SUDBURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION - MAGAZINE July 2021 - Voice
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
SUDBURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION
MAGAZINE
July 2021
SUDBURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION
Secretary: Registrar:
Colin M Garwood J H Turkentine
11 Mayfield Road 237 Barnard Road
Bury St Edmunds Galleywood
Suffolk Chelmsford, Essex
IP33 2PD CM2 8RU
Tel 01284 754778 Tel 01245 475263
colin.garwood44@outlook.com john.turkentine@gmail.com
AGM & Committee Matters
Copy and comments are always welcome. The 29th virtual AGM was held in March and while both Old Boys
Copy for the January 2022 issue should be sent to the and Committee are becoming proficient in Zoom, I suspect that they
Editor. qyou prefer, send the copy electronically to do not consider it to be a good substitute for real meetings. The full
robin.farbridgel 5@gmail.co,n minutes of this AGM are given in the rear of the Magazine but some
Deadline is December 10th 2021 general comments seem useful here .
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• All existing members of the OBA Committee were re-elected at the
The opinions expressed in the letters and uticles in this AGM while we also welcomed a new committee member. However, it
magazine are those of the writers, who are responsible should be noted that there are committee vacancies and the present
for the accuracy of the information contained within incomplete Committee structure is as follows:
them. • Michael Wheeler, Acting Chairman, pending a possible return of the
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •
Chairman
Colin Garwood, Secretary
We anticipate that the (Friday) in September Lunch will • Following the death of Tom Welsh, we need a volunteer for the
happen in some form this year, at the Bull in Long Treasurer post; as a temporary measure, the Registrar John Turkentine
Melford. The date has not yet been fixed but we will has taken over.
advise Old Boys when a date is confirmed. Please note • John Turkentine, Registrar
• Two Committee members, David Webb and Mike Laflin
that the menu maybe limited and numbers allowed by
• Robin Farbridge, Editor; Michael Wheeler, Social Secretary
the Bull maybe restricted. • Duncan McLellan, President and a member of Committee
We believe that the OBA can continue to function with this rather
depleted Committee because;
-there is little routine work for the Secretary (and this largely consists
of letters of condolence)
-the Treasurer's accounting chores will now increasingly be based on
internet banking with BACS transfers; paper and cheques will be
largely eliminated where possible. The post will therefore consume A Canadian Perspective; January 2021
less time. At things stand, the Registrar is agreeable to take on the
Treasurer function. However, this is an addition to his considerable "I do love fluffy little kittens!" Long in the past, it seems, pre-Covid,
work as Registrar. when we actually sat with friends around a dining table and the subject
Nevertheless, the Committee would welcome members willing to take moved to politics, that was my wife's signal to change the
over as Treasurer. subject. However, Canadian opinion was never divided over the
Events Donald. Even back then, when he was first elected, he was almost
The Social Secretary suggested that a 'live' Lunch maybe possible late universally disliked for his ill-informed, transgressional ranting but
this September at the Melford Bull; there are two possible speakers. At particularly due to his stated intention to break up our trade deal,
present, the lunch date cannot be confirmed; Old Boys will be advised admittedly a general objective. Like it or not, Canada is a part of
by the Social Secretary as soon as possible. North America and we rely totally on the USA for our defence and for
The proposed 2020 visit to the Great War Huts at Hawstead, deferred most of our international trade revenue. We all visit that country
until 2021, has again been cancelled. The committee intend that this constantly on business or vacation and have family members and
friends residing there. So political instability in the USA has filled us
event will take place in 2022.
with great alarm particularly in view of China's aggressive posturing.
We now expect that an event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the When our editor first approached me for a view on what was going on
School Closing, will be held, probably in the third week of July 2022. I admit I held the general Canadian optimistic view that the Donald
It will be a lunch, held at William Wood House, in the same dining was just a sad personal aberration and that the American democracy
hall where we gorged ourselves on roast meat and chocolate pudding. would handle things. Well, things turned out much more dramatically
This Edition as we all know, driven by the social media and polarized news sources
which fuel extremism. In this volatile world, in which we now all keep
The text in this edition is an interesting mixture of nostalgia, a view of a minute by minute watchful eye upon Europe, Russia, Japan, the
the USA from a Canadian viewpoint and a view about football from a Middle East and the developing world, mass opinions can change
Aussie based Old Boy who now much prefers Australian Rules instantly.
football. There is also comment from Mike Brent on leaving the Cadet Canada in general is a safe and calm, if physically enormous, oasis in
Corps, and a piece of careers advice from the summer 1931 magazine. that volatile world and never inherited America's sad history of mass
Colin Garwood has contributed a tribute to Tom, our late Treasurer. slavery nor industrial city slums. We emerged as a clean and
This is based on material in the Sudbury Royal British Legion (RBL) economically secure society with a very racially mixed but
website and telephone conversations, and largely deals with Tom's comparatively unbiased community. I select
military service. In contrast, Tom's reminiscences of Sudbury and of 'comparatively' advisedly because we unavoidably compare ourselves
SGS history have been captured by Michael and Fiona Wheeler. with the next-door USA with which we have that undefended 8891
The Editor has contributed more words whose use or misuse is kilometre boundary, and over which they constantly bombard us with
expanding. In order to fit texts into the magazine format, he has their extreme political propaganda. Across Canada our politics do not
resorted to the lazy strategy of varying point size between 9 and 12; stray much from the centre and each of the three Parties knows if it is
apologies. in power it cannot move too far towards extremes if it expects re
For the record, the full 2021 AGM minutes are given at the end. election. This all produces a very comfortable country in which to live
The Editor and most of us count our blessings. And they are blessings, which
2 3
attract a controlled 400,000 immigrants a year from all over, generally News of Sudbury Buildings
ju�t . selected for their ability to �dd �o Canada's prosperity and
w1llmgness to accept our democratic pnnciples. No wonder we are The Victoria Hall, scene of many
keeping a wary eye on goings-on in the States! Anyway, of course, OBA e v e n in g m e e t i n g s a n d
these are personal opinions and I can hear my wife Lane in the conviviality, has been closed for some
background suggesting it would be safer to keep to little kittens which years and is awaiting re-development
are universally loved. or perhaps demolition. The Hall was
John D 'Eathe from lock down in West Vancouver an important part of the social life of
the town for over 100 years. It was
[Through 2020, because he had became increasingly baffled by happenings built in 1887 by Frederick Jennings
in the USA and especially by Trump's outpourings and the Trump who, very conveniently, had his
administration, the Editor had some correspondence with John, to whom I builder's yard on the opposite side of
had even suggested that Trump was deranged. I asked John for a Canadian the road. The Conservative Club used
view and his latest comments are given above. Editor} it for their own functions and hired it
out to provide a venue for lectures,
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• dances and theatrical performances. It
was the home of the Sudbury
English Evolving Dramatic Society before they moved to the Quay Theatre in the 1970s.
