CRESCAT IN HORAS DOCTRINA The Old Lennensian

Newsletter of the Old Lennensians Association

Spring Edition April, 2019

“But the fact is, no matter how good the teacher, how small the class, how focused on quality education the school may be, none of this matters if we ignore the individual needs of our students.” Roy Barnes

A Word from the Editor: It has been another tumultuous few months in the history of our school. It is my great pleasure to welcome Sarah Hartshorn, the first ever female Headteacher at KES in over 500 years of our history. I can assure her that the OLs will be right behind her as she pursues her aim of “waking a sleeping giant” and makes KES the best secondary school in King’s Lynn once more. I was personally saddened by the departure of Lloyd Brown after such a short time. He, like Craig Morrison before him, was a good friend to the OLs. We wish him every success and happiness in the future. Touching on that, at the time of his appointment, there was quite a fall out between the Academy Trust and the elected governors, who subsequently resigned en masse in protest against the way the appointment was made and the lack of consultation. I 1

wonder if this is not the time to approach them again with a view to creating a better relationship with parents. Old teachers like me believe that good schools are rooted in and serve their community. They are not just businesses. Like many of you, I was appalled by the recent Panarama Programme which exposed a number of Academy Trusts, which had misused money, encouraged Headteachers to cheat to achieve better results and award themselves unreasonably high salaries. Our Trust has done a brilliant job with the building, which we are all grateful for but, with a strictly limited budget, I wonder what effects this project has had on resources and staffing in all the Trust schools. My view is that all organisations flourish with greater transparency and I would say that improving the morale of staff and developing closer links with parents are two priorities for speedy development. Of course, I write simply as a man who edits a magazine and not someone expressing the views of our Association but I am as passionate as anyone could be about making our school as successful as possible. Finally, for this part, I want to pay tribute to Mike Tagg and Robin Carter, who have both made a huge contribution to our Association and demonstrated the full benefit of their education at KES! Under Mike our finances have been kept ever healthy and a real credit to our organisation. Robin has done a fantastic job as Membership Secretary. In addition they have both been good friends to me since I joined the Committee as a promising ‘youngster’. They are both a credit to this school and I thank them on your behalf for all their years of dedicated service. Health and happiness to them both. Andrew Stephen, Chairman, (1964-71) School House

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First woman appointed to lead King's Lynn secondary school after 500 years

The King Edward VII Academy has appointed its first woman Head in more than 500 years.

The appointment of Sarah Hartshorn as Principal of the King Edward VII Academy has been announced by its sponsor, the Eastern Multi-Academy Trust.

The Trust says that it hopes Ms Hartshorn, who is currently Vice-Principal of the Thetford Academy, will take up the role for the Summer Term.

Before then, she will be spending time at the school, whose history stretches back to 1510, to meet staff and students.

Trust chief executive Dr Duncan Ramsey said: “We are delighted to welcome Sarah to the King Edward VII Academy and the Eastern Multi Academy Trust.”

From Sarah to the OL's: "It is a great honour and privilege to be appointed as the new Principal of King Edward VII Academy. I am very excited to be taking the helm after Easter.

In preparation for my interview I had the pleasure of researching the vast, rich History King Edward VII has. Looking at all the old photos, postcards, famous students (Michael Caine, if you are reading this we would be delighted to see you at one of our future events) and recollections of some of the “old boys” of the Grammar, I could not help but be moved by the legacy that I was about to be a part of; to follow in the footsteps of thousands of pupils that, like the new cohort of year 7s that will join us in September, believe passionately in our motto, “Doctrina in Horas Crescat”.

We are lucky to have a school that has traditions that continue to hold meaning and value in today’s society. I plan to remember and celebrate our wonderful history, and with the help of you, build and provide an exciting future.

I look forward to becoming an Old Lennesian myself and with your help, and the help of all our stakeholders, I know that our future will replicate our prestigious past."

