly a result, I think, of the false idea that ANY teacher discipline or pressure is a bad thing !!

I am interested in this particular topic since I too was a pupil at NEGS from 1945 to 1950. Sencicle Boule had arrived before I left . He was a family friend , I also being from an old family in Gleadless. My uncle was employed at Seagrave nurseries and Sencicle was related to the Harrison Family who owned the nursery after the Seagraves and Wrights,living at that time on Gleadless Common. He was aware of my presence in class(Physics at the time) and our family ties and we maintained a healthy respect for each other. Reminders for old pupils at Negs. Do you remember Claud Rains, Baby Face Wilkinson, Der klein Otto, Simpson(french) , Religion Chambers, fitness Atkinson, Sheffield organist Bilcliffe,English Kershaw, and more interesting fellows. This is an amazing coincidence. Recently I was asked to look into the Solomon Seagrave family history to search out one of his relatives. Again I came up against Sencicle since his family have ties with the Seagrave Nurseries. Any information would be welcomed.



Hi Manaman,

Thank you for exploding that myth for me. I don't know where I got hold of it but I can now delete it from my memory banks. The only other bit of gen I have on him is my memory of an entry in the births column of The Star " To Jean (?) and Senc. a son, Sensicle". Can you explode that one too? After all, it is 52 years since I left NEGS and 50 since I left Sheffield.

I remember when Vince arrived, he wore a blazer with a Loughborough crest on the pocket; I think it was more his demeanour which put me in mind of the sadistic PTI's that I met a few years later when I joined the RAF.

Mike

manaman... Glad to see that we're in agreement about Len Buchan, I owe him a great deal. Before reading the many links posted on here (for which, my thanks to the contributors of these, they were fascinating), I hadn't realised that he'd actually passed away at the school. I remember attending his funeral, it was a sad day for me. He never struck me as a strict disciplinarian, although he had no difficulty in controlling a class. Not only could he portray shakesperian characters (I was told that he was a keen amateur dramatics player), he could also interpret the hidden meaning behind their utterances, it was a real eye-opener to find that Shakespeare was a writer of satire, Len made his works come alive!

George Wilkinson, whose nickname to us was never anything but 'The Boss', gives an indication of the respect in which he was held! I remember that on the rare occasion that he took a class, he'd select the tough-guy, bad-boy pupil and stand at the front with him, his arm around him, apparently being quite affectionate... an action that would probably give rise to the possibility of prosecution nowadays! He was very skilfull though, whilst the poor lad was squirming under his grip and the undivided attention of the class, The Boss would cleverly 'frisk' him, removing illicit items from his pocket and confiscating them... Lock-knife (all the rage at that time, we used to play 'splits' with them, remember that game?), chewing-gum, etc. All this whilst asking questions of him and the class concerning the lesson. Never a word was said by either the frisked or the frisker about the various items removed, examined and either replaced or confiscated.

'Gem' Belcher... Metalwork teacher... New to ABGS... A mutual hatred developed between us, I'd invariably be told to get out of the class each week which suited me fine, it was the last 'double-period' each wednesday, so I'd bunk off early each week. :)

'Charlie' Simpson... Struck fear and terror into us, always wielded a thundering great slipper and the signal for his arrival in the classroom was this thing flying through the door and landing on the desk, he rarely had to call for quiet!

I can't cease this rambling before I mention 'Vince', his favourite 'exercise' seemed to be what came to be known as 'The Slipper Game', the idea being that at a given signal, you scrambled for a purchase on designated pieces of equipment, falling off or failing to secure a place clear of the floor meant that you soon understood how the game got its name!

How I remember working-up a sweat in winter-time in the 'gym'(the dual-purpose dining-hall at NEGS) and then having to dash across the road to the main building to get a shower! BRRR!

Yes, discipline was certainly essential and those that successfully applied it gained our respect, albeit often grudgingly. Those that failed in this regard, looking back, must have had a heck of a time of it! :(

Hi Pseudonym,
You were spot on about Len.

