Sydney Ernest Wilson was still headmaster in 1934 but he was to leave the following year to become the Principal of King William’s College on the Isle of Man
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An increasing number of masters who were to well establish themselves over the next few years are now in evidence.
To some extent, the first item shown here epitomizes what the website is all about. Below was a picture of the very first issue of the Burton Grammar School Magazine, ‘The Cygnet’.
Although old and tatty, there is enough remaining to allow a full restoration, completely faithful to the original, so that future generations can see it exactly as it would have been on its issue in 1919.
The first Cygnet, Spring Term 1919 – Issue 1 recovered just in time
… now fully restored to its original condition and preserved forever
It is a nice feeling to be able to preserve these things, in a non-degradable medium, for later generations to enjoy before they are lost forever.
Photographs of course, are a very important part of the website. The oldest featured are almost 130 years old and many are damaged. This example is probably the only surviving example of a photo taken in 1931 and has sustained fairly serious damage.
All is not lost however! This is one of countless examples of the type of restoration work that goes on constantly to make the website possible with the painstaking reconstruction of both buildings and people leaving a badly damaged photo looking as though it was taken very recently.
Photos that are over or under exposed or taken with fairly primitive equipment can be digitally corrected meaning that very often, the photos featured on the website are far superior to the original photographic image.
Skills accumulated during the preparation of this site has led to work in restoring important documents, diagrams, drawings and photographs which I am happy to undertake.
So far, the only pupils identified in this 1934 VI Form photo are James ‘Jim’ Woolley, standing second from left, and John P Bull, center back. Centre of the front row is Stanley Dagley who was headboy at the time.
It is a sobering thought that many of those featured would soon be seeing active service in WWII – a thought that would have seemed pretty inconceivable at the time.
This picture, believed to have been taken in June 1934, remains a slight mystery. Aside from Mr Nicolson (Chemistry) in the central position who is easy to pick out, the others confirmed are R.G. Neill (Biology) to his right, John Bull second from left on the front row, two to his right is headboy, Stanley Dagley, and James ‘Jim’ Woolley (prefect) second from right on the front row.
In 1952, Norman Jones and Ellick Ward accompanied a group to Montreux in Switzerland. The entire group can be seen here up in the mountains. It is not clear who the two girls are and how they come to be there.
Back Row: Malcolm Griffin, Robin Shorthose, Jones, McGlynn, Ellick Ward, B06, G.A. Smith, Brian (Sam) Staley, John Hancock, Mick Jordan, Maurice Bucket, Sinclair, G. Shaw, Rose (and the two ladies in totally the wrong footwear!)
Front Row: Norman Jones, Gerard Evans, Barry Bourne, Iain Cotton, Godfrey Cooper, G. Moore, Michael Fraser, Gary Acres.
One of Robin Shorthose’s clearest memories of the trip was when a group of them went into a cinema that was showing, what was considered at the time to be a ‘risque’ film. In the foyer, fearing that it might be expensive, Gerard Evans braved to try out his french on an usherette with “Combien?”
This surprised her and caused quite a lot of amusement to the group. They still did not know how much tickets were until they got to the box office still feeling slightly nervous.
They went for a row on the lake where the Chateau de Chillon remains to this day, one of the most unchanged picturesque sights. On this occasion, having seen plenty of snow on the trip, they under-estimated the strength of the sun and many of them ended up with bad sunburn.
The other memory strongly recalled was that many of the Montreux citizens still walked around carrying rifles despite the war having ended some seven years earlier.
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.
Back Row: A.Williams, J.Ling, J.Buxton, P.Goode, V.Green, T.Mitton, R.Haynes, J.Southern, J.Smith, A.Thompson, K.Tomlinson, M.Smart, C.Taylor.
Middle Row: H.Kilner, M.Ball, G.Nash, D.Atkin, D.Brunning
Front Row: W.Strong, R.Mellor, J.Diggens, G.Cooper, K.Humphries, Gertrude ‘Polly’ Lownds (Form mistress), J.Hancock, M.Bennett, K.Siner, R.Atkinson
Floor: P.Jordan, R.Ratcliffe, P.Gardner
Back Row: Elton, Lacey, Stanbury, B04, Kevin Roe, Montague, Preston
Middle Row: M01, Warner, Cockayne, Golder, Johnson, Blake, Hulbert, John Green
Front Row: Yeoman, Peter Harrison, Bourne, Bob Danks, J. Cadwallader (Form master), F05, Stilgoe, Peter Collins, Bourton
This well survived picture shows the 1931 Wellington House with Mr ‘Cherry’ Orchard as House master.
The pupil at the far left of the first standing row, slighty blurred, is John Woolley. In the back row, and 8th from the right side of the picture is his younger brother Jim Woolley. It is a sobering thought that John, the elder, was born in 1913 and Jim in 1915; just before and after the outbreak of World War I.
Seated third from left on the middle row is Stanley Dagley who went on to become headboy.
Bond Street 1939 School Photo