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Salvete

A warm welcome is extended to:

COLBURN Eric 1958-66 Gloucester/School

STARLING Marc 1975-82 Windsor

JACKSON Paul 1973-80 Lancaster

Honorary Members

SCREEN Roger Charles 1979-2016 Keene and Thoresby "Roger Screen, who has joined the OLA as an Honorary Member was teaching at KES from 1979 to 2016 and for 20 of those years was Head of Science, his main subject being Chemistry. During his time at the school he was involved with both Keene and Thoresby Houses. Now retired, he lives in North Wootton in King's Lynn."

TEBAY Paul 1979 - 2009 TEBAY Mary 1980 - 2009 Gloucester/Windsor and Edinburgh/York

We have been tracing surviving Grammar School staff and then ,subsequently ,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.

Valete With sadness we record the deaths of the following former pupils and staff and we offer our condolences to their families:

 Sadly, we lost one of the older former pupils from KES, Don BURLINGHAM, who passed away on 3rd February 2019, aged 89.

Don, originally living in Terrington St John, was a pupil from 1941-47. After leaving KES, and soon after doing his National Service, he set up a number of businesses in Wisbech, including a chain of Travel Agencies. Latterly, Don and his family ran Eastern Rent A Van car and vehicle hire.

A kind, sincere, and likeable man, Don will be sadly missed by his family, friends, and especially those of us from Sutton Bridge Golf Club.

Roger Williamson.

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 In the local free paper the death of Michael JERVIS was announced.

 Sad news, my father Alan FOX, died last weekend aged 93. He was a life member of the OLs having been at the school 1936-41. I could write an obituary for the OL if you would like, but first I wanted to check the best way to contact the OLs.

Many thanks Kevin Fox

[I hope to include this in the next edition. Ed]

 Hi Andrew,

Here are a few words about Peter MEDWELL. Peter was the perfect gentleman - always polite and fair. Although he appeared rather shy and serious at times, he had a great sense of humour. At school he was known as 'Flash' Medwell because he once bought a pair of yellow cotton socks and had the guts to wear them in class. He was in a jazz band where he played the trumpet. He was particularly intelligent and gained the greatest number of 'O' levels in his class. If he felt particularly aggrieved about an issue, he enjoyed using the term, 'it's morally indefensible'. When he left school he joined Boots the Chemist but soon moved on to the Met Office where he spent a long career. He worked overseas in Cyprus and Gan and retired as Senior Met Officer at RAF Manston in Kent. In his retirement, he did voluntary work especially on NHS committees. Many of us are very sad at losing such a good friend, particularly after he put up such a fight against cancer.

Dave Taylor

We are not always aware of the full details and circumstances of OLs who have passed away. The newsletter ought to provide a fitting tribute to all those who have made a significant contribution to the school and I invite readers who know of Old Lennensians who have died and wish to contribute a few lines to do so.

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FROM THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

This is the latest update on current membership of the OLA – we have a total of 244 members of whom 9 are Honorary and Life Members and 5 are ex-staff. I am currently contacting other ex-staff to encourage them to become members.

We have had three new members since the last Newsletter. I’m pleased to welcome them to the Association and look forward to meeting them at some future event.

The ex-staff who are now members of the Association are:-

Mr. MJ Douglass – Deputy Head 1996, Head Teacher 2002-2014

Mr. M Walker – Head Teacher 1990-2002

Mr. RC Screen – 1979 – 2016, Head of Science for 20 years

Mr. P Tebay - 1979 – 2009

Mrs. M. Tebay - 1980 - 2009

As usual, the beginning of the year brings about the renewal of membership for those who need to – and as usual there are a few outstanding who still have to renew. Additionally we have carried out a thorough audit of all members paying by Standing Order and have discovered that of all those listed, there are some for whom a payment has not been received in the OLA account. I have contacted those affected but am still awaiting replies from some. Here is my usual “Identification Parade” – if one of the following postcodes looks remarkably familiar to you, could you please contact me without delay either by email ([email protected]), post (The Linnets, 10 Sea Lane, Butterwick, Boston. PE22 0EY) or even phone (01205 760315). I will be pleased to hear from you.

