Back Row: Dai ‘Taffy’ Davies, R. Hayle, J. Tovey, R. White, I. Cotton, Norman Jones
Front Row: G.Newman, F02, M. Wilkins, Victor Roebuck, P.Williams, P. Bond, F06

Back Row: David Hough, David Berker, Kenny Adams, Robert Ash, Ian May
Middle Row: M.Potter, Paul Williams, Bob Taylor, M04, Cumpstead, Sam Smith, Tony Grief, Chris Powell, Dennis Minns, John Davies, Tony Fletcher, Andrew Gadsby
Front Row: Les Harrison, Derek Davenport, Tony Docksey, David Woolley, Peter Taylor, Bob Fletcher, Tommy Parker
Floor: Cosgrove, Alan Marshall

Back Row: Cosgrove, Huckerby, Bob Fletcher, Tony Fletcher, Dennis Minns, Keith Illsley, Ken Crocker, Clive Miller
Front Row: Tommy Parker, Derek Davenport, Peter Taylor, Tony Docksey, Tony Grief, John Davies

Back Row: Clive Hardy, Charlie Holden, ‘Freddie’ Yarranton, B04, Brian Luckett
Front Row: Edwards, Peter Ford, Ian Sutherland, Pat Oven, Chadfield

Please let me know if you can fill in any blanks or have any information.

Back Row: B01, Steven Cort, Martin Briscoe, B04, Brian Luckett
Front Row: David Henton, F02, F03, F04

Back Row: Peter Earp, Philip Butcher, Steven Cort, Colin Ball
Front Row: F01, F02, Paul Ballinger

Back Row: David Hartshorn, Simon Larbey, Philip Butcher
Front Row: Mark Turner, Paul Ballinger, Steven Cort, Peter Earp

Bond Street school had become hopelessly inadequate after its 80 years of usage. It was in fact, already experiencing difficulties before the outbreak of the first world war.

In 1918, 1931 and 1938, plans for a new school had looked close to coming to fruition but had eventually fallen through. A new school might have succeeded earlier had it not been for the outbreak of the second world war shortly afterwards.

Finally, in 1952, plans for a new school were accepted. A deal was worked out to exchange the land currently belonging to the school for a new four acre site in Winshill. Final plans were completed on time for March 31st 1953. By 1955, building was very well on the way and it was expected that occupancy of the new school would begin after the school holidays in September, 1956. The school buildings would belong to the Governors, chaired by Mrs Evershed; all equipment would belong to the Town.

On February 29th 1956 however, disaster struck. The exposed site on the top of a hill had not been glazed, particularly the large staircases, and a freak storm with almost hurricane strength winds tore the entire roof off the school and destroyed supporting walls and sections of the building. This proved to be disastrous and was to put back the opening of the school for a full twelve months.

The final cost of the building, not including any furniture or equipment, was a little over budget at £192,744 4s. 4d. It was opened in 1957 by Lord Evershed.

Aside from the main school, a new ATC headquarters complete with rifle range was built, assisted by a grant from the War Department, remembering that this was not that long after the war, together with a scout hut. In 1962, a Sports Pavilion was added together with a playing field extension and running track in substitution for the old pavilion and playing field in Lichfield Street close to the old school.

The school was designed to accommodate 540 pupils. It was allocated a staff of 28 including a Headmaster and Deputy. The Headmaster at the time of opening was Herbert Pitchford, better known as Horace, who had been headmaster at Bond Street Grammar School since 1950 but was soon to retire to be replaced by William Gillion. The majority of the staff also transferred from Bond Street; it was slightly extended in the first year.

By 1966, despite the new, large Dovecliff Grammar School now also serving Burton, the school was struggling for space with now over 600 pupils. In 1967, a new three classroom block was built which included a Technical Drawing room, a Mathematics room and an expensively equipped Language Laboratory overseen by Hugh Wood.

Dennis Grimsley belongs to one of the small number of staff whose association with Burton Grammar School started as a pupil before later returning to the teaching staff.

Dennis was a pupil from 1942 to 1950. He enjoyed good success, being a prefect in 1948/9 before going on to become Head Boy.

Aside from school colours for Rugby, Cricket and Cross Country, Dennis played for Derbyshire Schools Under 19′s Rugby XV in 1948/49 and was team captain 1949/50. He was also winner of the S.J.Ife Memorial cup in 1950 for ‘Best all round sportsman’. In the same year, he also became Captain of Drake Champion in a year when Drake were crowned House Champions.

Dennis gained a place at Nottingham University. He gained a 2nd Class Honours Degree in Chemistry in 1953 and a Certificate in Education 1954 when he was also appointed Chairman of the Education Department.

Soon after qualifying, Dennis served his National Service Commission from 1954 to 56 with the Royal Air Force. He married in 1956, just prior to demobilisation.

His first teaching post was back at his own Burton Grammar School in 1956 as assistant chemistry master to Norman Jones. He was appointed President of the Old Boy’s Association for 1960/61.

In 1961, Dennis left Burton Grammar School to take up the post of Head of Chemistry at Brunts Grammar School, Mansfield, where he remained until 1970. Following this, he took the post of Deputy Headmaster at Biddulph Grammar School and was ‘Acting Headmaster’ during 1974 until, as part of a reorganisation, he was appointed Headmaster of Blythe Bridge High School. He remained here until 1988.

He was President of Biddulph Rotary Club 1978 – 79 and was appointed a magistrate in 1981 which he served until 2002.

At various times, Dennis has been ‘Chairman of Probation Liaison Committee’; was ‘Chairman of Youth Panel of Leek’, then Staffordshire Moorlands and North Staffordshire. When this joined with Stoke-on-Trent, he became ‘Vice-Chairman of combined new North Staffordshire Youth Panel’.

Dennis was appointed a ‘General Commissioner of Income Tax’ in 1993 and became ‘Chairman of the Leek Tax Commissioners’ in 2003, a post he held until his retirement in 2007.

…. to be continued …