Memories Come Flooding Back for Ogs School’S Last Link with Headingley
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The magazine for LGS, LGHS and GSAL alumni issue 08 autumn 2020 Memories come flooding back for OGs School’s last link with Headingley The ones to watch What we did Check out the careers of Seun, in lockdown Laura and Josh Heart warming stories in difficult times GSAL Leeds United named celebrates school of promotion the decade Alumni supporters share the excitement 1 24 News GSAL launches Women in Leadership 4 Memories come flooding back for OGs 25 A look back at Rose Court marking the end of school’s last link with Headingley Amraj pops the question 8 12 16 Amraj goes back to school What we did in No pool required Leeds United to pop the question Lockdown... for diver Yona celebrates Alicia welcomes babies Yona keeping his Olympic promotion into a changing world dream alive Alumni supporters share the excitement Welcome to Memento What a year! I am not sure that any were humbled to read about alumnus John Ford’s memory and generosity. 2020 vision I might have had could Dr David Mazza, who spent 16 weeks But at the end of 2020, this edition have prepared me for the last few as a lone GP on an Orkney island also comes at a point when we have extraordinary months. Throughout throughout lockdown, and midwife something wonderful to celebrate, the toughest school times that Alicia Walker, who talks about the too - and I don’t just mean Leeds I can recall, this community has changes to maternity care during 27 been a source of encouragement lockdown. And in our very own D&T United making it back into the Golfer Kirsty and support, and our pupils have department, John Bagshaw and his premier league, fantastic though been remarkable, despite the clear team made over 4,000 pieces of PPE that is! The Sunday Times has just awarded US challenges to their resilience and for local NHS workers, care homes published its ‘Schools of the Decade’ scholarship morale as they have navigated the and pharmacies. At a time when this by region and I am overwhelmed, 11 pressures of this year. was in short supply nationally, John’s humbled and absolutely delighted to contribution was a lifeline for many share with you that GSAL has won Chris’s VE 21 Throughout the first lockdown, 14 professionals in the field. that accolade for the North. It has Day medal Lindsey’s Ones to watch including school holidays, it was been an absolutely tremendous boost business as (almost) usual for I am also most grateful to the for us all, but it is testament to a long presentation lockdown job Architect Seun Gbolade vulnerable children and those of key amazing GSAL team who, amidst the on sustainable housing line of achievement and success, Chris makes emotional challenge workers. As soon as we could bring pandemic, still managed to relocate dating back to the two founding VE Day presentation pupils back into school, we did, and Rose Court to Alwoodley, on time schools that made us what we are we have now had a full school since and on budget, in newly refurbished today. Just like Leeds United, this is September, even though the second facilities. We missed our planned not any one person’s award, and it lockdown is in operation as I write. ‘Farewell to Rose Court’ weekend in isn’t due to any one flash of brilliance. May, so I am thrilled to read Anne Of course with words like ‘lockdown’, Rather, it is the result of a well- Pickering’s reminiscences from her 25 ‘social distance’ and ‘unprecedented’ planned and executed merger and an years’ experience running pre-prep, 29 never more used, there was no way ongoing commitment since 2008 to with some lovely old photos to make Fond farewells we could ignore the heart-warming make this the very best school that us smile. And I am just as thrilled stories that have come our way. we can, for all of our pupils. Thank that the Rose Court site has been The Grammar School at Leeds you for all that you have contributed As we have grown to both appreciate purchased by Leeds City Council to Alwoodley Gates to this amazing moment. Harrogate Road and celebrate our national health be used as a special needs’ school: Leeds LS17 8GS service more than ever this year, we that seems like a fitting legacy to 0113 229 1552 Sue Woodroofe, Principal Editor: Alison Knight Update your details, contact preferences or unsubscribe at www.gsal.org.uk/alumni/update-my-details or [email protected] Design: Clive Goldstein 2 3 Teacher Chris Wainwright remembered: “A Victorian wooden desk with a step up so that I looked Memories come down on my Remove (Y3) pupils, which