PE30 3NB PO18 8RW NG10 5PD LE6 0GT

PE8 5ST NG13 8~PA HG5 8EN B13 9QY

PE30 3BH NR8 6ND MK44 3NL SL6 0DU

CA20 1NQ PE32 2QF PE8 4JA NR2 3AJ

NR10 3JP CR0 5HN SK11 0BZ PE34 4SR

PE33 0UD CT10 2UU SN12 7TS S80 3DB

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Finally, I have decided to hang up my pen and give my brain a rest when I resign with effect from the AGM later this year. If there is anyone out there willing to make a contribution to the running of the OLA, do please let me or Chairman Andrew know.

Robin Carter. Officials of the Association COMMITTEE

President: His Honour Judge Peter Jacobs Vice Presidents: The Venerable David Fleming, QHC, R. Booth, R. Carter, David Cobbold, D. Oliver, Dr J.B Marsters, M.J. Tagg, T. Valentine Honorary Life Member: W.O. Lancaster Chairman: A.C. Stephen Vice Chairman: M. Whittley Honorary Secretary: N. Fickling Honorary Treasurer: P. Riches [M Tagg] Membership Secretary: R.P. Carter Newsletter Editor: A.C Stephen Website & Media Officer: D. Phillips Ex Officio: Sarah Hartshorn, Headteacher Without Porfolio: B. Childs, M. Fillenham, C. Prior, M. Walker, S. Waterworth

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Forthcoming Events

1. Please note the Annual Spring Lunch will be held on Saturday 20th April 2019 at the Riverside Restaurant King's Lynn. [Members Only]

Dear OL Just a final reminder to send your application in, if you are attending the Spring Lunch at the RIverside on Saturday 4 May. The list will be closed a week before!!!! Best wishes Don

2. Good morning fellow golfers,

I have made arrangements for us to play at Bungay on Thursday 23rd May.

Tee off 1.00 pm

I will arrange the meal later and inform you as to cost.

Please let me know if you are thinking of playing in order that I may the necessary arrangements

Best wishes Don

3. Jampots Reunion

“Jampots” School Reunion

Saturday 25th May 2019

11.30am to 3.30pm

At

Greyfriars Academy

14/15 London Road, Kings Lynn, PE30 5PY

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Dear Jampots,

Above is a formal confirmation for the planned reunion on 25th May 2019.

I am delighted to say that Richard Baker, the son of the long serving former Head teacher Mr W. J. Baker is coming to the reunion. Jampots who attended St. James Boys’ School from any year prior to September 1989, their partners and guests will be most welcome.

Please do sign in on arrival.

In addition we have arranged to have some commemorative mugs for sale with a picture of the old school. If you would like to pre-order a mug at a cost of £6.00 you will be able to collect it on the day. A buffet lunch will be provided and tea, coffee and cold refreshments will be available throughout.

In order to mark this reunion it is planned to present a picnic table and bench to Greyfriars Academy.

There will be an admission charge of £10.00 (payable on the day) to help cover the cost of the buffet. Cars can be parked in the playground where a person will be on duty from 11am on the day.

Please reply ASAP and at the latest by: Friday 10th May to help with our planning for the day. Please either text 07599537290 or email [email protected] If you would also like a mug please pre-order by Friday 10th May as well.

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4.

