Stand Grammar School Church Lane, Whitefield, Manchester Demolished 2001 AD         Back to main letters page...
Contributions from Old Standians This term's Star letters...

Hi Martyn,

Great site, congratulations. I don't remember you personally but I recognise a lot of the names that appear throughout your site. My old buddy Ian Entwisle gave me the site address. Ian's now deserted the Lancashire life for one in Yorkshire and I have been in Calgary, Canada for almost 20 years.

My years at Stand, 68 - 74, are a bit of a blur, which only confirms the minds ability to wipe out the less than favourable experiences in our lives. The most amazing thing that has happened to me, after my horrendous conflicts in Physics, is pursuing a career with a company that specializes in Atmospheric Gases and Cryogenic products and having to deal with the sciences daily. Bubbles Clark, wherever you are, YOU WERE WRONG. I really wasn't that stupid.

Ivor Jones, the old welsh Jack Russell terrier, said I would be a Black Pudding salesman on Bury market. Thanks for the career guidance!

As for Haggis - is there anyone out there who remembers the day that Tim Lyons unveiled the Class Emblem that he had designed and stuck it on the class wall? During the next class, math with Stinky Smethurst, old stinky looked at the new emblem and asked us if we knew what the word Sadist meant as Tim had put this word on the emblem as a description of our revered home class teacher. Of course no one really understood it until about 4 seconds after Stinky told Haggis about it and he exploded into the classroom and proceeded to carve out a new sphincter for Mr Lyons - Happy days eh!

I'm glad to here that old Benji, the famous Whitefield nipple twister, got his comeuppance. I remember some kid from Bury, full of a cold, getting so upset sitting on Benjis knee at the piano, that, in mid tears, had some kind of back pressure in his nose and produced the biggest snot projectile you have ever seen all over the piano. Needless to say he was not on Benjy's tummy rub list after that!

Anyway, thanks for the memories - all the best in the future,

Greg Berry

Greg.berry@airliquide.com

gmberry@direct.ca

"k.emsall" wrote:

Just discovered this nostalgic treasure house.  I was at Stand 1948-54 at the same time as Harry Wilkinson who seems to feature widely in these pages. This seems earlier than most of your correspondents who won't remember Rowley, Harris, Dearden, Lowrie etc etc nor the delights of Latin lessons from John Ashurst and English from Joe Bog and Maths from Old Man Clark, all presided over by Sam Medlar.  I now live in Hertfordshire and after a lifetime with Mobil Oil Co Ltd retired early, took to politics and am now Chairman of the Education Committee of Hertfordshire County Council!
This is a classic case of poacher turned gamekeeper.

Keith Emsall

Keith spent a spell in virtual detention for being Chairman of an Education Committee and sending me an email with the words Grammer School in the title!

Barry Noden wrote:

Hi Martyn

Barry again

Looking at the prefects picture I think the one next to Geoff Allen is David Hinchliffe, he used to play cricket for the school and Prestwich Cricket & Tennis Club when I played tennis for the tennis section.

Regards

Barry
 

Barry Noden wrote:

Thanks Martyn

Great stuff on the web site, going back to the previous pictures I was surprised that the huts (Rooms 21 and 22) are still standing.  I arrived at Stand in 1957 so recognise a number of the prefects in the 1958 to 1959 picture but sorry I can't remember the names of the blanks.  I remember Terry Mitchell as a prefect and his brother Tim was in the same year as I was and we were in the same forms 3S and 5S and also the scouts when Brian Crossfield was scoutmaster.  I can't believe that Haggis has been connected with Stand for about half a century when I was there there were rumours of his retirement, that he had gone blind all sorts of stuff - what an institution.  I have had so many laughs over the last few weeks of Goofy Hunter (he was history master when I was there) being hit with a black pudding in morning assembly. (This was actually David Hudson - Martyn)

You are certainly doing great stuff and it's a pity that no more old boys have come across the web-site.

Keep up the good work - they might be demolishing the old school but they can't demolish the memories.

With kind regards

Barry

Martyn - Pending your update you might like to add the following:

Homework

Compare and contrast the following testing methods for legality and (b) effectiveness:

The "Chester Method":

"Right, pens out - we're having a vocab test, pass mark 8 out of 10 or you get a detention -
Here's yours, Mercer! (handing him the slip ready made out)...  Numero un ....."

The "Revie Method":

"Right - test tomorrow - pass mark 9 out of 10. Everybody will get 9 or EVERYBODY  will stay in.
Also, if anybody fails I WILL BREAK EVERY BONE IN HIS BODY."

Regards David Sheldon

Malcolm Megitt wrote:

Martyn

Glad to see that the Stand website is up and running and better than ever.

Re the photo of the prefects 58-59. Dennis Gore is now "Dennis the Chemist" of TV and radio fame. Jeff Philips is now a doctor in Adelaide, Australia. The character 4th from left in the middle row, Gabriel Jacobs, is now Professor of something to do with computers and business at Swansea University.

More power to your carpal tunnel.

Malcolm

philsilvert@phils.u-net.com wrote:

Hello

Neil Larah pointed me in this direction and it brought back memories... That mezzanine floor!  What sacrilege that looks !!!  I started in 1964 and it's amazing how many of those teachers are engraved in your mind...  I remember taking part in the Salford Road Research campaign where they taught half the year to drive via BSM (at the age of 16) and monitored the rest... Ended up that parking round the school by the boys outnumbered the staff though the boys had "better" cars...  Remember the days when they decided that the railway bridge outside Whitlefield Station was in danger of collapse and traffic was diverted - for months a temporary bridge was installed that caused havoc.  Whilst in the 6th form, they had a purge on the skivers of Wednesday afternoon games and many many were suspended on the spot...  From 1b to 2b (Room 21 in huts) throgh to 3e, 4a, 5e, 6e and thats all from memory...  Who remembers Tim Lyons and his stand against the school - this was revolution - he took many of school to bottom of field and held a strike - though it didn't last long.

Keep up the site and its a shame the building is being demolished..

Phil Silvert
philsilvert@phils.u-net.com

We had been told what a beast Smelly Smethurst was and waited for him in silence. The first lesson September 1970 ( 1S) went well in the huts and he seemed nice. Our pals from 1C couldn't believe it.

"The Maths teacher?"
"Yes"
"The one with glasses"
"Yes"
"Broad accent ?"
"Sort of .."

The next lesson was even better. We actualy started mucking about and banging desks. Ian Harvey Domnitz was braying at the chap and we realised that the other classes were all stupid. This guy was easy meat. That was the Thursday and the Friday.  Weekend came and went. Nobody did their Maths homework ( Backing books in brown paper).  On Monday we entered the room and looned about and then in walked hell...Smelly Smethurst. He murdered us there and then and we realised that we had Smelly for Geometry and Arithmetic and MR SHENTON for algebra on Thursdays and Fridays.