Old Boys have collected some irritating words and phrases whose use ap
pears to be expanding; some maybe recent imports to the UK. [comments by The upper facade with the large
the Editor] cast iron name and date plaques
shout out [as in 'to give a shout out for somebody'] has some merit. The lower storey
Blown away [as in 'to be blown away by'. Sounds like USA gun-speak] has become very cluttered and the
0 My God! [maybe taking the place of 'Jesus'. Used excessively, generally soft red brickwork generally is in
in the same sentence as our old friend 'absolutely'.] poor condition. The curved back
So cool! [resurgent, from the 60s?] of the building is quite striking.
Butt, [USA import? slang word for buttock; the rear or the bottom is perhaps
more British; from Fr butte; rising ground, surely an elegant way to describe The Hall is jointly owned by
the rear of a woman!] Greene King and the Sudbury Conservative Association. It appears
Bless; [indiscriminate use and never clear who or what is being blessed]
Iconic; [surely overused, often for mundane objects or events]
that Greene King wish to demolish the building and sell the land for
Tsunami: [a long way from deep sea eruptions! Seems to be use for 'many' housing, while the Sudbury Society is attempting to at least preserve
as in 'the rail industry is facing a tsunami of cuts'] the fa�ade.
Decimate: [still a lost cause but leads to muddles.]. And Colin Garwood
The Christ Church United Reform Church in School Street, close to
heard a presenter, a scientist, state that 'contact with Europeans decimated
90% of the indigenous people'. He interprets that to mean that 10% of 90% the former entrance and bike shed of SGS, has been closed for worship
of the population perished, so it would have been easier to say 9% died. He since January 2018; the adjacent Friars Hall has also closed. The
probably meant that the majority of people had died. Church has a fine interior which not long ago, was filled by mourners
at Tony Wheeler's funeral. It was of course Tony's church and he
4 5
would doubtless be sad that it was no longer used. The former URC Frederick Earee 1888-1969
secretary Chris Proffitt said the decision to close the church was taken
because of falling attendances at the church and partly down to the A recent newspaper article about the airman who had painted a World
number of churches in the town and the surrounding villages. War 2 bomber nose art at USAAF Sudbury, mentioned Paul Earee.
The URC Secretary also had concerns that the building may have lost The list of teaching staff (available on the SGSOBA website) shows
25 per cent of its financial value since it closed and commented: 'It is Frederick Earee as Art Master 1928 to 1933. The privately published
not an easy building to maintain, especially after all the services have Memoir of Robert Wright (SGS 1935-40), detailing his Merchant
been turned off. There is a very expensive and historic organ, which Navy wartime service, shows that while on leave he visited his
will be suffering acutely, and the floors will be in a very poor state. neighbours the Earees whose daughter asked him to look up her
The church itself is highly husband Sgt Ascott in Egypt.
supportive of the bid by
Hive, and is very anxious it Frederick Percy Eary
returns quickly to born 16th July 1888 in
community use, because Sudbury and attended
the demand will get greater North Street · School
all the time, especially with from 1894 to 1903. He
St Peter' s closing.' became an Articled
The loss of the adjacent Pupil ( 1904-1908) to
Friars Hall would be much Archie Ainsworth Hunt
regretted by the Sudbury FRIB A, the West
The United Reform Church; SGS on far right
· ty who have used the
Soc1e Suffolk County Council
hall as a meeting place for many years, and has recently installed Architect. On the 1911
equipment to allow the showing of films and presentations. The SS census Earee was living with his parents at Suffolk Road and
spokesperson also commented: 'we are losing another venue when employed as an Architect's Assistant. In 1912 he was advertising
Sudbury has so few. The Conservative Club was an ideal meeting tuition in drawing, painting, and building plans at the Literary
place but is gone and St Gregory's Church Hall is no longer with us. Institute. For professional and artistic purposes, he spelt his surname
And the future of the Delphi is uncertain.' Earee, and replaced Frederick with Paul for art purposes.
It is reported that local charity Hive, based at The Croft, hopes to In Kelly's 1912 Directory of Suffolk, he is an Architect based at 36
purchase the URC and adjoining Friars Hall, and has made a proposal Market Hill. [Interestingly the same directory shows SGS with
to transform the Church into a community hub. Hive won change-of Headmaster Robert Smylie and just 3 assistant masters] The following
use planning consent from Babergh District Council at the end of year he married Ivy Elliston. On call up in 1916, he was found to have
2019. The charity made various grant applications (and launched a TB scarring on his lungs and deemed unfit for military service. He
crowd funding campaign in 2018) and has made an offer for the formed a partnership with Noel Haslewood, and they designed the War
building; a decision by the Church Synod is awaited. Memorials at Great Cornard in 1920, and at Little Cornard in 1921. He
[Compiled from information published in the EADT, SFP, the Hive passed the Membership of the Society Of Architects exam in 1921 and
website and Sudbury Society Newsletter, and information supplied by in 1923 he became a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British
Michael WheelerJ Architects.