Brian Reynolds – In His Own Write

Those people who have lived in West Norfolk for any length of time, will need no introduction to Brian. His work with Albanwise and as a leader in our community is the stuff of legend. A tireless workaholic, he believed in innovation, conservation and good husbandry. He has been a wonderful advertisement for the farming industry and an example of how the finest traditions can be built on with ideas and a perception of the future. He will not thank me for being so effusive but those who know him will know what I have said is deserved and accurate. Brian has written an autobiographical book and, understandably wants to launch it, as local writer Jill Mason did with her novel, in Barton Bendish Village Hall. We are still working on the fine detail but the event will be held on the afternoon of Saturday June 8th. There will be no charge but there will be a retiring collection. Brian, who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, wishes to sell his book at £10 per copy in aid of Parkinsons, which is a very generous gesture. Obviously, the more books he sells the better so I hope this will be a popular event. I know that Brian is going to talk, amongst other things, about his time as a Boarder at King Edward VII Grammar School, King’s Lynn which is where we first met. He has asked that we invite Will Stebbings and Nuffield Scholar, Russell Mackenzie, to join him. There will probably be a number of ex Grammar School Boys at the event but there is bound to be a lot of local interest too. If you would like to come along please let me know so that we can arrange adequate seating and, no doubt, much better than average refreshments. [The event should run from 2pm – 4pm approx.] Andrew Stephen ([email protected])

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5. Joint Reunion July 20th 2019, preceded by Old Lennensians AGM

Although it is not intended to hold a reunion every year, this one has been timed to be on the same day as our AGM, as an experiment to tempt more of our members to come along to the have their say. Time will tell, and it would encourage the committee no end if we have a good turn out and if some younger members, from post Grammar School days, could be present. Membership will be available on the day and anyone paying for membership can attend the AGM and claim a discount, if they have paid full price for a reunion ticket. Next year our friends from the High School will be holding their own reunion. This year they will be welcome at our reunion as will OLs, partners and friends. Tickets are priced at £15.00 for non-members, £12.00 for members and £5.00 for Honorary Members. These can be obtained from me at Witsend, Hatherley Gardens, Barton Bendish, Norfolk PE33 9DR. Please send a cheque, made payable to ‘Old Lennensians Association’ for the required amount. Please include your postal address and, where applicable, dates and House name when at KES, maiden name and married name if ex-High School. The ‘Pay as you go’ bar will open at 11.30am. The AGM will start at noon. The Reunion will open at 1pm and Michael Walker and Sarah Hartshorn will provide the welcome. We eat at 2pm. It is hoped that there will be music, guided tours, books for sale, an exhibition of archive material and a membership table. The event will close at 5pm – and the bar will remain open while there are still people wishing to use it. The OLs are at a crossroads and moving into unknown territory. We need, and appreciate, your support.

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6. There will probably be a November Lunch, venue to be decided. It will be very informal and be done on a ‘pay on the day’ basis. (London Branch) Reports of Events On Tuesday 5th February, 30 Old Lennensians and their guests attended the annual Savile Club lunch in Mayfair and enjoyed an excellent meal with wines in the splendid surroundings of the Club. The number would have been larger but sadly there were a few late withdrawals due to illness one of whom was the Chair, Tim Valentine. The event continues to attract a band of regulars not just those within easy reach of London but several from the wilds of Norfolk also! If you haven't experienced this get together before, next year's lunch has already been booked: Tuesday 4th February 2020. Full details will be published later in the year and some new faces will be warmly welcomed. Barry Summerfield NB There may have been other events held under the auspices of the Old Lennensians and I am always happy to print reports. Old Lennensian Events should, I think, be open to all members….. [Ed]

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Correspondence and Articles

School Reunion - July 2018 By Ken Nixon I’ll be honest. I had been counting down the weeks with excitement and not a little trepidation. A reunion after a fifty-year gap is a big thing. That’s more than half a lifetime, for you and me – unless you live in Okinawa – and my impact at King Edward’s had been less than seismic; my boarding life, a roller-coaster ride, with some bruising by way of souvenirs. So, much flip-flopping ensued before I resolved to make a weekend of it and book a B&B. I knew that not all reunions go swimmingly. Exhilarating nostalgia, or a tiresome blast from the past? It depends on your journey there. I hit King’s Lynn at the worst possible time – rush-hour, Friday p.m! – with the streets awash with pesky school kids… Oh. Wait a moment… I’d never imagined that the former, sleepy market-town and port I had known in the Sixties could be so gridlocked. Things could only get better. I checked in at the B&B – hot and bothered, eventually – and booked a taxi to Marriott’s, where eight of us would be meeting for a pre-reunion meal and a friendly “ice-breaker.” Marriott’s, for those unfamiliar with it, is a stylish 4/5 star-rated waterfront diner overlooking the Ouse. On the taxi trip there, I mentioned the KES reunion. Amusingly, the young driver was the grandson of Alf Marsden, former KES caretaker in the 60’s. I remember Alf well. This small coincidence proved to be a foretaste of greater things to come.