I have also experienced the George Wilkinson "hug", although I hasten to say it wasn't with the intention of finding any lock-knives. I had just run into him whilst racing down the corridor as he came round the corner. Needless to say I was very careful where I ran in school after that.

O the advantages of having a purpose built school. Metalwork was only a dream. I managed to get one year of woodwork before that ceased to be a taught subject. Luckily art and architecture continued.

Never had Charlie Simpson as a teacher. The equivalent teachers I had were; Albert Hill and Puff Cook.

I remember the "Slipper Game".

Don't forget slipping on the odd bit of potato or cabbage left on the gym/dining room floor if the P.T. (in those days) lesson was the first lesson after dinner.

Don't seem to get away from discipline and respect, do we?

Yes, Manaman----very interesting comments about old Len ! I hope I didn 't give the wrong impression in my previous comment about Len [ ' the fear ', ' the five fat fingers....etc.....] because, although we only had him in our 1st. year, I 'm sure almost all the class, including me, enjoyed his lessons. [ Nothing wrong with a frisson of fear to make a lesson interesting ! ].

I can well understand him relaxing the regime for the 5 th. Years. Against all expectations, I 've been a teacher myself now for 24 years and if my experience is anything to go by, the general way of it is this :- I think all teachers feel [ or should feel ! ] a little nervous about a new class......or starting in a new school. Usually, the best technique in dealing with this is to be quite strict at first and then to ease off as the teacher feels more confidence in the class 's behaviour and the class feel happy with the teacher 's rules......etc....

It 's not a perfect system.......or the whole story ! But, I think a lot of teachers do use that system ; well, I do-----and it sounds as if Len did too ! Yes, a talented man with a great deal of charisma and a lot of us will remember him with fondness.

Strangely enough, despite the fact that ' Spiv ' Sellars never made the slightest attempt to ' relate ' to anyone at all, I used to rather like his lessons. He was one of the few teachers who set some work, you got on with it--------and he left you alone. You couldn 't fool around, of course, but, there was no feeling of pressure ! It just shows how not all styles of teaching are ' good ' or ' popular '. I'm sure most students like a bit of variety. The problems in the modern classroom are partly a result, I think, of the false idea that ANY teacher discipline or pressure is a bad thing !!

Hi Fareast,
I understand the concept in which you used the word "fear". It wasn't so much a fear of punishment, but more a fear of not "performing well" similar to the fear a lot of artistes appear to have before going on stage.

Spiv must have been the ultimate "Mr. Cool". I had him for most of the years I was at school. The most extreme example I can give of him not relating to anyone, was when George W.W. came into our 3rd year classroom to cane one of my classmates. Won't go into the reasons why. The boy refused to be caned, and it ended up with George wrestling with the boy on the classroom floor, before he was able to frogmarch the boy out of the classroom back to his office. We all sat there "gobsmacked" except Spiv. He just sat at his desk looking as though this sort of thing happened every day. After George and the boy had gone, he just turned round to us and said,"Get on with your work"!

I am interested in this particular topic since I too was a pupil at NEGS from 1945 to 1950. Sencicle Boule had arrived before I left . He was a family friend , I also being from an old family in Gleadless. My uncle was employed at Seagrave nurseries and Sencicle was related to the Harrison Family who owned the nursery after the Seagraves and Wrights,living at that time on Gleadless Common. He was aware of my presence in class(Physics at the time) and our family ties and we maintained a healthy respect for each other. Reminders for old pupils at Negs. Do you remember Claud Rains, Baby Face Wilkinson, Der klein Otto, Simpson(french) , Religion Chambers, fitness Atkinson, Sheffield organist Bilcliffe,English Kershaw, and more interesting fellows. This is an amazing coincidence. Recently I was asked to look into the Solomon Seagrave family history to search out one of his relatives. Again I came up against Sencicle since his family have ties with the Seagrave Nurseries. Any information would be welcomed.