6 7
In November 1928 he joined the SGS teaching staff on probation, his Cadet Corps; Storm in a Teacup
previous teaching experience being art in private schools from 1921.
The Headmaster's Book notes that 'only a small portion of his time is Our editor's remark in the July 2020 edition of this magazine about the
spent in teaching at this school' and that he taught drawing and itchy cadet corps uniform rings true, but a major surprise is that the
architecture. The appointment was confirmed on April 23rd 1929 and school's policy was 'Corps membership is voluntary'.
he was paid 6 shillings and 8 pence per hour. Little is known of I do recall some of the events in the summer term of the Lower Sixth
Earee's time at SGS which he left 21st December 1933. back in 1961 because it was then that I decided to quit the Corps. The
When not teaching, his other work included producing plans for casual Corps had started as a bit of fun in 3A but now I regarded it as a com
wards at Walnutree Hospital. For the visit on October 1st 1929 of US plete waste of time. If I'd known participation was voluntary, I would
Ambassador General Dawes, he produced the illuminated scroll, have left earlier. As it happened, two other boys in my class were hav
marking the conferring of the Freedom of the Borough on the general ing similar thoughts. We discussed the matter and agreed we would try
whose ancestor had left Sudbury in 1635. to leave together. At the end of one Monday morning Corps session,
In September 1939, a Register compiled to issue Identity Cards, Ration the three of us decided to speak to Major Ellison, who heard what we
Books and to administer conscription, shows him living at Hillside, had to say and, if my memory serves me correctly, said very little. The
Newton Road, with his wife and two daughters, who had obviously next Monday when the Corps met, the three of us were paraded out in
inherited their father's talent. Joan (whose daughter Liz Cole has front of the whole company, who were told by Elly we wished to leave
provided some of the and what he thought about it. I remember being singled out for extra
information for this article) humiliation because I played football for Suffolk ACF as well as for
was a commercial artist and the school. Finally, Elly said the headmaster wanted to see us. We
Margaret was an Architects made our escape and went to see Mr Strahan, who said he was pre
pupil. As architect for Melford pared to allow us to leave provided we worked in the library ·whilst
Rural District Council, Earee Corps was being held. A couple of days later, in the evening, quite out
designed and oversaw the of the blue, Elly called at my home to discuss the matter with my par
building of council houses at ents. I was not allowed to be present, but I soon learned what went on.
Stoke by Nayland in 1944; he Elly did make a serious pitch that I should reconsider. If there was any
was brave enough to conduct subsequent family discussion, I don't remember it. Certainly, Elly
East Ang/ian Village a party from the Women's never mentioned the Corps again. My only contact with him concerned
pencil drawing by Paul Earee 1958 Institute around the completed football about which he was fine. I did leave the Corps forthwith.
dwellings! His calligraphic I used my time in the library working through the S level Chemistry
skills produced a scroll for the retiring Town Foreman in 1944. In syllabus, which I had to do on my own as there was no space in the
1946 for Lavenham British Legion, he illuminated 3 scrolls listing 181 school timetable; I occasionally popped next door to see Mr Jamieson
men and women who had served in the Second World War. in his lab for a discussion. I'm sure the Corps was better off without
He died at his home, Hillside, Newton Road on 6th March 1969. me and I got a good result at S level the following June. I call this a
For more details of his work both artistic and architectural see https:// win/win. Were there any other Corps leavers?
suffolkartists.co.uk/index.cgi?choice=painter&pid= l044 Mike Brent (SGS 1955-1962)
Compiled by Colin Garwood
8 9
Reminiscences of Tom Welsh Kipling at ' High Banks' for 52 years. Tom used to help look after Mr.
Kipling's bees which lived in 21 hives in his orchard, all made from wooden
boxes used at Vanners & Fennells, Gregory Street Mills, where he was
From time to time, Tom would call us, ostensibly to discuss a cheque
managing director. Tom knew about bee keeping as he had been taught by
received or a payment due, (he was an accounting perfectionist), but always
an expert, his grandfather; after mathematics, nature study was his second
the conversation would swiftly move on to more interesting topics. Not long
favourite subject at school.
before he died, in November 2020, he talked about his childhood as he knew
We really do miss Tom' s cheerful humour and ready conversation as not
we were interested in Sudbury's past. Fortunately, we made a few notes, and
only was he a stalwart attender at committee meetings and all SGS OBA
we offer these memories for those Old Boys who knew and loved Tom.
social events, but you never knew when you would see him alighting from
Tom lived with his parents at the Holgate Bungalow in Melford Road,
his little blue Vauxhall parked randomly in North Street or on Market Hill.