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I arrived at Marriott’s well before time and savoured a generous glass of Merlot outside, in warm sunshine. I chose a table with a river view. Presently, a party of fellow sixty- somethings approached. I recognised and greeted Andrew and Liz Stephen, and one man I hadn’t seen for over half a century, but instantly recognised. Mike Harcourt. I don’t know who was more amazed when I called out his name correctly. I don’t think we were ever in the same class. It mystifies me how I remember him. “I’m afraid I don’t know anyone else here,” I smiled, “but I’m very pleased to meet you.” A flurry of introductions followed. I confess I’m of an age when I remember events fifty years ago as clear as daylight, yet the names of people just introduced to me vanish down a rabbit hole. Over our meal, Mike and I found we had things in common. Like me, he had started out as an accountant, acknowledged his mistake, trained as a teacher – and made a fulfilling career of it. The gentleman facing me – please forgive me! – lived on Wootton Road in the 1960s. He lived exactly opposite my best English teacher, Ken Gregory, and my very first girlfriend, Rosemary Smith. He remembered Rosemary as a tall and attractive girl “with long legs” and a fashionable Mary Quant haircut. She was a student at the nearby technical college, on Tennyson Avenue. He also recalled her “quieter younger brother;” and that her father was a ship’s pilot. Rosemary and I met after school twice weekly by “the Tech” and watched movies at The Majestic now and then. I became a regular home visitor for Sunday afternoon teas - and Sunday roast lunches, when her family knew me better. My skinny frame suggested, evidently, that I was a waif and stray who needed filling out, if the portions were anything to go by. The gentleman facing me had also been next-door-neighbour to Alun “Taffy” Lloyd and his brother Gareth. Taffy was my best school-mate at KES, until he left for Wymondhan College after his O Levels. More than once, the family invited me there for a Sunday meal. Do you notice a theme developing? I recall that his parents were religious, and that we stood to say grace before we ate. The coincidences that evening at Marriott’s kept on coming. Another diner at our table lives in Hunstanton. (My apologies, again!) I asked him if he knew The White Cottage, where Hamilton and Wodehouse Roads meet, in Old Hunstanton. “I lived there briefly as a young boy,” I added. “Know it? My mother-in-law lives there, and runs it as a B&B!” “You mean Una Burton?” I’d continued. His eyes widened. “Yes! But how do you know her?”