Hi Tets,
As I have mentioned in an earlier post, in Pauline Shearstone's book, ISBN 0 9510362 3 8 which is called," A History of Gleadless", there is included what was originally a separate book called, "OLD GLEADLESS, Just a little country village". In this latter section of the book, are four pages devoted to Seagrave Nurseries. It gives details on how the nurseries ownership changed from the Seagrave family to the Harrison family and then finally to the Boul family. It gives information on the people who worked there, as well as having 1926 photographs of the nurseries and the workforce.
The book is a "must have" for old Gleadless families, because it records the recollections of many of the old residents that lived there (including some of my relatives).

Back to the Grammar School thread. Yes I remember most of the teachers listed except for Chambers, Atkinson and Kershaw who had moved on by the time I had started at the school.

Thanks manaman. Bet we know each others families. Pauline Shearstone is an old friend and lived not far from me. My sister was taught by her as an artist. A lot of the information in the two(three) books of Paulines relate to and was donated by my Father, Uncle and another family member ,the late Ethel Pass. I do have both of the separate copies of the books,but not the combine. However ,I have not seen the section you mention about Seagrave Nursery ownership. My uncle used to work there and often took me on his shoulders,piggy back, to stoke up the fires at night. My grandmother worked in the big house at the entrance for Mrs Harrison. Re NEGS, two of the finest teachers to whom I owe a lot were Wilkinson and Kershaw. Kershaw actually convinced me that Shakespeare is not a load of rubbish. Bilcliffe beat the living daylights out of me with that Blackboard Duster, a solid wooden one. He wanted me to take up music ,but that was like asking a turkey to vote for Christmas. Thanks a lot . Am looking for combined edition.


Hi Tets,
As I have mentioned in an earlier post, in Pauline Shearstone's book, ISBN 0 9510362 3 8 which is called," A History of Gleadless", there is included what was originally a separate book called, "OLD GLEADLESS, Just a little country village". In this latter section of the book, are four pages devoted to Seagrave Nurseries. It gives details on how the nurseries ownership changed from the Seagrave family to the Harrison family and then finally to the Boul family. It gives information on the people who worked there, as well as having 1926 photographs of the nurseries and the workforce.
The book is a "must have" for old Gleadless families, because it records the recollections of many of the old residents that lived there (including some of my relatives).

Back to the Grammar School thread. Yes I remember most of the teachers listed except for Chambers, Atkinson and Kershaw who had moved on by the time I had started at the school.

11+ quiz Removed, as duplicated elsewhere.

Hi Fareast, another memory of Len! If you are who I think you are, you will remember the very first few hours at NEGS. We were small eleven year old boys nervously standing around in the playground, when Len sailed through, gown flowing behind him and settling his gaze on one of our group(whom he'd never clapped eyes on before) very quietly and distinctly said "I don't like your face boy!". He then sailed along on his way, leaving his victim wondering what he'd let himself in for! The monkey cage was yet to come!

Hi Fareast, another memory of Len! If you are who I think you are, you will remember the very first few hours at NEGS. We were small eleven year old boys nervously standing around in the playground, when Len sailed through, gown flowing behind him and settling his gaze on one of our group(whom he'd never clapped eyes on before) very quietly and distinctly said "I don't like your face boy!". He then sailed along on his way, leaving his victim wondering what he'd let himself in for! The monkey cage was yet to come!

Yet another memory of Len. Was in the 2nd. year and in Vince's P.T. class when I had a violent coming together with a radiator. There was blood everywhere due to a nasty cut above the eye. Was rushed across to the main building, and Len was called for. He expertly stemmed the blood flow, closed up the wound and bandaged it up. From that episode, I concluded that Len was also the school first-aider! A man of many talents.

The monkey cage?
Arrrrrrrrrr not the dreaded monkey cage please. :help:

We all remember Vince as the PT teacher but does anyone remember who taught it before his arrival? It was "Flo" Nightingale, a chemistry teacher who had PT as his second subject. His particular instrument of torture was a length of bunsen hose, which produced more sting than the head's stick (or so I'm told!)

I have seen no mention of the head before George Wilkinson - It was H(?) Smith, a fellow with intensely bushy eyebrows. I think he left about 1952.