Sudbury. He was a pupil at North Street School and attended SGS from
Short conversations were not his style! His first words were always "How
September 1937 to July 1942. He knew the butcher' s shop at number 67,
are you" and at the end despite being thirty-five years our senior he signed
which was run by Eddie Wheeler (Michael ' s grandfather), and all the family ,
off with "Now don' t you work too hard; you must look after yourself'
including their elder daughter Jeane with whom he remained friends until her
death a few years ago. Michael Wheeler (SGS 1970-1972) and Fiona Wheeler
The first thing he mentioned was his love of figures from an early age, ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
further inspired by his mathematics master at SGS, Mr. John Rees, (SGS
1932 - 1944). Rees was a graduate of Jesus College, Oxford and also did his Careers; Banking Then and Now
teacher training in Oxford in 1932 so SGS would have been his first
professional appointment. Tom mentioned that mathematics was his best In the July 2020 magazine, the Editor commented on his lack of career ad-
subject at school. vice, either from the SGS Careers Master or from the Central Youth Employ-
We started talking about bakeries in Sudbury in the 1930' s and he ment officer in Cambridge.
remembered and named them all . However, it was the bakery on the comer An article published in the Summer Term 1931 edition of the SGS Magazine,
of Gainsborough Street/School Street which had the fondest memories for (editor TA Amos) gave helpful advice on a career in banking and on ' bank-
him ; 4 doughnuts could be bought for 2d. Tom said that he used to get out of clerkships', supplied by the manager of Lloyds Bank, Sudbury. In 1931, a
school by way of the cycle sheds during morning break to acquire a stock on career in banking was prestigious, bank mechanisation was increasing and
behalf of his friends who would have their spies out but sometimes the doubtless, many SGS school leavers did make a career in banking. These
masters would hear of it. Tom was caught more than once; this may be one days, banking is almost entirely computerised; many of us use internet bank-
of the reasons why he was not particularly fond of the Headmaster. ing and seldom if ever visit the high street bank branch. Inevitably, bank staff
Tom ' s father, (also called Thomas), was an engineer in the Auxiliary ~
numbers are falling and high street banks continue to close and even ATMs
Sudbury Fire Service during the War, which was run by Roy Alston of are reduced in numbers. Careers in banking at the branch level are not these
'Alston ' s'. Every Christmas, 'Alston' s' had a special Toy Bazaar at 12, days attractive; the industry in its old form is shrinking.
North Street. The highlight of the event was a large clockwork railway The following excerpts are from the 1931 article:
display in the window. As Tom's father knew Roy Alston well, Tom was
asked if he could put the set together for the Christmas display. One Sunday ' The first quality looked for in any candidate for a 'bank-clerkship ' is a high
afternoon, Tom was alone in the shop and happily engrossed in fitting the level of general intelligence: the recruit who is to prove a permanent asset to
pieces of track together when two policemen knocked at the door. They did a banking staff must of necessity be able to acquire an ability in the multi-
not believe Tom when he explained that what he was doing was quite in farious duties his continued employment must entail.
order and it took a phone call to Roy Alston before they would go away. Good manners and appearance are absolutely essential. The very nature of
Tom also told us that his father, who was partly deaf because of a bad the duties of a bank clerk demand these; a bank can more easily afford to
accident, was an engineer who worked as a handyman and gardener for Mr. lose an otherwise reliable clerk than its customers, whose business might be
10 11
taken elsewhere owing to discourteous or tactless dealing. Saying goodbye to Soccer
Soccer was the winter sport at SGS and on a Wednesday afternoon we would
The potential bank-clerk must be capable of rapid and accurate work with trudge up to the sports field beyond the Girls' High School to play. I think
figures: the average ledger account forms a pretty long 'tot' and an unreli that the first eleven mostly played teams from other schools on a Wednesday
able worker tends to annoy his fellows, whose hours are partly determined by afternoon but sometimes on Saturday mornings. In the late 1950s our as
his own capacity. sumption about· soccer being what we did at SGS came to an end with the
At school, the intending entrant must have passed the School Certificate Ex arrival of a new Headmaster, Mr. McClellan who came from a rugby playing
amination, and preferably he must have attained the Matriculation standard private school, I think. Anyway, we were to start playing rugby. The 5th
A condition of entrance is the passing of parts I and II of the Institute of formers dutifully learnt the rules and had some practice matches amongst
Bankers Examination. ourselves. When the Head felt we were capable of not being too embarrass
As with most trades and professions at the present moment, vacancies that ing, he fixed us up to play a team from a school at Colchester. I remember
arise are very, veryfew in number and competition is acute. This is becoming running onto the field not knowing what to expect and seeing the members of
an exceptionally mechanical and mechanised age; the number of mechanised the other side looking rather smug at these 'country-boys' come to be shown
Bank Offices is rapidly increasing, and the machines installed are almost how to play. We beat them, I think, probably because we were not dyed-in
invariably being worked by-girls!' the-wool rugby players that we played in a rather unorthodox way which
fooled them. After that, the Head let us go back to playing soccer. In that
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• year, 1959, I, Barry Hall and Robert Halls played for the West Suffolk
Schoolboys team or it might even have been the Suffolk Schoolboys. We
played teams from other counties and ones from north London. I remember
A History of Sudbury by C G Grimwood & SA Kay playing on Ipswich Town ground as well as White Hart Lane. I subsequently
played a bit of soccer at university and for company teams that I subse
The Editor has a copy of the above book in which he found quently worked for.
correspondence dated December 1952 between Stanley Kay and So, when I went to live in Australia, I duly continued to follow British soccer
Norman C Bryning a former SGS Headmaster. Bryning had bought a and watch Saturday's 'Match of the Day', which was on a Monday night as
the film took that long to be flown out. After a while, though, I realised that
copy of the book from Stanley who thanks him for an enclosed cheque soccer was a minor sport in Australia. At work, no one talked about soccer
(no mention of the cost of the book). matches. The local sporting heroes that were featured in the newspapers and
The book took 3 years to compile, was privately published and funded TV were big blokes leaping for a rugby shaped ball but not playing rugby!
by the authors. 500 copies of the book were produced, and while 'more This was Australian Rules 'football'.