was old-fashioned even for 1986.” Angela Hey (OG71) wrote of a knitting flooding back for OGs dilemma: “Choice of a tea cosy or hot water bottle cover. Mother thought neither very useful. I made a cardigan with a cable stitch – had to buy the To mark the end of school’s last link with Headingley, GSAL planned wool, a shilling a skein I think, from to open the doors of Rose Court to alumni, their families and friends Otley with my pocket money.” Jocelyn Storey (OG73) recalled: on Friday and Saturday, 15 and 16 May, for two days of celebration “Ringing the bell at both ends of the corridor.” and nostalgia. Sarah Beth (OG90) added: “Ringing the lesson bell by hand at all four When it became clear that the event corners of the building! This was could not go ahead due to the COVID-19 considered an honour.” restrictions on get-togethers, the school A photo of the opening of the school Gardening with Mr Bellamy in turned to social media instead, posting swimming pool in 1926 provoked the Ford House garden in 1966. photos from across the years and some (less than favourable) memories Sent in by Helen Watson. inviting alumnae to share their memories of both Rose Court and Ford House… and how you responded. Julia Lake commented: “Goodness the playground in one big line and our and it really didn’t look at all different green coats falling off our shoulders Many of you took to Facebook to when we were using it in the 1980s.” even in the freezing cold.” reminisce about different aspects of Fiona Whitaker added: “Having Anne Gilliker remembered: “Sports school life, from the classrooms to swimming lessons first thing Monday Day on the field.” the haunted art room, swimming pool, morning and being made to dive to school lunches, the playground and the Clare Marchant added: “Meeting at the bottom of the pool!!!” excitement of swapping green tights the root tree.” for black at Senior School! Many had fond memories of the And finally, Ellissa Baskind (OG96) Two little girls ready for school. playground and fields. Lesley Hordon (OG73) wrote about Pictured are: (L-R): Gillian Carr (OG77) summed up in two words her own the seesaw that her father made for with big sister Liz (OG74) Hannah Walker (OG90) wrote: feelings, and those of many others the school, as well as her memories Official school photo of Angela “Conker fights on the bottom who wrote in: “Happy days…” of having to eat ALL her lunch, Catton, née Simpson (OG92) playground.” including the rhubarb and custard. Nisha Notay (OG03) And she recalled some naughtiness recalled: “Walking across too: “Soaking bits of paper in the Official opening of the swimming pool inkwells and flicking them with rulers!” in 1926 Nursery class Working hard in the classroom with Mrs Dowson in 1979 Class photo sent in by Anna Phillips (OG97) 4 5 Headingley site starts new life as specialist free school As Rose Court pupils begin a new life at GSAL Primary School at Alwoodley Gates, their old home in Headingley is set to become a much-needed specialist free school for the city of Leeds. The Rose Court site, formerly Ford Rose Court will help fulfil the need House, has been sold to Leeds City for specialist educational provision in Council who plan to turn it into a Leeds, and benefit future generations of Anne Pickering with pupils on school for 150 children aged four to children and young people in the city.” her retirement in 2015 16 with speciali educational needs As part of the council’s plans, 50 and disabilities (SEND). additional partnership places will The sale marked the end of an era for also be created in local mainstream the buildings which have been part schools, which will see more children Miss Pickering looks back on 25 of the school’s history for 107 years. with SEND able to access specialist provision within a mainstream GSAL Principal Sue Woodroofe, said: setting. “Throughout our project to relocate happy years at Rose Court Rose Court pupils to join the main There has been an increase in school at Alwoodley, our desire has demand for specialist provision in been to see the Headingley site schools over the past decade due to Anne Pickering, Head of Rose Court from 1990-2015, shares her memories of life with remain in educational use, continuing the number of children and young the school’s youngest pupils. the legacy of our school’s original people living in Leeds with SEND and benefactors. We are delighted that the new school will help to address I especially loved all the seasonal events stop, although daily I saw everyone at grade of ‘outstanding’ in every area Leeds City Council’s acquisition of this need.