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“Because I Googled the place a couple of years ago out of curiosity, saw it was a B&B, and decided to book a room there – for old time’s sake. I told Una my family had once lived there, for six months, from December 25th,1960. (Yep, we’d driven from RAF Bracknell on Christmas day, on near empty roads, and re-heated our prepared Christmas dinner on arrival. We ate it sitting huddled in warm jackets and hats, in a freezing house. Such is RAF life.) I told Una what I knew about the property’s former owners, which was new to her. I even showed her a draft of an autobiographical account I’d been writing, about living and attending the village school there. She showed it to her daughter – your wife!” We laughed. “That really is odd,” we agreed. I know "Nor' Folk" are unfairly characterised as overly "close-knit" ... but really! For coincidences, that caps them all. *** Finally, the Big Day arrives. On Saturday afternoon, I attend the O.L.s’ and Girls’ High School reunion at KES, and reminisce with people I first met 56 years ago. We meet in the festively-decorated school hall – the former scene of assemblies; O and A level exams; school reviews, fetes and drama productions; inter-house boxing tournaments…. and furtive cigarettes on dark nights, when us boarders were younger! We once brought a locust here – nicked from the bio lab – for a test flight. It responded to a sudden urge to migrate, and went. A wealth of memories here, in the hall! Meeting with ex-pupils – and faces old and new – is a powerful and richly rewarding experience. A particular delight is reminiscing with former boarders and day-boys from different years – as equals. Back in the day, the hierarchy of boarding house life meant that social mixing between younger and older boys was the exception rather than the rule. The first half-hour is mainly pleasantries and decorum. Then, ties are loosened, jackets removed and hair let down, and the event takes off. The hall hums with conversation. Small groups form, dissolve, and reform, as people mingle or sit, and laugh and reminisce. There are books for sale, OL membership forms for the taking, short speeches and flashing cameras. The reunion this afternoon is going well, and all too quickly for the aggregated 7,000 years of experience we represent. Laid end to end, we’d reach back to Neolithic times, though our youthful looks belie that.

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The day is crowned by a sumptuous buffet lunch (a big thanks to that excellent team.) There is a pay-as-you-go bar; then a guided tour of Hogwarts / Bleak House / the old boarding house itself. A coach-sized party of wide-eyed old-boys is led Pied-Piper-style through that former Dickensian den of iniquity and corporal punishment, by an eloquent and animated Andrew Stephen. For him, every corridor, nook and cranny echoes with anecdotes. For us ex-boarders, YouTube shorts of our School House boyhood play and replay in our minds, as we dip in and out of his commentary. It’s a strange feeling, wandering through the trappings of a modern school superimposed on the contours of a once-familiar building. In my mind’s eye, I have entered a time-capsule, a cob-webbed museum. Is that a stuffed and mounted Jones, I see, glowering at us from his display case? Those dogged by the memories will know who I mean. Some might bear his teeth marks. Gratifyingly, no degree of refurbishment can prevent us from identifying every original room. Only one thing surprises me. The rooms are smaller, and the corridors and staircases much narrower than I remember, a perception that can’t be explained away solely by my fuller, adult frame! This afternoon, something comes full-circle. I feel I have returned to the place that was crucial in helping determine who I am today. *** And that's why my time at King Edward's means so much to me – the hours I spent each day, beyond the confines of the boarding house. It's not just the education I received, and the grades that got me to university. It's not just the friendships, the sporting life and “team spirit.” It was the stability it offered, and the continuity. King Edward's was a bedrock, for seven years, from my awkward adolescent years to my early adulthood. It’s not the first time, and probably won’t be the last, that I say I owe a big debt of gratitude to former fellow boarding inmate, Andrew Stephen, who cajoled me into reconnecting with my past at KES, and who worked like a Trojan with his wife, Liz, and the O.L. committee, to ensure the reunion’s success. In attending, I laid old ghosts to rest, and opened a welcome new chapter in my life. Long may the reunions continue. [Those are very kind comments. I have been lucky enough to banish many demons myself too and realise that the person I am now owes so much to those school days so long ago. I am profoundly grateful that I am back in touch with some of the fantastic people I knew then. Ed]

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As a KES lower-sixth-form pupil. This may have been taken during an A Level Geography field trip to Derbyshire Peak District, organised by Wally Hammond and Mick Avery.

A more recent photo of Ken

Book Review

The Land Rover – Dave Phillips I am not a car buff and normally find non-fiction about machines, unless they are steam engines pulling trains, a bit of a trial. It is tribute to the writing skills of Dave Phillips (our Website and Media Officer) that I enjoyed this book so much. The book is a comprehensive and detailed account, revealing many things which are relatively unknown about this well loved vehicle. Neither is it one of those star-struck, entirely uncritical accounts much beloved by enthusiasts of all kinds. It is resolutely fair, witty and beautifully written. As well as being a devoted Old Lennensian, Dave is an old school journalist. By that I mean he knows how to write evocatively, emotionally and accurately. I hope his books will be for sale, alongside those of Michael Walker, Brian Reynolds and Will Stebbings. If so, I recommend it – and those written by the other eminent Old Lennensians I’ve just mentioned. Look out for a very well earned dedication! ACS

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This poem is from the 1931 Old Lennensian. What a cultured lot we were then! Sent in by Michael Fillenham.