could have been written, we couldn't afford more pages!' It was
printed by Payn Essex & Son Ltd with design by Fred Earee. Stanley
) I can hardly watch soccer matches now. It pales in comparison to 'Aussie
Rules' played in the AFL( Australian Football League). It is fast, played by
mentions that if after a reprint 740 copies could be sold, then this ) very skilled, fit people (some run 15 kms in a game, it is tough) and it is not
would clear the cost of production. unusual for a player to get carted off on a stretcher in a match. A big plus is
In the letter, Stanley pays tribute to co-author Grimwood, then 80 that both sides score goals fairly regularly so the crowd have something to
years old, and his 'fund of local knowledge'. Stan also mentions that cheer and get excited about. It is played on very big grounds, at least four
SGS continues 'as usual under the new Head' (presumably Martin) times to size of soccer pitches. In fact, in summer they are the cricket
grounds. This means that they are all somewhat different sizes, so teams have
and that 'we had lots of nice things said in the General Inspection to adjust when they play away. Because of the ground size, the teams are of
Report of a year ago' 22, with 18 on the ground at any one time. Players can come off for a rest
with a maximum of 75 of these interchanges allowed. The object of the game
12 13
is to kick the oval shaped ball through two tall posts at either end of the soccer league games. That says it all, I think.
ground and this equals 6 points. If you miss but kick it between a tall one and Every year there is a national Aussie Rules team picked . It is a great
smaller one nearby you get 1 point. honour to be in the side and there is a televised ceremony where the
As well as the players on the field, the coach has an active role. They tend to
team are given special blazers. Sadly, though, they do not play anyone
sit up in a vantage point in the stand. They phone instructions down to their
assistants down at ground level. These are which players to take off and as no other country plays the game!
which to send on. There are people who are called 'Runners' whose job it is The Irish have long had a version that they play with a round ball. The
to run onto the field when there is a stoppage, due to an injury or free kick, games may have the same origin. However, the 'friendly' matches
and to quickly give instructions to certain players. For example, if an opposi against the Irish have not always turned out to be that friendly and
tion player is being very effective the coach will change the player who is have not been held for a while. As the rules are somewhat scrambled
supposed to be marking him to try to curb this. for the occasion neither side is fully satisfied with the result.
So, there is always something going on to watch as well as the playmaking Aussie rules was only played in three states of Australia when we ar
moves up the field. Players can kick the ball or 'pass' by fists off their palm. rived. It is now played in all of them and a move to internationalise it
If they throw it, that it a foul.· The players are very well behaved towards the is underway. A great player for one team is from the US; he had seen
referees as a referee can give a SO-metre penalty for a misdemeanour, such as something about it a few years ago and gone along to an information
not giving the ball to an opposition plyer who has just been given a free kick session in the US.
and you have the ball. Because of the size of the ground, there are three refe
rees on the ground, two lines-people and a referee in each goal. If a player
So, while an introduction to rugby in the 1950s at SGS did nothing for
kicks the ball off the field without it bouncing first or they kick it off inten me, Aussie Rules as a spectator sport is better than soccer, I promise
tionally, that is a free kick to the other side. For other times that it goes off, you.
the lines-person throws it in but backwards over their head. So, the ball is David Corkindale (SGS 1952- 59)
kept in play a lot. The referees do not do the timekeeping which is done by
people at the side of the pitch who sound a loud horn at the end of each quar ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ter period.
I despair when I see how badly major soccer matches are run. I also despair
when no goals are scored in these matches. No wonder crowds get fractious
SGS May 1960
[Extract from photo roll showing teaching stafJJ
at matches if nothing much happens and yet their expectations have been
raised by hype and players costing a fortune. The Aussie rules system is that
there is a salary cap and teams who finish at the bottom of the league one
year get the first pick of the new, young players coming in. Those 18-year
old aspirants are tested and ranked by a national organisation. The overall
approach means that there are not a small number of rich clubs that are al
ways at the top of the league (as at present in the UK Premier League). By
and large every club can rise up so their supporters can get some glory for a
while.
The game and this system to keep all teams more equal has a lot going for it.
Mind you, each year some of the playing rules are changed a bit to keep it
visually appealing and competitive. Poor old soccer seems very antlquated
by comparison!. Many of the AFL teams now have a women's team and the
crowd for their competition's final was much bigger than any of the men's
14 15
The Unknown Warrior From the village school in Hawkedon to SGS: First Steps
The centenary of the Burial Of The Unknown Warrior was featured in Sixty years ago, I was over halfway through my first year at SGS, which had at that
many newspaper articles and TV programmes in November 2020. The time approximately 250 pupils. I had realised that it would be rather different to my
body had been brought from France to Dover, then via rail to Victoria two-classroom primary school in Hawkedon with its 40-50 pupils and 2 teachers: Of
Station arriving at 8.15pm November 10th 1920. One commentator course, this was long before a planned transition from primary to secondary
education existed. Schools did not do 'Open Evenings' or 'Transfer Days' so I had
stated that the plaque marking this event was still there, giving the im not visited SGS before the first day of the autumn term in 1960. I knew little about
pression it had been erected at that time but in fact the plaque is a the school other than that we had to go to Mattingleys in Sudbury to get the uniform
comparatively recent addi (grey long or short trousers, green blazer with red braiding with a badge for mum to
tion. Members of the London sew on, white or grey shirt, tie with red and green diagonal stripes and a black cap,
Branch of the Western Front which was 'to be worn on the journey to and from school'). I suppose it should be
no surprise that SGS, with its 250 pupils and 20+ teachers wearing gowns, was a
Association, realising that shock to my system.
nothing marked such a histori The first hurdle to overcome in settling in was the journey to and from school. In
cal event or place, raised funds case you don't know, Hawkedon is 'in the sticks', some 11 miles from Sudbury.
to commission and install the Anyway, it was decided by the local authority that I would travel part of the way to
plaque by means of a cycle ride Sudbury on a Clare Secondary Modem School bus, whose route froip. Rede went
through Hawkedon, Lower Somerton, Boxted, with a detour to Hartest before going
of the Western Front. The on to Glemsford, Cavendish and Clare. I would need to get off this bus at an
plaque was unveiled on No unspecified road junction just before Glemsford in order to get onto a grammar
vember 10th 1998 by Chelsea school bus for the rest of the journey. This sounded quite complicated to me.