Nobody spoke in Smelly's lessons.

One day Keith Halliday said he felt sick and ran from the back of the room vomiting onto Smelly's desk.. that was  a good one..

As time got on Smelly mellowed.  Who can forget the dreamy look in his eyes as he mused

" Ehhh lad,  'ave you never flown a kite .. thar 'asn't lived.."
 

Great guy

Great times

Will send more…

Tom Sweetman

70-76

Terry Mitchell wrote:

Martyn

Thanks for your prompt - the photo's certainly bring back some memories but first could you note that I now have a home e-mail which is TMM@Tinyworld.co.uk.

Now back to the pics - the prefabricated classroom number 21 was my first home at Stand. On starting there in September 1951 I was put into Form 1C with this as our Form Room.There are a number of memories associated with it - the pot-bellied coke stove which stood at the back and used to glow red-hot when fully charged. It had a magic effect upon any milk which was dropped on the top - the droplets bounced and whizzed about until they disappeared into the ether - milk was compulsory then (before the days of cholesterol) and the stove was an amusing means of disposing of it. It was only many years later that it was established why so many boys dropped off in lessons - the stove leaked carbon monoxide! It was a wonder any of us survived! In those days we used to change for games in the form room - it was considered great fun to eject maked classmates out into the winter snow (at least it was until it happened to me - the embarrassment was compounded by the appearance of thegoegraphy teachers wife at the front door of their house which was the last in the adjacent cul-de-sac). The geography teacher was Dicky Plantpot (Richard Vause in real life) - you won't know him as he left for Canada in the mid-50's. A name often mentioned by your correspondents is Ivor Jones, the Woodwork Teacher. He was our Form Master: I've still got the report he wrote at the end of my first year - something on the lines of " a cheery little chap but he won't get anywhere..." I'm still unsure whether he was right or wrong in his forecast. I must say, in self defence, that I felt his view was biased by the results of my first woodwork lesson when we were instructed to plane  the sides of a piece of wood. I would get one side square but the other was out - so I set about the other - on and on I went until the wood was reduced to the size of a matchstick. It was fortunate really as when Ivor found out he proceeded to hit me over the head with it ( I think I still have the splinters).

I must admit that my only distinction at this time was to be the smallest boy in the class and the year and, in fact in the whole school.

The view of the balcony brought memories of the two "cards" of our year Sam Wilde and Jo Conway. Wilde, I think it was, who walked around the guard rail (the floor then was at ground level) -- it still makes me dizzy to think of it.

Another of their escapades involved the last upstairs classroom on the left (if facing Stand Lane). There used to be a wooden ladder up the wall to a trap-door. A few brave souls had climbed the ladder and lifted the trap-door - they established it led into the eaves of the roof. One day, before the master turned up, Wilde (who wasn't even in our class) went up into the roof. Of course the master turned up before he had come down.  Wilde proceeded to entertain us all by pulling faces and hanging down from the trap. It was, of course only a matter of time before the master twigged but he didn't know who it was. He called for the culprit to come down - which he didn't. The master then climbed the ladder - with nil effect. This was where he made his big mistake - he went up into the roof to pursue Wilde who, of course, completed the circuit before the master and effected his escape without being caught.

Wilde & Conway were also involved with an un-reconstructed Conway Castle which we visited on "Archies Last Trip" (Archie Smith was the Art Master in 1951) but I think I'll leave that tale for another time - if anyone's interested that is in such ancient history.

Sincere Regards

Terry (Tex) Mitchell

Jeff Philips wrote:

Hi there,

Jeff Phillips is my name, I was at Stand from1952 to 1960, Sammie Medlar was my first headmaster but left 2 or 3 years later. Several of the names of teachers mentioned in your letters bring back memories to me. I remember Joe Bogg and his very slow push bike. It went about the same speed as racing cyclists do when they are at the top of the bank just before they accelerate (i.e. more or less stationary). I remember Ernie Hanson and his ability to spin round and without looking throw a piece of chalk with amazing accuracy at the person who was not concentrating. Incidentally  he introduced me to the  world of amateur theatre. He regularly  directed the school play and my first venture was in a play I believe was called “ The Master” . I did not realize it until  later but wearing a bald wig and glasses made  me look exactly like him! I remember being temporarily “demoted” from the position of prefect following a speech day in Manchester. A few of us were seen entering a pub and climbing on a statue  in front of the town hall. I can’t remember the name of the statue but there were several steps leading up to it. We were in fact just posing for a fake photo. It was at the time of the goons popularity and I guess we behaved rather like they did. I think that Dennis Gore,  Tony Carter, Tony Edwards and Tony Hampson were also in the party ( I hope I haven’t slandered anyone?). In 1960 which if I remember was International Refugee Year . I organised a march through the streets of Swinton, Farnworth to Salford and back to School to raise money. We raised just about 95 pounds and with the help of the local  press this was raised to just over £100. They asked how much we had raised and when I said £95 they each said "I’ll make it upto 100"!

My brother Ian also attended SGS from about 1960, which seems to be more in  line with most of your letter writers. I now live in  Adelaide  in South Australia and work as a doctor in an emergency department.

Hope to hear from someone with a better memory than me for that period.
Cheers.
Jeff Phillips
jphilips@health.on.net

Must go   Dinner is calling, Regards to you all,especially anyone who was at Stand with me from 1948 to 1955.
Keep up the good work,
Harry Wilkinson

Never had such a laugh for such a long time, congrats on the Stand site may it go from strength to strength, I will certainly pass on the address. I was 1S in the '67 intake, the roll call of which is as follows: Bostock (Ian), Bragg (Ray), Carroll (Fred), Childs (Dave), Coakley (Andy), Evans, Hanson (Roger), Hersh(Dave), Hibbert(Dave), Horwich (Len), Isaacs, Khan, Levinson (Martin), Logan(Phil), Mendlesohn, Murden (Keith), Myles (Pete), Pickles (Trevor), Shaw (Geoff), Shinwell (Ian), Smart, Snipe (Pete), Tomlinson (Dave), Wardle (Steve), and of course Weidenbaum (Danny). As to current whereabouts, Ian Bostock is in Ramsbottom, I am still in touch with his younger Bro Andy, intake of 1970. Len Horwich I have come into contact with a couple of times in my work. He is an accountant (possibly semi-retired, due to ill health).  I am a civil servant, "Boo, hiss", I hear you say, but someone has to do it. It was because of my job that I bumped into Anthony Golumbeck and he mentioned your site.