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PRELUDE TO ‘KES AT WAR 1939-45’.

Starting with the next newsletter I shall share with you some of my recent research into this period of the school's history. Thanks to Michael Walker making sure our archive material has been made safe in the borough archives I have been able to use the copies of the Lennensian for those years as my main,but not only source of information. We are very fortunate that Michael has ensured their survival as well as writing his books on KES and other Lynn schools. In Leicester where I taught at The City of Leicester School for 33 years I was horrified to discover that a new build and new management meant that all the old shields,cups,photographs and records were going into a skip! They had already without discussion one summer removed and destroyed all the boards recording the university honours of former pupils. Without permission (my muscle disability forced me to retire in 2009) I persuaded the Premises Officer to load all the material into my Suzuki Wagon R which made several trips to my garage at home. Incidentally I later discovered that the material I had salvaged (nicknamed the "Downing Drive Horde" by the old boys association known as the Wyvernians) included an exercise book of the names and awards of all those on the long lost display boards. The origins of City Boys School goes back over a century, like KES, and in 1919 they were moved into a building in the centre of Leicester (they moved out to the edge of Leicester in 1965) which still stands, now used by Age UK. In March this year I was guest speaker at their 22nd Reunion there and was able to share with them that in the autumn of 1969 a certain John Cleese did attend after school one day to speak to the Sixth Form Society. I even had managed to find the science teacher who had opened the staff room door when Cleese asked where the meeting was.

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Apart from being a bit long-winded or self-indulgent I suppose I am saying that I hope my articles will include the unexpected as well as the known facts or stories about KES. As for the 6 years of war there will be much that is familiar with maybe a few surprises. This does of course depend partly on how much recipients know from experience or reading existing published material. When part one of KES At War appears next time (subject to the editor's approval) I hope readers will set the scene themselves to some extent. KES would have to function as normally as possible in difficult and uncertain times. Some of you will be aware that a plan to deal with the threat of war and aerial bombing had been thoroughly worked out in 1938 by a committee led by Sir John Anderson. This plan merged with planning by the London County council made detailed arrangements to evacuate all school age children, the infirm, pregnant women and mothers with babies or pre-school children from major cities like London, Glasgow and Birmingham. It included identifying with local authority help billeting accommodation mainly in peoples houses in areas deemed "Reception Areas" like East Anglia. (Something similar had happened in 1914 when about a million mainly Belgian refugees were taken in in places like Kings Lynn.)

The Evacuation Order was given on 31st August 1939 and on the 1st September an estimated 1.5 million began to assemble. London alone had 1589 assembly points. Thanks to help from teachers, local authority officials, transport staff and the Womens Voluntary Service "Operation Pied Piper had largely been completed by the 3rd September. Obviously there were problems and challenges ahead. Nevertheless we may just wonder how this was achieved in the age of steam, no motorways, a rudimentary telephone system and of course no computers or mobile phones.....and there was a war on ! In Kings Lynn by the way 1296 primary/infant age children had arrived safely from 8 different London schools and 406 had been placed at the Saint James schools. We know this since records show that in the week ending 15th September the average attendance of the London children in their Lynn school was almost 91%.

Meanwhile what about secondary schools, but specifically what about KES? The first part will aim to cover KES at least upto 1940......

If you have been, thanks for reading...Bob Childs.