Pensioner Frank Sumpter who On my first day in early September 1960, smartly dressed in my new uniform, I
had been a pall bearer for the waited anxiously at the side of the road, opposite my house, for the bus to pick me
up. I knew that some other grammar school boys would be on the bus at some point
burial in 1920. Five of our in the journey and I hoped they would tell me where exactly to change buses. To say
Grammar School dead who fell I was terrified would be an understatement.
on the Western Front have no Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long at the roadside and I clambered up the bus
known grave; there is a remote steps. Now I had to decide where to sit. There was plenty of space and I knew most
chance one of them could have of the passengers already on the bus, at least by sight, from when they were at
Hawkedon Prim ary School. However, they were all older than me and nobody spoke
been selected as the Unknown Warrior to me. I chose a seat part way down the bus. Almost straight away, I could hear
Old Boy Dr Arthur Potton (SGS 1951-57), a long time member of the mutterings about my uniform and by the time we had gone past Somerton, I had
Western Front Association, gave a presentation to the 2006 Sausage realised that it was a mistake to wear my cap, which did several circuits of the bus
Supper on his WWl detective work given in his book; 'March on in before I eventually got it back in Hartest. There, the passengers getting on the bus
Firm Endeavour: The First World War Fallen of Sudbury Grammar included three older Grammar School boys and three Sudbury High School girls.
Thankfully they helped me with the bus transfer and, while waiting for the second
School.' . This book commemorated the School's Fallen in the First bus, introductions were made and I learnt for the first time that surnames were used
World War and unearthed the details of fourteen Old Boys and two at SGS; Debenham, Osborne and Vinson directed me to the playground when we
masters who had died on active service. arrived at the school.
On this first day of term, when the hand bell was rung for the start of school, all the
first formers had to line up to be divided into two first year forms: IA for those with
Colin Garwood (SGS 1953-60) surnames beginning A to L and IM for the rest. Here I had a pleasant surprise on
seeing a figure I recognised. Jack Dodds, who lived in a cottage in Hawkedon, was
16 17to be my form teacher in IM. Although I personally didn't really know him, he
discreetly said a few reassuring words to me on that first morning and I felt as if he
Marching On In Firm Endeavour: Our Tom
kept an eye on me throughout my first year.
The rest ofthe first day is now a blur. Our form room was in the middle part ofthe
One Old Boy whose experiences I have being trying to collect was our
'temporary' huts (there since the 1930s I think) along one side of the playground. late Treasurer, Thomas William Welsh (SGS 1937-42). When I lo�ked
We were directed to our single desks (desk and bench seat being one complete unit) after membership renewals last year we had frequent telephone
and various bits of administration were done. Everybody else in IM seemed to know conversations and each time I pressed him for details. He did say he
others from their various primary schools. I felt pretty much alone even though I did
know one boy, Kenneth Venus, who had for a short while been at Hawkedon had written his experiences, but the document had got lost when he
Primary. Consequently, I was happy to be able to spend break-time with Debenham had a burst radiator! I had hoped to visit him and conduct an interview,
and a couple of his friends (all of them in the third form) that first day and but circumstances prevented it. I can only draw on an account found
subsequently till gradually friendships started to develop in 1 M.
The one other thing that does stick in my mind from the first day is lunchtime. I was
on the Sudbury Royal
starving and getting into the dining hall seemed to take a very long time, probably British Legion (RBL)
because it was the first day ofterm and everybody wanted a school lunch. Lining up, website, where he
I remember being pushed against the back of an older pupil, the top of my head talks about the events
coming only just above his waist and when he turned round to stare down at me, he
looked like a man. Gazing around, I noticed that many ofthe older pupils looked like which led to him
men; some even clearly had to shave! receiving the
Once I was in the dining hall, the school felt big, bustling and noisy. I was excited, Norwegian Defence
but a bit frightened at the same time. I quickly learnt something of the hierarchies in
the school, as table prefects sat at the 'top' of each 8-person table, with other pupils
Medal. Tom enlisted
sitting in age order down to the first formers at the 'bottom'. These table prefects in the RAF but was
dished up the food and passed it down the table. It was immediately obvious that the transferred to the
portions at the bottom of the table were smaller than those at the top. The unfairness Airborne Division. In
ofthis outraged me and I was starving, but I realised instinctively that this was not a
battle for a first former to fight so soon. In any case, my table had two 'men' table 1945 he was stationed
prefects. at Shudy Camps near
Like everybody else at the end of the day, I removed my cap as soon as the bus set Tom holding the medal; awarded 14th March 2017 Cambridge on standby for
off and put it in my satchel. The drop-off point for my connecting bus was a bus
shelter in the middle of Glemsford. Here, as on many afternoons to come,
the Varsity Operation, to
Debenham, Osborne, Vinson and I had a kick around while the High School girls start on 23rd March 1945 and to land troops of the 6th Airborne
chatted. The second leg ofthe journey passed without incident and, probably with a Division from gliders to join up with the British 21st Army Group
sigh ofrelief, I got off the bus where I had started the day nine hours earlier. I didn't crossing the Rhine, but Orders were cancelled. The RBL website
know what was still to come for me as a grammar school boy, but I had survived my
first day! And I had learnt two important lessons: how to keep my cap safe and that I continues;
needed to bring snacks to school.