We all remember Vince as the PT teacher but does anyone remember who taught it before his arrival? It was "Flo" Nightingale, a chemistry teacher who had PT as his second subject. His particular instrument of torture was a length of bunsen hose, which produced more sting than the head's stick (or so I'm told!)

I have seen no mention of the head before George Wilkinson - It was H(?) Smith, a fellow with intensely bushy eyebrows. I think he left about 1952.

Hi Puffin4,
"Flo" Nightingale was before my time at NEGS. The instruments of torture that I remember were;
the head's cane.
Andy Walker's slipper (also preferred by many of the other teachers. Was it because it happen to be about a size 10?).
Biltcliffe's infamous wooden backed blackboard duster.

You are correct in your assumption that Harry Smith was the head before George. Harry retired at Christmas 1952 whilst I was still in the 1st years. He appeared a very intimidating figure to me, with his tall thin stature clothed in his black gown, and his gaunt face with those bushy eyebrows.

ps.
Which 32 bus will you be catching in Pond Street?

Hi Manaman,

A couple of punishments that have not been mentioned are: I recall seeing Ernest Whaley leather someone with the blackboard compasses and Gus Platt used to make one stand still for the administration of a slap on the cheek (face).

As for your post script, I haven't caught a number 32 since the 1950's when I left Sheffield and do not recall anyone from the Mana other than Lebby, who was a couple of years above me or B. Swinden, who was in my year.

Regards,

Mike

Hi Manaman,

A couple of punishments that have not been mentioned are: I recall seeing Ernest Whaley leather someone with the blackboard compasses and Gus Platt used to make one stand still for the administration of a slap on the cheek (face).

As for your post script, I haven't caught a number 32 since the 1950's when I left Sheffield and do not recall anyone from the Mana other than Lebby, who was a couple of years above me or B. Swinden, who was in my year.

Regards,

Mike

Hi Puffin4,
Your reference to Ernest Whaley reminded me of one of his Physics lessons in the Physics lab. across the road from the main buildings. One of the lads sat on one of the stools behind him started talking, whilst Whaley was explaining something to another lad. Immediately Whaley spun round and said, " Be quiet!". At the same time he jabbed the lad in the ribs with his index finger and sent the lad and stool flying across the floor. He was a very powerful man, if you remember, with hands like dinner plates.
I never had the pleasure of being taught by Gus Platts

Was Lebby's surname Bell? I can't remember B. Swinden.
The people that I remember from your neck of the woods were; F. Bridgeman, and D. Mercer who was in my year.

The postscript was a "tongue in cheek" remark. I haven't been on that bus for about 40 years!

Regards M.

Hi Manaman,

Yes, Lebby's surname was, and still is Bell and I think he lived on Windy House Lane. He is in Canada now.

Fred was a good pal and we knocked about a bit together. My joining the Gloryland put paid to that though. We still exchange Christmas cards and, as he still lives in Sheffield, my mum used to see him occasionally. Sadly, that has come to an end too as she died last year at the age of 92.

Another Whaley incident in similar vein, same location was when he crept up on some miscreant who only had one leg of his stool on the floor. When Ernest announced his presence, one of the stool legs came down upon his foot, triggering a bellow: " ........., get that f...ing stool off my foot". The class was shocked into silence.

Gus taught me A level economics in the 6th, one point about his standard punishment which I had overlooked was that, before administering the slap, he always used to announce "I'm going to box your ears".

I don't recall a Mercer.


Regards,

Mike

Hi Manaman,

Yes, Lebby's surname was, and still is Bell and I think he lived on Windy House Lane. He is in Canada now.

Fred was a good pal and we knocked about a bit together. My joining the Gloryland put paid to that though. We still exchange Christmas cards and, as he still lives in Sheffield, my mum used to see him occasionally. Sadly, that has come to an end too as she died last year at the age of 92.

Another Whaley incident in similar vein, same location was when he crept up on some miscreant who only had one leg of his stool on the floor. When Ernest announced his presence, one of the stool legs came down upon his foot, triggering a bellow: " ........., get that f...ing stool off my foot". The class was shocked into silence.