Dave Hersh emigrated to Israel in about 1970, I often wondered how he got on out there. Dave Hibbert is a GP in Salford as you are now aware. Andy Coakley was working for the CIS or Co-op Bank when last I heard of him many years ago. I am told that, sadly, Keith Murden may have passed away a while ago but I stand to be corrected. As for the rest I often wonder what became of everyone.

I do know that Steve "Trom" Mort found his way to the Midlands, and Sam Wilson  is now in Edinburgh (both of a couple of years above me). Andrew "OOF" Russell was, a while ago, in journalism (again a few years above me). Tony Gallagher ('67 intake) is in adhesives but I haven't spoken with him for a while, still in the Bury area. His older brother, John, was, I believe, teaching.  Alan Dearden ('65 intake?) is just round the corner from me in Bury, Alan Robinson ('62 or '63 intake?) is in Whitefield.  We are still in touch.

Steve Parris (67 intake)  is in Warrington teaching, went to his wedding and was his sister's best man. From time to time come across Steve Lane from a couple of years below me. I had the opportunity to work in the wilds of Shetland back in 1979.  The practice then was on the Friday afternoon, to gather at the Queens Hotel.  At this renowned tavern I was introduced to a gent carrying a tray of drams, one for each whether we partook or not (you were classed as a tart if you did not). I was astounded to find that the piss-artist with the tray and the drams was a certain Neville Greehalgh of Lily Hill Street, Old Standian of Whitefield Parish, the old school tie was something of a give away. We swopped stories then of masters and Bast**ds we had known. Strange how Haggis seems to have been at the school forever. Maybe we should campaign for the streets of the new estate to be named after the worst masters?!! Benjy Drive, Haggis Avenue, Smellie Street (maybe not), etc etc.

Not heard Davis mentioned yet (Jason King / Peter Wygarde look alike), nor Cliff Baxendale or Barry Thornton the art masters. Cliff was until recently at Bury College.They both had the shop Genesis in Bury for a while back in '70s and '80s  Keith Revie is at Bury Grammar and seems not to have changed over the years. Retirement must be his reward soon. What about Jock Weir?

Spoke to my sister tonight Ruth Layton nee Hanson, she recalls your sister Elizabeth and mentioned staying at your house and even spoke of osculation  (Oo-er! I've been caught! - Martyn)!!!  Strange, I can't picture your face yet.  Ruth is still in Whitefield , she has the web address, now works for Barclays  Her boys go to Phillips High.

I still have a copy of the School songs on the tiny bits of paper wot it were writ on, also spent time today the day after the night before going through my musty copies of Standian 1967 to 1970.  Did they print them after that? If so why didn't I get one?  Amazing how much of an emphasis there was on poetry in the mag.

Anyway I shall stop prattling for now.

All the best
Regards and Shalom,
Roger Hanson, 1S 1967 to 1973
Failed 9 O-levels in one sitting ( later diagnosed as being due to ill health, honest), re-sat and got some, including Chemistry, despite Molecules
Murray.

I'll scan the school songs if you wish and send it down the line.
 
 

Martyn,  please find attached a scan of the little sheet that we used to be given for speech day so that we knew the words. I have sent it as a JPEG in the hope that you can deal with such a file. The bmp version is about 2.3mb.  I am trying to contact Steve Parris after seeing his photo as an 11 year old.  Passed on your compliments to Ruth, Yes my brother is Ross, now down in London after several years as a sailor with Manchester Liners sailing the world. He now manages Burger King restaurants down there. We have another bro, Philip, who works fro the MoD down in Devon. Away from my family, wasn't there an Oster in our year, and if so was it a Steve Oster? (No, it was an Ian - Martyn)There is a Steve Oster working on the various Star Trek progs, could it be one and the same? I did meet Steve End about 20+ years ago in Picadilly, Manchester, I believe he had studied Law and was about to go to California to live and work. What about Ricky Manville, what happened to him? If you allow you mind to wander it would possible to come up with so many guys.

Must go and cook lunch
Regards and Shalom
Roger Hanson

PS made contact with Pete Drysdale, he is not as Dave Crompton thought, in Oz but down near Reading.

Moving away from the Pyschotic and onto the world of the perverts, two names come quickly to mind but my solicitors suggest a liberal use of the word 'allegedley'. To my recollection the music teacher Benji Britten was an 0898 number before it was
introduced. Bubbles Clarke, a science teacher also had unusual inclinations, making them the perfect 'Odd couple'.

Other teachers who deserve a mention include Emile Schlesinger who taught French and organised the photographic Society and sadly passed away about two or three years ago. Also Chippy Wood, who taught geography, Cliff Baxendale who taught art was a good friend, whilst I remember the two B's, Broadbent and Bolland, who attempted to impart their knowledge of gzintas and sums!

Finally on the subject of non-evolved creatures, step forward Hairy Hynes, who set new standards of  sadism. There was a
suggestion that he was asked to leave the Khmer Rouge for unreasonable behaviour. He was last seen headhunting for Pol Pot in Cambodia!

And now for the stars of the show (don't start a sentence beginning with 'and' write me a four page essay on the inside of a ping pong ball and hand it in outside the Library after assembley tomorrow), and as I have already mentioned, 'The Screws'. Let's talk about the inmates, the pupils!

Gez and I would love to find out what happened to some of these guys who started in September 1966 and were paroled for good behaviour  between 1971 and 1973.

Bob Leigh, Tiger Thornley, Kev Cryer, Pete Preston, Andy Day, Phil Rowe, Dave Evans, Stephen Beckett, Johnny Hewitt, Louis
Lancaster, Pete Taylor, Andy Halliday, Micky Mills, just to name a few.  If anyone has information about any of these or just their Interpol file it would be gratefully received.

The people I am in touch with include Stephen Cantor, Robert Conrad, Anthony Alexander, Laurence Fruhman, Tony Simmons,
Tony Schock, Anthony Golombeck, Tony Showman. Steven Selwyn now lives in Perth (Australia) and I have his e-mail address and correspond from time to time.

Quick update on Gez and myself; Gez still lives in Whitefield,  is happily married, two children, one at Leeds University and works in management in the retail business. He asks that if the school is ever demolished that he might be allowed to light the first fuse!  As for me I own a Financial Services business which is situated at the bottom of Church Lane and as I park the car and walk to the office I still wonder if there will be a Prefect at the bottom who will reprimand for not wearing my cap or even worse still - running!!!!!!

With warmest regards and the hope of some responses...