Michael Watson (SGS 1960-67) 'After various schemes, I was at Shepherds Grove Airfield near
Stanton with the I st Air Landing Brigade (1 st Airborne Division)
training on gliders when we were ordered to take off in Stirling
aircraft for Norway and I was in the leading aircraft heading for the
Rendezvous which was Gardemoen airfield some 30 miles NNE of
Oslo. The Skipper of the aircraft received orders to abort the mission
18 19and we returned to as there were a number of Quislings still around. We did a reccy of the
Shepherds Grove airfield. Capital during which we had the fortunate sight of seeing the German
THf LIBERATION Of During that evening we
1t,
NOK\\'AY 8 AAY• 1915 Commander in Chief being arrested.
learned that two of the
aircraft of our Regiment We were then billeted in a village just outside Oslo called Smesstad
had crashed due to bad and were ordered to stand by for a raid on the German HQ at
weather on the approach to Lillehammer. This was a complete eye opener, and the operation went
Norway, losing over 50 very well. We then again moved north of Oslo to Aarnes, the home of
men. The next morning, we the Norwegian Ski Centre, when I was then detailed with others to
got on a bus at 4. 00am for guard the HQ which had been set up in Oslo. Unfortunately, I had the
departure again and to our experience of being put on a charge for not carrying out orders as
surprise the weather was defined when we took Post. (i.e. C&C of the operation requested
clear, and we took off and entrance to HQ and I failed to ask for his ID). I also was detailed with
landed on Gardemoen others to guard the Royal Palace and I was again enquired of the
airfield. As we had been Security by a high-ranking officer of the Royal Household. I then had
trained to do, we jumped io escort an officer into the Building to safeguard His Royal Highness
out of the aircraft and took in case of any trouble. Having carried out a search and not finding a
up defensive positions and I member of the Royal Family, I and others ventured outside into the
was told off by the Platoon gardens and found Prince O/af surrounded by the Norwegian
Sergeant about Orders, amended by the Canadian Platoon Officer! Beauties! Being a young man, I lived for 3 days on my nerves because
However, we got together and marched offto the Control Tower where whatever I did, seemed to be not right and I was on another charge!
we mustered awaiting further orders. Having been issued with two 24-
hour ration packs, I put mine down to speak to my mate and when I As I have said, we went from Oslo to Aarnes and one day a runner
turned back, one was 'swiped/missing'. However, we all shared came to tell me I was to report to gate number 3 in the Camp. When I
together. Our CO organised German transport abandoned by the asked why, I was promptly told 'I am only the 'B' runner' so I went to
surrendering Germans, and we were convoyed to the outskirts of Oslo the gate and was met by a young lady and her mother who had asked if
arriving just before midnight where we formed up to march into Oslo I could be given 48 hours leave to visit their home. The CO turned to
where citizens were aghast at our presence. A lot could speak English me and said, 'Welsh what have you been up to?' and I was granted the
and seeing our Red Berets and Battle Order, they fell over themselves leave, why I don't know! Whilst at Aarnes, I had been transferred from
and greeted us. The first night's sleep was in a school and in my a rifle company of the Battalion to Battalion HQ, the QM section to
inquisitiveness, I went down to the cellars to see if Jerry had set any take over duties of a Corporal Les Hunter who was being sent home
booby traps but I found a large pile of mattresses thinking 'we are on compassionate grounds. He was the DID (KIA Rations NCO). We
a/right tonight' and these we slept on. The next morning, we were then marched across Norway to Bergen. I usually slept at night under
covered in bites, so we all had to strip off and cover ourselves in DDT the water wagon. When I woke one morning, I and my mates were
powder! covered in bites. None of us had noticed we had slept that night beside
a swampy area resulting in two days later having a mild attack of
For the first few days we were ordered to go around in twos or threes Malaria. I went to sick bay at Bergen and was dosed with Quinine and
20 21Mepacrine and pronounced fit for duties. The SGS OBA Annual General Meeting
The 29th AGM was held on 26th March 2021 by Zoom and fifteen Old Boys (the constitution
At the beginning of September, we were shipped from Bergen to Oslo requires a quorum of ten and 6 proxies were received) struggled with connection speeds and
and came home on HMS Stratheden out of Oslo. Whilst 3 hours into mute buttons. This was our first 'virtual' AGM; hopefully it will be the last! In the absence of
the acting Chairman," the meeting was initially chaired by Colin Garwood. Apologies for ab
the journey to the UK somebody shouted 'a mine over there ' but luck sence from Michael Baker, Michael Rickford, David Goldsmith and Ian Brewster. A moment
ily enough the escort returned and soon dealt with it. Myfirst re of silence was observed to remember the deaths of Old Boys advised since the 2019 AGM:
action was to go down below to the Elsan! I am not a lover of the sea! Timothy Hubert Underwood 1954-62 Association Archivist, Michael Ray Hills 1944-50,
Henry Patrick Ayers 1942-49, Edward J Boland 1947-52, John Alexander Geddes 1953-60
Formerly Secretary And Chairman, Brian Raymond Howe 1945-49, Jack Donald Stiff 1940-
We disembarked at Liverpool and proceeded to Perham Down Camp 45, Anthony H Jamieson 1954-61, Nigel George Nice 1961-69, Thomas William Welsh 1937-
in Wiltshire where the 1 st Airborne Division was stood down and the 42 Treasurer Since 1992, William Peter Clayton 1945-46, John David Smith 1943-47. Copies
of the Minutes of the 2019 AGM, distributed via email and post, were unanimously agreed to
Battalion returned to an ordinary Infantry Battalion where we had to be an accurate record and approved; proposed by John Turkentine, seconded by Michael
take up many Duties in Europe, finishing in 1948 in Palestine. " Laflin.