Gus taught me A level economics in the 6th, one point about his standard punishment which I had overlooked was that, before administering the slap, he always used to announce "I'm going to box your ears".

I don't recall a Mercer.

Regards,
Mike

Hi Puffin4,
I was a mate of Terry, one of Rod's younger brothers, whilst at junior school. When I learnt that I was NEGS bound, I hadn't a clue where it was. It was Terry who arranged for me to go to school with Rod for a couple of days to get used to getting there and back. I don't think that Rod was too happy at having me tagging along with him for those two days.
The family lived on Archdale Road.
The last I heard of Rod, he was living in Victoria, B.C.

I have not seen Fred since he left NEGS. We usually caught the same buses going to and from school.

That's an interesting story about Whaley. I'm surprised the miscreant didn't find himself and the stool at the other side of the lab!

I suppose Gus could have been accused of being "economical" with his actions when compared with his words.

Denis, who had ginger hair, moved from the Sharrow area to the Richmond area around 1953/4.

Regards
M.

Hi Manaman,

Fred also had a brother at Negs, Eric aka Happy for the usual obvious reason! I think he was in the year above us.

I didn't know Rodney particularly well as I think he was a couple of years above us. I used to chat to him on the bus as he was a contemporary of my pal Barry Parker, whose dad had a pig farm on Richmond Road, where I used occasionally to lend a hand.

I knew of NEGS before I sat the 11 plus as my best pal (of those days) had gained entry the year before and so it was the only school I knew anything about. For that reason, it was my first choice - if only he had been at King Ted's! Like Rodney was to you, Peter Jones was my mentor in those early days and his dad used to take us to school in his car. Great, you might think, but I had to walk to Handsworth (about a mile) to pick up my lift.

Regards,

Mike

Hi Manaman,

Fred also had a brother at Negs, Eric aka Happy for the usual obvious reason! I think he was in the year above us.

I didn't know Rodney particularly well as I think he was a couple of years above us. I used to chat to him on the bus as he was a contemporary of my pal Barry Parker, whose dad had a pig farm on Richmond Road, where I used occasionally to lend a hand.

I knew of NEGS before I sat the 11 plus as my best pal (of those days) had gained entry the year before and so it was the only school I knew anything about. For that reason, it was my first choice - if only he had been at King Ted's! Like Rodney was to you, Peter Jones was my mentor in those early days and his dad used to take us to school in his car. Great, you might think, but I had to walk to Handsworth (about a mile) to pick up my lift.

Regards,

Mike

Hi Puffin4,
I had forgotten about Fred's brother until you reminded me of him.
I can't remember Barry Parker. Was their farm at the bottom of the hill opposite Richmond Hall Road?

"If only he had been to King Ted's". Are you inferring that you would have preferred to have gone to King Ted's rather than that fountain of all knowledge that was NEGS?:D

The walk to Handsworth should have been a doddle for a fit young lad like you. What with PT lessons, the marathon walks to the school sports ground, and it being all downhill from Richmond to the bottom of Laverack Street or Richmond Road (Britton Hill), I would have thought you would have breezed up either of those roads to Handsworth Road!:D

Knowing your career after NEGS, were you a member of the aircraft club that met about once a month to talk about, or have visiting speakers to talk about aviation, both military and civil? The membership fee per meeting being used to purchase each monthly issue of "Flight" magazine. Each member then brrowing the magazine in turn.

Regards
M.

The uniform colours were Navy Blue and gold when I started there in 1948. Grey & Maroon came Two years later. Other teachers:- Moss, Mrs Vernon, Hook, Smith, MaCauley, Helliwell, Miss Macintosh, Miss Robinson.:huh:

I went there in '51 to '56. The coat badge was a torch on the top pocket. I remember Tring as our form teascher (1b) he later left to do dentistry.Miss Gibbs was the girls PE teacher, Smith did science, Johnson for geography, Sumner for woodwork, Wales for metalwork, Miss Unwin for english, Glasby for maths and music, Moss for french, Hook for english ( he was a weekend spitefire pilot), Lupton for PE, (he later became head at Lindsay Road School, my old junior school ). Pop Gregory always kept reminding me that I was not as good as my older brother who went there.
MaCauley was an odd character who caught a pupil in our class cribbing in on exam, he called it "proper cheating".
All in all it was a good time.

