Autumn 2020 Newsletter
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CRESCAT IN HORAS DOCTRINA The Old Lennensian Newsletter of the Old Lennensians Association Spring Edition April 2020 “All hail! Lennensian, the first of your kind Let your pages be ever the best; And in scanning them o’er let nobody mind Not to find himself there with the rest.” (October 1907) A Word from the Editor When I was writing the Spring newsletter, I was optimistic that the Coronavirus pandemic would be over, that the endless Zoom meetings would be a thing of the past and that the Association would be able to get much more involved in the life of the school. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and the threat to our lifestyle is as powerful and insidious as ever. We have been in regular contact with the school and have offered what support we can in these troubling times. I am delighted to say that Peter Riches has now joined me as a Trustee and that I have become a governor of the school. I say this, not to be boastful or to suggest a tilt at world dominance, but because I believe such appointments give us a better chance to serve the school in ways which the school determine rather than us. I have been impressed with the commitment of the staff and the caring attitude of the pupils in the last weeks and months. Discipline hasn’t been as issue. Young people are often unfairly criticised but they have clearly risen to the occasion during this awful year which will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. 1 I would also like to pay tribute to my committee who work tirelessly for the Association and the school, despite the fact that we only meet on Zoom. The website is a credit to the Association which is desperate to preserve and extend our archive material. When you look at the list of new members (since the Spring newsletter) you will be amazed at the numbers. How many organisations have continued to expand like this during Lockdown? Many would be envious. The Friends of KES group on Facebook continues to increase its membership as well. We have a marvellous school at the heart of our fellowship. As always, I am proud to be an Old Lennensian, Andrew Andrew Stephen, Chairman (1964-71 School House) Now compare mine with the Editorial from 1945 which follows: 2 3 A Word from the Headteacher Dear Old Lennensians, I could not have imagined that my first year as the Principal of KES would have had such 'curious' times to overcome. As we start the new academic year, the 5 months of remote learning and provision for key workers and vulnerable students, seems but as distant memory. I look back fondly on the many bright moments of Lockdown, the fund raising for our local Samaritans, Joe Wicks in the Hall, the Easter eggs for the NHS, the letters to the care homes. The online learning, the home visits with food or printed work, the 200 phone calls a day to safeguard our most vulnerable. The extended summer camp with our "KES family" of children, how they grew in confidence and character as we took advantage of the time we had in school. The baking of bread, the making of jewellery and even a bird box one week. It was a strange but special time. All frozen in time as pictures on a memory board in the corridor. Another part of the great history of KES. As we prepared to widen our doors to the rest of our students this September, our first priority had shifted from our usual purpose. Education was not at the forefront of our minds, but safety, for both our staff and our students. The creation of "bubbles" became the aim, different entrances and exits of each year group, staggered lunches, blocks dedicated to each year. No more were we hearing the clattering of feet on the stone steps as students move on the corridors; but if you are quick you will be able to glance the swiftly moving member of staff as they move from room to room as our students wait patiently for their arrival. With hand gel on the gates and masks in the corridors, it is a strange sight for all. But as I sit here writing this, in what has been probably the most stressful year of my career, I am smiling. I have a school full of children, who are happy and learning. I have a staff body who are eager and ready to fill the gaps of knowledge they have missed, a staff who are ready to ease the worry of those who are anxious or to comfort those who may have lost loved ones. A staff ready to support each other in managing the "new normal". I may not know what this year holds, but I do know that I have a calm, focussed and determined school that is ready for its next 'giant' leap to