Chairman's report: Colin Garwood (acting chairman) conveyed Ian Brewster's good wishes
After the funeral service on January 14th, a representative of the 16th to the meeting. Although 2019 was last time we were able to have our normal activities, Gar
Air Assault Brigade marched smartly up to the curtain, came to atten wood thanked the committee for making it a successful year. It was marred however by the
death of our Archivist Tim Underwood and another stalwart John Geddes; the association was
tion, saluted, turned left and as he departed waved goodbye to Tom. well represented at both funerals.
There were very few people that Tom could not connect with. When I Ian Brewster arranged for the Archive to be moved to Ormiston Academy, which was carried
joined the committee Tom immediately asked about my uncle who he out by some of the Committee in February 2020 last year; in due course the Sudbury Ephem
knew from his time at Glemsford Flax factory. Although he could be era Society will be looking at cataloguing our archive. We were all shocked and saddened by
the death ofTom Welsh in December 2020, who had been treasurer since the association was
quite gruff and did not suffer fools gladly, once he had made a connec reformed in 1992. We shall miss his presence at Committee meetings as custodian of our fi
tion through people or places you were able to tap a source of Sudbury nances, his memory ofAssociation activities over the years, and a source ofGrammar School
and School history. Tom, it has been a privilege to know you, fare and Sudbury history. We all thought that he would qualify for a telegram from the Queen!
(Michael Wheeler then joined the meeting and took the chair).
well.
Constitution. Adoption of the amended constitution was proposed by John Turkentine, sec
onded by Colin Garwood, and unanimously agreed.
Colin Garwood
Secretary's Report: Colin Garwood explained that at the 2019 AGM, there were no candidates
for the position of Secretary and he therefore had assumed that position at a committee meet
ing in July 2019. There is very little incoming correspondence, largely letters of condolence
have written to the widows and families of deceased Old Boys. The committee met twice in
2019 and three times in 2020 of which two were on Zoom. In January 2020, Garwood stood
in for our Registrar to record membership renewals. In February 2020, the Cadet Corps flag
and a .22 rifle cleaning rod were placed with the Suffolk Regiment Museum. The flagstaff is
missing a brass Talbot finial which our late Archivist thought could well be in the Sudbury
area; iflocated it could be reunited with the pole!
Treasurer's report: Following the death ofTom Welsh, John Turkentine has taken over the
accounts, perhaps as a temporary measure until there is a volunteer for the Treasurer post. As
there had been no events last year the bank balance had increased. John thanked Paul Garrard
for examining the accounts. He noted that he was using the accounting system operated by
Tom, but in due course electronic records would be run in parallel with the membership data
base.
22 23Paul Garrard offered to help in setting this up. The bank was being unhelpful, only now send
ing post to the Registrar, but still addressed to Mr T W Welsh. Persistent efforts to arrange
online authorisation of payments had still not been fruitful.
There being no queries, the accounts for 2019 and 2020 was approved; proposed by Michael
Wheeler and seconded by John Turkentine.
Registrar's report: John Turkentine reported that there were 93 paid up members and so far,
40 had not renewed. Payment by standing order, and bringing the payment due date forward,
meant that only paid-up members could vote at AGMs. He hoped that the Website, and the
OBA Facebook account, would attract new members. Old magazines, Talbots and some 1920s
newsletters are now on the website within the 'Members Room'.
Editor 's report: The Editor reported that the printer he had been using appears to be moving
into motorcycle repairs; the next issue may therefore be produced using the printer who pro
duces the Sudbury and Hadleigh community magazines. The Editor already had 16 pages of
copy for the July magazine; copy will include information on the future of the Victoria Hall
and Conservative Club, and the future use of the redundant United Reform Church and its
famous organ. The Chairman thanked the Editor for his efforts with the magazine; the latter
was considered a key part of the association.
Social Secretary's report: Michael Wheeler advised that the 2019 Lunch at the Bull had been
successful with an interesting talk by Peter Postle. A live 2021 Lunch could take place in late
September this year for which there were two possible speakers. Old Boys would be advised
when the Lunch date can be confirmed.
May Event: Colin Garwood reported that the 2019 event had been a walking visit round
Lavenham led by David Deacon a Lavenham builder and undertaker; much was learnt about
the history and architecture of Lavenham. Lunch had been at the Cock Horse. David Webb
was thanked for organising the event, and Ian Brewster for booking the lunch. The proposed
2020 visit to the Great War Huts at Hawstead was deferred until this year but then had to be
cancelled. We will try again in 2022!
50th Anniversary of the &hool Closing. David Webb reported that the William Wood House
manager was very happy for a lunch to be held in the old dining hall; the Bridge Project could
be asked to do the catering. There may be restrictions on the numbers. David will later firm
up arrangements; a possible date is in the third week of July 2022.
Elections and Appointments. The following were unanimously elected; proposed by Colin
Garwood, seconded by David Webb: Chairman: Ian Brewster (on leave of absence); Acting
Chairman: Michael Wheeler; Secretary: Colin Garwood; Treasurer: Vacant, (no candidates
but John Turkentine would cover); Registrar: John Turkentine; Editor: Robin Farbridge;
Social Secretary: Michael Wheeler: Committee: David Webb, Mike Laflin; Independent Ex
aminer: Paul Garrard.
Robin Farbridge noted that burden of running the OBA was largely now carried (albeit will
ingly) by Colin Garwood and John Turkentine alone; clearly, additional committee members
were desirable. Michael Laflin offered himself as a committee member and was unanimously
elected; proposed by Colin Garwood, seconded by Robin Farbridge.
Any Other Business: Bill Chaplin said how much he enjoyed the magazine and felt he maybe
the oldest member. The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 1.05 pm.
24You can also read