Harris Frazer

Nice to see the website, an old classmate Greg Berry (now in Canada) tipped me off but he was afraid of getting in touch in case someone he beat up was now a solicitor or something. I dont remember beating anybody up despite my obvious advantage of size, so I think its safe to reveal myself. Attended 68-73 or thereabouts and was in Clive House. Saw a few familiar names on the website and this brought the memories (locked away for years) flooding back. Recognised a few faces on Alans Reynards Prefect Mugshot and can add a name: I think the blond lad between John Travis and Curle is Ken Grimes.

Here is my recollection of my Class 1C from 68 onwards:

John Barnes, Introduced me to the Music of Credence Cleawater Revival and Chuck Berry so thanks for that.Became Head Boy lucky I left or it would have been a close run thing John (Joke).

Neil Butterworth, I remember his bowling action quite clearly, good footy player too. He went on, as I did, to follow a career in the Architectural Profession.

Dave Croft, from Radcliffe Big guy dark hair, not too good at sports.

Philip Hudson, A good mate at the time, into Model Railways etc, ran into him years later at an MG spares shop.

Duncan Thompson, We had a pact to sing out of tune to avoid Benjy's Choir, and it worked!! (thank f~~k) Another lad from Radcliffe, he came off his bike on the way home from my house one night and broke his skull, probably still got a steel plate in his head. Are you there Duncan?

John Macadam, Remember this Guy? always in trouble for something.

? Edwards, clever lad I think he got moved up to 5th year early to do his O's

Martin Simons, Oh yes I remember him, he was the only person who wound me up enough to lose my Rag, he used to panic like shit when everyone was chilling before a lesson (before teach arrived) and he would sit there with his hands over his ears shaking and 'shhh'ing so I threw a text book at him. Sorry Martin.

John Travis, Bloody good runner as I recall, (don't remind me about X-country runs!)

John Mitchell, Another mate long after we left don't know where he is now, used to hang out at his place listening to Alex Harvey records.

Greg Berry, mentioned previously after a couple of years trying to break into the big time in our little band. Does anyone remember the night we played at the Girls School Folk Club playing Pink Floyd Covers. No? Oh well you don't know what you missed. Greg emigrated to Canada early 80's and we still keep in touch.

Neil Glendinning, Saw him a few times at my Dad's sailing Club near Bury.

Phil Myers, Alan Reynard, Phil Wood, All these guys seem to have had a mention already

My younger Brother also Neville attended Stand two years behind me, top sportsman, still at it.

Some teachers I have not seen mentioned already plus a few catchphrases:

Bob Oxley, English Teacher, loved his poetry, bit weird, that one.
Miss Boulanger, bit like the Sharon Stone Film - did she or didn't she?
Mr Philips,  Science, no particular characteristics.
Mr Hynes, Biology,  'You miserable cwetin, laddy'
Haggis Hargreaves,  ' If you don't like it here, Entwisle, leave! I don't care'. Actually I thought he was alright and his attitude to my athsma (he never accepted it) probably helped. He never used his slipper much on me but I remember it being produced from a drawer at the beginning of every Geography lesson.
Broadbent,  Maths  and my problems grasping Pythagoras' theorem.
Hunter, History and Careers (a life in the RAF, thats what you need, laddie).

Highlights: Cricket, Football, Cross Country Runs, Germany Trip, Railway Trip to Wales ( I've got some film of Bubbles Clarke bathing in a mountain stream if anyone wants a copy). I had an eye for a good story even in those days.

Thats all for now, a bit long winded but its better out than in. Hope some of it triggers some more memories for other Old Boys.
Please include my E-mail address link if you wish.
 

Ian Entwisle <ian.entwisle@ntlworld.com>

I don't remember you, but I was at Stand from 1968-75. My first class was 1P under the dubious control of "Benjy" Britten (music master, later convicted of offences on choir trips!). The names of fellow pupils still roll off the tongue: Basnett, Berg, Brooks, Caplan, Cohen, Cooke, Cowan, Done, Evans, Franklin, Haywood, Hobson, Hodgson, Kaminsky, Latham, Leigh, Mainwaring, Norbury, Peel, Shaw, Taylor, Tinker, Wood & Woodcock (apologies to anybody missed out). My brother Paul (Peker) was a pupil from 1971-76.

I was one of the few not to go on to University, but joined NatWest straight from school, before leaving such secure employment after 22 years to start my own computer training business (Micro-Tutor), from home in Bury, which is proving very succesful.

Many of the names on your visitor board are very familiar, and the prefects were those from my year. The updated list is as follows:

back row( left to right): ???, Martyn Simons, Philip Wood, ???
upper middle row: ???, ???, Colin Glass, Tony Tinker, Sutherland, ???, Nev Bailey

lower middle row: ???, Andy Foot, John Travis, Ken Grime, Steve Curle, Larah, Goodman

bottom row: Alan 'Tarz' Reynard, John Taylor, Bruce Shaw(deputy, and later Head Boy), The Boss, Jon Barnes (head boy), Jackson, Dave Parkes

Although a member of the Old Standians Golf Association (new members most welcome!), I have never been to any old boys' reunions, but would be interested to hear of any future events. It would be nice to have a tour of the building before it is finally demolished - perhaps somebody out there would like to try and organise it!

David Haywood <MicroTutorBury@compuserve.com>

Also I was in the same class has one of your previous coresspondents Paul Pendergast whose nickname was "Digger".

I will write soon with some stories, I was primary school with the legendary Dave Crook and witnessed the legendary Black Pudding attack on D B Hudson.

Lawrence Jeffries
lnjeffries@cwcom.net
or
lawrence.jeffries@barclays.co.uk

I knew that this internet thing would find a use one day.

I was in the same class as Phil Myers, from 1968 to 1974. The letters that you posted have brought back memories.
Since living in France, I hardly seem to keep in touch with family and never thought that I would find old standians on the web.
Its a pity that the school is to be demolished, but the end probably started when they changed it to a sixth form college. I agree with Neil Larah that some of the values learned at Stand wouldn't be amiss around the world today.

I am sure that like others my reports at Stand said, "could try harder", so I glad to say that I am moving along steadily; latest is setting up a new company here in France to help companies move to the new business strategy of Mass Customisation; a long way from Haggis and the rest.

BTW: My dad also went to Stand and was taught by the same "Birch" that took us for Biology and if Hargeaves is still with the Old Standian Football Association, then that school certainly kept 'em going.

Thanks for the memories and good luck for the future.

Best wishes,

Simon H.Sutherland
General Manager
Enterprise Knowledge Systems, S.A.R.L.