It was actually ".. quicquid Edwardensium". In case any Old Edwardians feel inspired to burst into song, here are the words:

Tempus est ut concinamus quicquid Edwardensium
nunc adestis, hoc sit omnis thema nostri carminis;
qualis est qui cuique nostrum semper aemulandus est?

ille verus Edwardensis, quisquis humani nihil
a sese alienum putabit, usque consors ceteris
sive gaudebunt secundis seu laborabunt malis.

strenuus labore mentis, corporis non negligens,
omnium sententiarum perspicax inquisitor;
semper artium bonarum pervicax videbitur.

D.B. Harrison was indeed P.E./swimming master. Sadly, he died young of a heart attack in 1967.

See http://nlc.oldedwardians.org.uk/

I recall that that aemulandus used to go on for circa six seconds.

Ecclesfield Grammar turned comprehensive about 1974, 75 or 76. I went to the grammar school aged 11 in 1962. The Head was Arnold Henry Jennings and the head of year 1 and 2 which moved into the old Modern School building was Harry Birkby. His son Edward was in my class. The french teacher, Mr Cochrane, had two sons at the school Simon who was in my year and Toby who started there a year or two later. The other teachers I remember are Gabby Hayes (Maths) Mr Sant (art), Miss Webster (science) and Mrs Palmer - my form teacher - (english)

My name is Graham Sencicle and I was interested to read the thread with regard to Sencicle Boule, a teacher at NEGS in the 50's. My great grandfather was Jonathan Sencicle of Burringham, Lincs. His first wife died in 1867 and he re-married married Ellen Harrison in 1878. I'm wondering if there might be a connection to Sencicle Boule. Were the Harrisons of Gleadless a local family do yo know?

Owler Lane was a scolarship pass, but was termed an Intermediate school the same as Marlcliffe. The uniform was grey and maroon and the motto "Per Ardua Ad Alta". I attended there until Xmas 1959. HM was Pop Gregory, others, Fairest, Boardman, MacDonald, Pegg, Holmes, Gladsby, Lupton and others I cannot remember.

There was I believe a Mr Clark, quite a small guy who didn't always use a cane, his weapon of choice was a rubber gas pipe that wrapped around you.What was the metalwork teacher called?he was a registered silversmith. When you were in trouble he'd call you a chuff,then to cover his arse he'd inform you that was a Red Legged Crow.

Who can remember the list of available Sheffield Grammar schools in or around 1956?? Unfortunately I was not one of the successful entrants but life has turned out pretty good in the "big picture". Thank you in advance for any help offered - from an ex Arbourthorner here Toronto.

The ones I remember are Firth Park, Eckington,Woodhouse, King Edward V11,Abbeydale boys', Abbeydale girls', High Storrs, Ecclesfield and King Egbert, but there must have been more.
Glad to hear life's good in Toronto- great city! :)

Nether Edge, City Grammar, Girl's High School.

There was I believe a Mr Clark, quite a small guy who didn't always use a cane, his weapon of choice was a rubber gas pipe that wrapped around you.What was the metalwork teacher called?he was a registered silversmith. When you were in trouble he'd call you a chuff,then to cover his arse he'd inform you that was a Red Legged Crow.

Charlie Crownshaw. I remember the 'red legged crow' line. Another of his was "These hands were trained to kill".

First time that I've looked at this thread. Some interesting stuff and some posts that bring back the memories. Not much about King Ecgberts though....isn't there anyone out there who attended KE between 1967 and 1972?

My recollection of High Schools in the 50`s were,
Firth Park
City Grammar
High Storrs
King Edwards
Central Tech
Abbeydale Grammar
Hurlfield
Nether Edge
Notre Dame
De La Salle