[Bilborough Grammar School]

Thanks for the feedback on the photos, I wish I had taken more but at the time I was limited by the expensive and relatively small memory cards.

 

I realised I got my dates mixed up! I was in the last Grammar intake in 1972 to 1977, then the Sixth form 1978-79.

 

As the last intake we were always the "sprogs" through out our time there! This to me was not a good thing and affected our overall behaviour which I think didn't allow us to grow up

as we didn't have any younger intake to base our behaviour on.

 

I was trying to think of other teachers I had not seen posted here and could only come up with Toby Goodchild who I think was the music teacher. Oh and Pete Ford (Economics) plus Pete ? (Economics and mountaineer who fell off one and left us without a teacher for a long while). I also wish I could remember name of the RE teacher who was a really lovely guy (despite my religious beliefs).

My form teacher for the sixth form was Mr Kirton in 1.6! I loved doing technical drawing with him (however remember being scared to drop a pencil (let alone the wooden pencil holders) and get lines but was always fascinated as to what he was sipping in that silver flask! I just realised that he gave me many happy memories as in making catapults in metalwork.

 

Oh another name popped in to my head Ms Bowen (Biology - a geordie who pronounced my as Curry much to the delight of my friends) and I met her much later when she worked for HR at Boots (I didn't get the job).

 

Random names I was at school/college with::

 

Mark Oakden

Simon Gledhill (year above me)

Richard Macrow (year above me).

Lee Cammack

Rodney Dykeman

Martin Dennis

Mick Walker

Clive Henson

Dave Ward

William (Billy) Woodcock

Gary Frost

Richard Scorer

Ian Foster

Chris Marshall

Dave Brierley

Martin Couzens (returned to William Sharp after first year)

 

 

Only males I am afraid but I am struggling to remember anybody if I am frank (my memory is poor at the best of times).

 

There are a few theatrical productions that spring to mind firstly The Caucasian Chalk Circle (the use of dual projectors fascinated me so I went to all the performances), The Pirates of Penzance (the aforementioned Mr Southgate was very good performing Major-General's song (as long as he could see the red light at the rear of the building)) and listening to Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads during rehearsal at full blast courtesy of Simon Gledhill without the teachers knowledge led to a life long love of that band) and finally West Side Story (towards the end of the old buildings life an ambitious and well performed show). During my time there I developed an interest for stage lighting and lit many many shows (including a performance by Gaffa (Including Wayne and his frog bass) which led to a brief spell as a follow spot operator at the (then newly opened) Theatre Royal (thank to an alumni called Simon Courtney-Taylor who was at the time time the sound tech).

 

Similarly to Slavertongirl I can't say I enjoyed my time at this establishment but there were some really good teachers who by their nature helped making some of the subjects for the time that they taught me really enjoyable. There were also others like Mr Jacobs who also gave so much more like the Chess Club and Stamp Club he ran which were all out of hours and most enjoyable.

 

Oh and for anyone that was there at the time whilst I was a t college - I was the fat one by the teletype (connected to Trent Poly) from opening time (8:30) until we got chucked out by the caretaker (17:00) except for lessons (mostly)! 

 

Kerry

 

PS It was really really weird going into the staff room after all those years having been so afraid to knock on the door (and smell the smoke) not knowing who was going to answer.

 

[Bilborough Grammar School]

Hi,

 

This is my first and probably last post which I can't explain why.

 

Not sure if anyone is interested but I took some photos on the open day in 2005 and hopefully they will give some of you good (or not so good memories) of this strange and unique building which I have very mixed feelings about. As in taking ages to get from one lesson to the next (Chemistry to 3.3 anyone!).

h!tps://www.flickr.com/photos/yrrek/albums/72157648684182332

 

I went the school from 1972 to 1979 and the sixth form 1979-81 and we were the last Grammar intake before its eventual change to a sixth form college.

 

I have seen many names teacher names mentioned here but few I can't recall being mentioned:

 

Mr Mahoney (my first form teacher ("marny" not "ma ho nee" boy!)

Ms Archer (I was in her first drama 'O' level course and failed!)

Mr Bhambra (a teacher I really respected)

Mr McNaughton

Mr Southgate (who I have no fond memories of whatsoever)

Mr Bland (known as "Digger" I seem to recall)

Mr Knowles

Mr Kendrick? (really good french teacher but his skill was wasted on me).

Mr Littlewood (who went into the church as I recall and didn't seem interested in teaching Physics before he did so)

 

and I wish for the life of me I could remember the name of the the lovely lady librarian!

 

Also hated that horrible church organ that got installed in the main hall that benefited no one at the time and made no sense!

 

Cheers,

 

Kerry (not going to hide my name as Flick will show my full name!). 

 

Ps Not born in Bilborough but lived on Hoylake Crescent for about seven years or so and went to Portland Junior (which I found out recently is sadly no more).