* simon.sutherland@eksystems.com
( Tel: +33 4 93.95.31.48
( Fax: +33 4 93.95.52.58

Martyn,

After reading the various artlicles from other old boys on the Internet I think that I could add to the few sparse comments that I sent you earlier. I arrived at Stand in September 1957 and was in Philips and Form 1C. Ivor Jones was our form master and we had "Ernie" Hanson for Maths, Arthur Clayborough for English, Joe Whit "the Ancient Brit" for History, "Chester" Bradley for French, "Haggis" Hargreaves for Geography and later Gym and "Killer" Crouchley for Gym and in later years Mechanical Science.  The Beak (Head) Austin Williamson was keen that we should all learn Greek, but it was all Greek to us and I don't know of anyone pursuing it. There were always rumours that "Haggis" was going blind and was about to leave but from what I have read he was there a long time before I arrived and for a long time later. For Music we had "Rosebud" Roseberry and when he left, "Wimpy" Longstaff.  For  my sins and I never know why, I took up the violin and was press ganged into the  school orchestra.  I did my penance and never picked up the instrument again once I left school.  At least I can read music and it makes for some interesting dinner  conversation.  My good friend Paul Holden, who is now an accountant in Manchester, and who played the clarinet and I were the only members of the orchestra who refused to join the school choir - I never realised that I actually had a mind of my own in those days.  What insubordination! No one has mentioned our other school song "Forty Years On" and while I can find the words and all the verses to Gaudeamus Igitur (are there really more than three?) on the Internet I cannot find "Forty Years On".  Perhaps if someone finds it they can let me know. The highlight of the year used to be Founder's Day in Stand Church because that was where at last we did something with the Girls School, I mean the Sports Ground was next to their school but we never got to see them. Do they have a web site?  I left Stand after 'O' levels in 1962 joined District Bank in Manchester, finally moved to London and became a Foreign  Exchange Dealer when District merged into National Westminster Bank. Then I went to New York, Chicago, Singapore and Sydney and after I left NatWest have worked as a bank or investment company Treasurer in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

Regards, Barry K. Noden

Martyn,

Great to hear from you, I do remember you, funnily enough associated with 2C and not the 1st year.  I will send andecdotes, but when you post my e-mail address, please post it as ianj@areanet.co.uk and not the axa-insurance address as this is only temporary whilst I am on contract here till the end of the year, or copy on both addresses if you want.

With respect to individuals, I can update you as follows.

Adler - no record, Barnes - no record, Berning, Bedgood - yes they were characters - no record of them, Clyne - I see Ian regularly at the local house of worship, he is married with 2 boys, I saw him at a function this weekend, he is fine. Crompton - Australia, End - see his brother Garry, he is in the local theatre group, Steven, who I once had a fight with after calling him a tw*t is in the USA I think. Gibson - no record. Gilbert  - no record - is OK according to his brother. Hargreaves, Haslam, Kerr - no record. Lomas, Mort, Nortley, Parris - no record. Shuck, here's and interesting one, he's I believe in Australia playing the piano under an assumed name, was married in England as I understand it, but
divorced and went South.  I see his brother as my young lad is friendly with his son Strong - worked for ICL for a while, dealt with him on a couple of occasions.  Roach - no record. Walton - no record. I remember him as a great artist

As for others not in 1R (Miss Fletcher ) Mark Samberg - see him occasionally. Tony Jacobs - see him quite often. Mike Abrahams, he has disappeared and I cannot find him.  He once took a few of us back to his house one lunch time to view some sordid mags, I even remember the name of it, "Rolling Balls", it must of made an impression Neil Larah (one year behind us) is now my brother-in-law !

Talking about PRSM, I don't remember much about the subject matter, organic chemistry as we spent most of the lessons in hysterics.  Mark Samberg used to take the p*ss out of him the whole lesson, but we couldn't hide as the lessonswere in that strange room off the balcony (room 13?) which had raked seats. There was no escape.  I remember there was a tank full of tadpoles in there, and Samberg & Co spent a lesson pulling the legs of them.  I objected and got grief for the next nine months, but not as much as Samberg got for his infamous wet look (space) boots he started to wear for school.

Anyway, go to do some work.  You can write this up once in your book and 6 times on paper by tomorrow (Smethurst).  Apple, Bananas, Cherries and Donuts - 4 teams GO !!!! (Haggis)

Regards
Ian J

Hi Martyn,
Great to see the Old Standians web site.  I'm Ian Joseph and was at Stand from 1967 to 1974.  They were memorable (or not so memorable) years.  Neil Larah put me in touch with the site and it came as a shock to be reminded of all those things I thought I had forgotten.  I was in the school the other week for my daughters careers evening and other than a bit of re-engineering it hasn't changed at all.  I  now own a successful computer consulting company in Altrincham and live in Bury. My brother, Howard, also and Old Standian has also been very successful in the IT industry.  I have many stories about the old place particularly relating to the infamous music teacher, the rather rotund Physics teacher, the 'hairy' biology teacher, the Captain Kirk look-alike Chemistry teacher (PRSM) and the eccentric Art teacher who once accused me of telling him Michael Abrahams' father had DIED when he was quite well and at home, and I nearly got caned for that.  I have many anecdotes if you want them.

This is class 1R from 1967:

Adler, Barnes, Bedgood, Berning, Clyne, Crompton, End, Gibson, Gilbert, Hargreaves, Haslam, Joseph, Kerr, Lomas, Mort, Nortley, Parris, Roach, Shuck, Walton.

Regards
Ian Joseph

My brother who was five years ahead of me at Stand told me of your site. I was at Stand from 1971 to 1979. Does anyone remember Dave Crook?

He was bet by his so called "mates" that he wouldn't hit Hudson on the head with a black pudding during morning assembly. Sure enough on the day he crept onto the side of the stage, dressed in cloth cap, braces, and rolled up trousers and bovver boots. He walked up to Hudson, tapped him on the shoulder, and hit him on the head with the pudding to the war cry "ecky thump!". He was expelled on the spot although most of us were laughing so much we didn't hear that bit!

There followed a (not very strenuous) "Dave Crook is innocent campaign" but alas the lad lost his place at Stand and I believe a job for which he had an offer.

He did get his 15 minutes of fame though as it got 1/3 page in a leading tabloid.