greatness. We are very grateful for the support provided by the Old Lennensians. They have given us strong financial support for our Celebration Evening but their encouragement also makes a real difference to me and my staff. Sarah Hartshorn | Principal "Doctrina in Horas Crescat" 4 Salvete A warm welcome is extended to: William Brodie Keene 1973 – 80 Stuart Bradnam York 1973 – 80 Stephen Roberts Keene and School 1970 – 73 Philip Jones Glouc/Win 2004 – 06 Michael Cordery Keene 1955 – 60 Gary Compton Lancaster 1970 – 76 Stephen Parish Keene 1976 – 81 Gordon McCalmont Thoresby 1971 – 78 Philip Kerrison York and School 1961 – 68 Malcolm Fry Edinburgh/York 1977 - 80 Vic George Keene 1958 – 64 Toby Wilson Windsor 1978 – 85 Alan Donald York 1968 – 75 Chris Hood School 1956 – 63 Wayne Simpson Windsor 1969 – 74 Chris Cramp School 1962 – 69 Jeff Link Edinburgh 1957 – 65 Graham Smith School 1956 – 62 Ted Le Grice Lancaster 1934 – 40 Shane Hall Thoresby 1978 – 85 Graeme Parr Edinburgh 1967 – 73 Denis Smith York 1950 – 57 Chris Smallwood Glouc/Win 1987 - 94 Jon Edwards Gloucester 1976 – 83 Ian Grady Windsor 1972 – 78 Thomas Chapman Keene/Thors 1988 – 94 Antony Birkett Edinburgh 1971 – 78 Nick Manning Windsor 1962 – 69 Adam Franklin School 1976 – 83 Annie Reed Ed/York 1984 – 91 We would like to trace any other surviving Grammar School staff (initially) and then any long serving staff from KES post 1979. Finding contact details isn’t always easy so we would appreciate your help with this. Expanding our Honorary Membership will take time but we will do it. We are happy to receive nominations of worthy candidates. 5 Valete With sadness we record the deaths of the following former pupils and staff and we offer our condolences to their families: BLY Terry 1955-63 Gloucester CLARKE William 1951-56 Windsor CURZONS Alan 1957-64 FUKES Steven 1990-97 GARSIDE David 1950-57 Keene GIRDLESTONE Granville KNOWLES Bill 1944-50 Thoresby LINFORD Pat 1942-53 Windsor ROBINSON Harold STANLEY Mike Terry Bly My brother, Terry Bly, played regularly for KES’s under-15 football and cricket teams between 1953-55 before an eye accident in an inter-school football match at Dersingham ended his playing days. Still, both sports remained his dominant passion all his life, marred right to the end by further physical accidents. He died of COVID-19. He was a regular supporter of King’s Lynn Town and Ipswich Town football clubs, but most—surprisingly?— not of Norwich City, where his namesake and cousin was a star of the famous 1959 F.A. Cup team and still holds the EFL post- WW II record for most goals in one season, achieved when he played for Peterborough United. Terry worked first for Morgan’s Brewery and then the British Sugar Corporation in Lynn before retiring to run his own gardening business. Peter Bly, KES (1955-63) School Vice-Captain 1961-63, Gloucester House Captain 1961-63. William Clarke Dear Andrew, I don’t know if you include items in the newsletter for non association members, however, I thought I would advise you that an old friend of mine, William (Bill) Clarke,1951/56 Windsor house has recently passed away. Bill was a founder member of the OL’s football club in the late 50’s. He moved to London in 1961 working for the Customs and Excise on the East and West India docks until 1972 when he transferred to the newly formed VAT dept until he was head hunted by a merchant bank to head their VAT dept. In retirement he was an active member of their retirement club, the aptly named Vat rats. 6 Kind regards, Graham Lawson 1951-57 Thoresby Alan David Curzons Alan was born in King’s Lynn in Norfolk where he attended both Primary school and KES Grammar school (1957 – 1964). He was a bright and willing pupil who enjoyed both academic work and sport. On a starting salary of £1,150 a year, Alan joined Beecham Pharmaceuticals in 1967 as a laboratory chemist having obtained a First in Chemistry from Birmingham University. He progressed through the ranks finally becoming Director of Applied Sustainability, Chemistries, within EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) at Worthing. His salary had improved somewhat during that time! In these early years, at Beecham Pharmaceutical, Alan’s work involved solving problems in the production of Penicillin based antibiotics, amongst which was Amoxicillin. Many of the products, over which Alan had an enormous responsibility, eventually became a great commercial success for Beechams and GSK. Colleagues said that Alan had the ability to see the whole picture, but also had an intense ability to find the fine detail, which others had missed.