Howard Joseph

In the tennis courts. next to the canteen. cricket practice consisted of firstly removing the tennis nets! Then a cricket wicket was strategically placed at the top & bottom of each court. Bowlers bowled at the wicket, ran up the tennis court, watched out for the next bowlers delivery, retrieved the ball and continued the rotation. Hargreaves' rule was, if some daft pillock was in the way of the bowler, sod him! On this occasion Haggis's son, who you may or not know attended the School, was in front of Steve, and Steve was a very quick bowler. Remember!  Don't stop bowling at any cost! Son of Haggis bowled, went to retrieve his ball, which was now nestling just short of a length in front of the stumps. Steve grabbed his one and only chance and fired a lethal bouncer. As 'H' junior picked up his ball, he turned and received the bouncer smack bang square in the face. Marvellous. Haggis couldn't bollock Steve as his suicidal instructions had been obeyed to the letter.  He'd never imagined that his own son could be so dozy. Steve carried on with the rotation bowling & son of 'H' was carted off to Bury General with blood all over his face & a broken nose. Steve told me at the time he had mixed feelings of ecstasy & possible expulsion. Hargreaves never said a word and Stephen never played for the first team again.

 I hope you will consider this anecdote worthy of posting on the S.G.S. site as Stephen who left with 2 'O' Levels would really like to be in the 'Virtual Hall of Fame'

 Regards,

Alan K Reynard
 

Postscript from Steve Wood...

I have just read Alan's story regarding me and a certain "accident". The basis of the story is factual, but I must correct Alan.  I did, in fact,  leave with six O-levels, and not a moment too soon.

Still, I've just taken delivery of a new S-class Jaguar, so to everyone who taught me, "Bollocks"!

Regards Stephen Reynard Wood. (I trust you will make the alteration to save the blushes of a failed academic!)

I was at Stand in 68-76:  I re-sat A-levels together with Rob Cookson and Shaun Jackson and we were lovingly known to Bubbles/Clanger Clarke as "returned empties". Now who is laughing? -you bastard!! - no hard feelings really in case you are reading this, Malcolm. In fact I took a canal holiday in '73 and came across Clanger and the school's model railway society just outside Nantwich Marina. Who remembers the school stage and lighting teams-putting up the stage was slave labour.  Other legends- did the bomb in the desk in room 7 actually go off? Was the grand piano actually hoisted up from the balcony? Ecky thump!!!

By eck, we had some characters there:

Smethurst "once in yer best boooooks and five times on paper"  ( in broad dialect). Monsieur Desprez "Fauteuille Adelman!!!!!" Digger Graves who sent us to the Beak for deliberately going bankrupt in the economics game. Who remembers the tape recorder in the library with all sorts of sounds on it waiting for Graves to take the period?  He didn't, some woofter did and Hynes was called in to sort out the absolute mayhem.

On a serious note, my kids are at MGS and although it has an excellant academic record, the discipline is nowhere as strict as SGS was.  For all its faults, the discipline it imposed would not be lost on todays kids, mine included (spoken like a prefect!!!)

Regards to all and sorry to those who received four sides from me

Neil Larah

Whilst surfing the net I came across your SGS site. I attended the school from 1968 until 1974, if my memory serves. Anyway, I am taking the liberty of sending you a photograph of the prefects which you may or may not be interested in (you may put me in virtual detention detention for this if you want). Unfortunately, I can't remember all the names, but the ones I can are below:

back row( left to right): Keith Murden, Martyn Simons, Philip Wood, ???

upper middle row: Danny Weidenbaum, Phil Haslam, Colin Glass, Tony Tinker, Simon Sutherland, Mike Smith, Nev Bailey

lower middle row: ???, Andy Foot, John Travis, Ken Grime, Steve Curle, Neil Larah, Goodman

bottom row: Alan 'Tarz' Reynard (me), John Taylor, Bruce Shaw (deputy, and later, head boy), The Boss, Jon Barnes (head boy), Jackson, Dave Parkes.

Incidentally, Wood, on the back row,(who is my cousin) was once banned from playing football by Haggis. His crime was not turning up for football practice. The thing was that he had a broken leg at the time and was in plaster from his thigh to his ankle. Never did work that one out.

I see that there is a reunion in December. I think it's probably about time I turned out again.

Please excuse the crappy typing and I hope the picture is of interest- there were some dodgy barnets & fashions all those years ago!

regards,

Alan K Reynard

I'll get in touch again next week on the computer at work when I'll provide further details of the dinner and mention a range of Old Standians that might jog memories

Keep the page going!

all the best,
Phil Myers

Thanks for your note with "Tex" Mitchell's address.

We just came back from a holiday in UK. As usual the pubs, the big breakfasts and the countryside were great. ( We were walking around Pitlochry and visiting friends in Manchester and the South ) However it's pretty expensive over there!!

Keep up the good work! Your web page is much appreciated.
Hope all is well with you    Cheers Geoffrey Allen

Howard Crompton

Hi Martyn Thanks for note. Have you got Terry Mitchell's e-mail address ? By the way I noticed recently, in the English press, that Howard Jacobson has a new novel out based on his experiences growing up in Manchester !! Should be interesting !

Cheers Galsk

Martyn, What a suprise to see 1C listed on screen. I was only thinking of Al Sowden the other day after I had to tell a young lad off for spitting on a train passenger. And Danny 'the javelin' Weidenbaum, how the devil is he?

I left England in 1978 and now live in Australia. I notice that Drysdale also lives here but I havn't crossed him. Still keep in touch with Adrian Clinton and did with Jack Strong until the mid 80's. I will think on the site and forward you a proper story when I have time.

Dave Crompton (dvjc@trisoft.com.au)

Hi Martyn

Found your site while searching Alta Vista for Stand Grammar. I too was a pupil back in 74-79. You may know my brother Dave who I think was there abut the same time that you were.

We are from Radcliffe (Chelsea Ave, Bolton Rd Estate) but both now live in Sydney Australia.

Rather than prattle on, check out my website on www.spin.net.au/~andhow I would appreciate a link on your page as I have with yours.

I too remember most of the teachers you name and will never forget the smell of that woodwork room. I have one of those long, full-school pictures taken in 74 so I'll check it and refresh your memory of some other teachers (Clanger Clarke for Physics and the deputy head Harmless Hunter for example.

The classic I always remember was a lad called Jackson running into maths class late and saying "Thank f***, I thought Towie was here". He was, standing behind the door. Ouch!

In my first year I was in Haggis's form and geography and gym classes. What a bastard he could be. I still know the map of Lancashire off by heart. His legacy lives with me (along with that of "Percy")

Take Care,

Howard Crompton 

It's funny what you find when you're bored. I was at Stand but it is 40 years since I left. I wondered what happened to Geoff Allen (Galsk to his contempories). Maybe I should publish the photo of him in his scout uniform - perhaps he'll send money to stop me! (I think we should try that! Martyn) When I get more time (I'm retired - British Gas deciding it could do without 50,000 of us) so I find myself continually up to my whatnots in something, I will send my school memories. Beware, though, I am one who learnt nothing but remembered everything.

Cheers

Terry Mitchell

Odd, the things we choose to search for, isn't it? I chose "Stand Grammar" and found your page. What a joy! It brought back so many memories, not all good. I was there from 1970-1975 and fully agree with the comments about teachers given in your previous "Star letter". Didn't Benji Britten end up in jail for his predelection for little boys? I seem to recall something about a fairground in Wales, but I might be wrong. I do recall him hitting a boy's head against a desk corner (Martyn Lee?).

Your "Star letter" says that Cain was the first teacher to call boys by their first name but I disagree and remember Revie doing this with sixth formers.

Thanks for the sight.

Regards,
Keith Jones

1. A lot of the staff were plainly psychopaths. Haggis's Percy and Uncle Percy (slippers administered to an almost bare backside) simply set the tone of cruelty and violence. Graves, Hynes, Hilton, Crouchley, Murray, Towie - These men would not be allowed near young boys today.

2. Others lifted idleness to an art form : Baz Brooks, Broadbent, Bowers, Bradshaw. And that's just the B's.

3. Some were plainly perverts. I remember Clarke, the Physics teacher stroking my 14 year old face in one lesson, saying, "Mmm, you Jewish boys do get hairy very early on". And as for Benji Britten, who Harry Pilling said was feeling his chest in special after school singing practice lessons, in the tiny store room next to the music room, on the flimsy pretext of seeing whether he was using the right muscles to sing, no comment is needed.

4. The women staff were, each of them, weird. Miss Jones, Annie Marshall, Jennie Lee, Miss Bunting, Miss Howard: Automatons each.

5. But .... but .... some others of the staff were simply the sort of people who were so inspiring that it's impossible to forget their influence. Goodness knows what they made of the rest of them. Tab Hunter, Jasper Swift, Peter Moss the art teacher, John Shuttelworth, Willy P the biology teacher, Whittaker (Benji's replacement), Gordon Cain (the first teacher (1977) ever to call boys by their first names), even Costello Jones the communist who went off to Russia. Kind men, intelligent men. I hope they are happy now.

I found out recently that Hargreaves died.* Shortly afterwards I met the novelist Howard Jacobson (another Old Standian) at some literary event in London. He looked bored. I told him of Haggis's passing. He lifted his glass and smiled. "I'll drink to that", he said, and we both parted slightly, ever so slightly cheered.

I hear now that the building is for sale at £3m. We need to buy it. Stand deserves it own museum.

jseitler@wilberforce.co.uk

* Not yet! Martyn

Hello Martyn

Saw your page while surfing. Really enjoyed it. I attended Stand ´52-57. Only a few of the teachers mentioned on your page were at the school in my time.

"Haggis" lorded it over the gym, forcing poor buggers who had forgotten their kit to do gym naked. Boys who were unfit (anything from a broken leg to a common cold or leprosy) were sent out to pick up waste paper in the yard, if they couldn't produce a current doctor's note.

Ivor Jones was woodwork master. If you dropped a tool in class, you had to stay behind for an hour after school and sharpen chisels. Classroom thrashings were an everyday occurrence. The French teacher, Duckworth, used a gym shoe which he called Monsieur le Frappe.

The English teacher was a certified lunatic - he not only told us that he had been incarcerated in Prestwich Lunatic Asylum, but, after he escaped, he wrote a book about his experiences there. His name was Joseph Ogden, "Joe Bogg", father of the world famous pianist John Ogden. His English lessons were a riot. The first thing he did with us first-formers was to test us for colour blindness in the middle of a lesson on Chaucer.

The maths teacher, "Ernie" Hanson could draw a perfect circle on the board; he executed this party piece with great aplomb, pirouetting half way through to complete the circle with his back to the board. We were totally overawed.

When someone hid all the blackboard dusters the headmaster, Williamson, responded by having one lavatory door removed every day "until the culprit owns up". No one stepped forward, and after a couple of weeks of open cubicles, the doors were replaced.

He was appointed head in 1956. In his "A Note from the Headmaster" in The Standian of that year, he wrote "...The boys had yet to be encountered, but I found the Lancashire boy not so very different from his counterparts elsewhere - friendly, yet with that due meed of suspicion, with which all boys greet the unknown in authority..." Meed! I've never forgotten the word. And I've never seen it used in print, or ever heard it on anyone's lips.

How about a little challenge? I'll give one hundred Swedish kronor (about £10) to the first old boy who sends me a copy of a piece of print in which the word "meed" appears. Dictionaries and similar excluded, of course.

Well, that's it for now. All old boys, especially contemporaries, are welcome to get in touch.

Keep up the good work, or as we say here, fortsätt med det goda arbetet!

Malcolm Megitt

Thanks for letters. By the way I was really impressed by your web page, in particular the photo of the ladies in the weaving shed as my grandmother was a weaver at Walker Allens until she was over 70!

I originally lived on Milltown St and moved to Upper Dean St in 1952, just before starting at SGS. My mother worked in the Coop Confectioners and Cafe opposite to the Woolpack until 1962 when she re married and gave up retired from work.

I have all kinds of books on Radcliffe as I am in touch with Frank Sunderland, and was a member of Radcliffe Local History Society for ages. Actually if you check the back of the Book on Radcliffe you will note that I am subscriber number 111! My main claim to fame was in 1982 when Bury were hesitating over buying Radcliffe Tower for five pounds... I sent them a money order from over here and made the front page of the Radcliffe Times !

You know that Bury Council has its own web page so you can get in touch with any members of council by email. Also the Bury Times also has a web page so you can pick up the news every Friday.

Must go as my other half is waiting to use the phone ( she is from Bolton but she's OK!!!)

Talk to you soon. Regards to the family

Geoffrey

Paul Prendergast

Thanks for your reply.

I spoke to my brother (Steve) and he does remember you and Rob Shimmin. He also mentioned the names of several others who were in your year. He particularly remembers Steve Hadfield who was a promising golfer whilst at school. There was also Mark Jones and David Bellairs who attended 'Stand All Saints' primary school (Elms Street, Whitefield) with Steve before moving up to Stand Grammar. This was also the primary school that I attended and our younger brother Robert, who was in the year below me, before we passed our '11+'. Wasn't that an easy test? I always said it was like doing the 'Beano' puzzle page! Still it did mean that at 11 I was separated from the majority of my friends and the fairer sex for the next 5 years. Most of my friends were sent to 'Whitefield County Secondary School' better known as 'Albert Road' but besides myself 3 lads and 5 girls from our school attended Stand Grammar. They were:-

Ian Harrop - runs a very successful 'Metals' business in Bury. I do still see him from time to time. I attended his 40th last December and met up with another 'Old Boy' from our year Alan Brechin. It is worth mentioning that at this party was yet another 'Old Boy' (I cannot remember his name - one too many Boddingtons!) who had brought along a large photograph of the entire school with approximately 700 staff and students. Unfortunately the photo was taken the year after I left.

David Fletcher - never heard of since.

John Smith - never heard of since.

Judith Berry Karen Bradshaw Carol Burdakey Janet Jones Jeanette Kay

I have lost touch with all the girls but did once meet Janet Jones in 'The Three Arrows' (now renamed 'The Ainsworth Arms') Radcliffe.

Another name that you might remember is Philip Holden. I believe he was in your year and I think he lived on Hollinhurst Road, Radcliffe. He is married to a friend of my wife's.

Congratulations on the Stand Grammar School Homepage I like the idea very much. I hope you have the time and inclination to maintain and develop it. I saw something similar on the Internet for a school in the USA when I was doing a search on Gaudeamus Igitur. There is much potential for such a site so keep up the good work. Contacting you has inspired me to visit the old school site as a starting point for some research. If I could track down the old school registers perhaps this information would be a useful development for your page.

Although I have been a hoarder all my life, I do not have much memorabilia from our school. However I do have a fading photograph of Stand Grammar School U.14XI football team 1971-72 which I will attempt to send you as a TIFF now

We are, from left to right:

Perhaps somebody will remember the faces and help with the names that I can't remember (We've now got 'em all, thanks to all who mailed in - Martyn).

And what about a role call of teachers. I remember the name of 'Digger' Graves that you mention, but not his face (somewhat like a grinning skull! - Martyn), and how can any of us forget 'Benjy' Britten (music).Yes, rumours of extra curricular activities were rife. Fortunately, I'm only too pleased to say, I don't have any sordid tales of my own surrounding musical tuition but I do recall being fearful of him as an 11 year old and being reduced to tears when I was selected for the school choir!

Other teachers that I recall:-

'Haggis' Hargreaves (P.E. and geography)
'Smelly' Smethurst (maths)
'Iggy' Jones (woodwork and technical drawing)
'Killer' Critchley (woodwork)
Cedric Cheetham (metalwork and engineering drawing)
'Hairy' Heinz (science) (Scary!!!)
'Willy' Birch (science)
Miss Boulanger (french) (Yes!!!)
'Tabs' Hunter (history)
Eckersley (geography)

The Headmaster at the time was Mr. Barnes and Deputy Head Mr. Hudson, I think.

I will sign off for now but will hopefully return with more information.

Howard Holt July '98

Howard Holt

I heard about your tenure on this planet from my brother Howard Holt who I believe has made contact with you recently. I too am an 'old boy' from the school but I was three years behind you. You probably pushed me downstairs or walked on my homework books 'inadvertently' sometime during 1971...

I had a jolly good wheeze at your home page material. Particularly the AOL CD usage almanac and the wind up page (has your number of friends tally, fallen away in recent times??!) It is good to see this modern technology being put to serious use to help mankind face the adversity of life and the more uncomfortable aspects of the human condition.

I would appreciate becoming a member of the talking-about-dangerous-sports club. I would volunteer my role to be 'steward-of-goodwill-prayers-should-anything-really-dangerous-be-considered' (northern division) a wholly administrative/support function you understand...

Anyway back to the old school. It sounds like you became a sixth former before you left, and then went on to some serious(!) education straight after. Us three boys (did Howard mention Stephen (call me 'Steve') who would have been in your year?) all left for apprenticeships (and the hard cash in the pocket thank you Gov.) as soon as the system would let us -the 'hard' work ethic was rife in our family at that time (what am I saying!!).

School days often look better looking back don't you think? I don't actually remember it being five years (70-75) of incessant pleasure, but I do think we were lucky to have the Grammar School Experience (something between Comprehensive School Hell and Public School Buggery I suppose). Howard has sent you a list of teachers he recalls - though I fear he has mis-spelt 'Killer' Crouchley's name. A couple of others you might remember:

Mr Toseland - English teacher with a propensity for classroom slumber.

Mr Whittaker - replaced Benji Britten (oh I'll come back to him!) as Music Teacher. Very tall and a thoroughly nice chap.

Mr Clarke - Physics teacher who bordered on the rotund. Quite close to Benji if I recall...

Mr Hudson - Replaced Dr Barnes as Headmaster during my time. good bloke though I had occasion to receive the cane of him a couple of times (I could never be bothered to do my homework!) I remember him wearing some rather effeminate glasses during my fifth and final year. NOTE - Hudson was a prime mover in getting SGS changed to a sixth form college I believe and he ended up being a Big Cheese at Bury College and now Bolton Institute (I could be wrong about that last bit, it is second hand information).

Mr Slazenger - never had him for a lesson, but I remember him having to corall the Jewish boys while we had our pagan assembly. I often wondered what they did in that room? did they have their own assembly or just read books?

Mr Chadwick - History and PE if I recall. One of the younger and more trendy teachers. I remember him bouncing a tennis ball between his hand and the inside of his elbow (perhaps that needs a diagram). Also he was one of the teachers who took us on a trip to Malham Tarn in Yorkshire. I remember this because on the motorway, he pointed out to us boys, the drinking establishment frequented by 'Killer' Crouchley.

There were more, but my memory is not good for those.

My favourites were 'Killer' Crouchley and 'Ivor' Jones. Both took me for Woodwork and KC took me for Engineering Drawing. I got an A and a B for those subjects at 'O' level. Definitely one of my great early achievements.

Mr Whittaker was also good too as my grounding in music allowed me to easily pick up the guitar after leaving school. I have since had numerous 'top' experiences playing in groups ever since.

I will write again with my Benji Britten recollections.

Just for the record Martyn: Robert Bradley Holt - attended 1970-75. Lived on Ripon Avenue Whitefield.

Regards

Bob

I too was born in 1956, and went to Stand Grammar from 1967 to 1974, and my memory for my contemporaries is poor to say the least. In other words I don't remember you.

I was in Philips, and ended up in 6B and 7B, where I do remember the 12 I spent my last two years cooped up with. In fact I saw Danny Weidenbaum just the other day.

I read your web page, having come across it trying to find out about rock stars and Stand. Are you aware of any famous Old Standians?

I am now a dentist, still living in Prestwich. My friend David Hibbert is a local GP, Pete Smart is a consultant pathologist, possibly in Ozzie land, DW living in Bucks but working part time in Manchester, David Ansell has been involved in BioMedical engineering research, Mike Green a dentist in Bradford. and so on.

Regards,

Tony Jacobs 

Good to see the old school on the internet

Barry K. Noden

Pupil from 1957 to 1962

Originally from Prestwich Now working in Kuwait and living in St.Petersburg, FL, USA

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