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1510 and all that. The story of the Lynn Grammar School. Some references can be found to the provision of education in Lynn in the 14th and 15th centuries but 1510 has long been taken as the key date when considering the origins of the Lynn Grammar School, because that was the date of the Will of Thomas Thoresby, in which there was provision for the upkeep of a priest who was to be paid the income from lands in Gaywood subject to certain conditions, principally that the priest would pray for his soul and ‘daily teach six children in grammar and song.’ Under the Chantries Act of 1548, property bequeathed to pay for the daily chanting of prayers for the dead could be confiscated. It is believed that the land, having been seized by the Crown, was then granted to the Lynn Corporation, which felt obliged to apply the income to the original purpose. Certainly the unbroken history of the school under the control of the Corporation can be traced from November 1550 when the Borough Hall Book refers to John Rackster as ‘now being the grammar school master.’ He was to receive a salary of £10 per year and ‘a chaldron of coals for his winter firing.’ The first mention of governance in relation to the Grammar School was in 1606 when it was decided that two governors would be appointed to oversee the management of the school and later in that year various rules were agreed. A set of rules is preserved in the Borough Archives but these bear the date 1662. It is possible that they may have replaced those agreed in 1606 but more likely they are the same. There are thirty-two rules in all, divided into sections concerned with Piety, Letters (the curriculum), Manners and Order. Good behaviour was obviously very important. Anyone ‘who either in church or in public does not conduct himself modestly’ would be punished as would ‘brawling, fighting, noise, pilfering, obscenity and oaths.’ Although school uniform was a thing of the future, there was a rule which said: ‘Let no one come to the school with uncombed head, face and hands unwashed, dirty shoes and torn hose, or slovenly dress.’ The old adage, cleanliness is next to godliness, obviously applied. There was even good advice for the masters, who had to ‘arrange the course of study neither all at once nor confusedly, but leisurely, illustrating extensively with examples. Let them never go on to new lessons unless the former are known and fully understood.’ These rules were reproduced in 21

The Lennensian, the magazine of King Edward Vll School, in December 1930, along with some delightful cartoons. The school in the early days was located on the upper floor of the Charnel Chapel, a fourteenth century building next to St Margaret’s Church. The bones taken out of the many graves in the cemetery were deposited underneath. The Charnel Chapel was demolished in 1779 and for a period of some forty years the Grammar School was located in rooms above the Butchers’ Shambles, also on Saturday Market Place. Although it had been used for the boarders from quite early in the school’s history, the Master’s house in St James Street, near the corner with what is today called Tower Street, was not used for teaching until the 1820s. However it was to be the main site of the school until 1906 when it moved to the magnificent new buildings on the Gaywood Road.

Over the centuries the school experienced many ups and downs. Perhaps the nadir was in the mid-eighteenth century when the Usher, or second master, Eugene Aram, was arrested, after only a few months in the post, for a murder which had been committed some fourteen years previously. After a celebrated trial in York, Aram was found guilty and he was hanged in 1759. There is an exhibition in the Stories of Lynn Museum which describes the details of the murder and the trial.

In complete contrast a high point came in the nineteenth century during the headship of the Revd. Thomas White. He managed to secure the patronage of the Prince of Wales, who in 1864 decided to award a Gold Medal to the best student at the Grammar School, a prize which is still awarded annually to this day. It is believed that the school was brought to the attention of the Prince of Wales when the boys lined the station at Lynn to welcome the newly-married royal couple on their way to Sandringham, which had been bought for the Prince of Wales as a private house in 1862. The first medal was awarded to H Bristow in April 1865 at Sandringham House. A detailed history of the school is to be found in my book, Diary of a Grammar School which is available from Waterstones in Lynn. Michael Walker

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[This article was first printed in KL magazine and I am grateful to Michael for permission to use it. I will certainly be in the queue to buy a copy of his updated and quite wonderful book. Ed]

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Another Distinguished OL

Ken Sims, Director of Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, near Great Yarmouth, has been awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Zoological Society of London. Only 25 Honorary Fellows have been made since the Zoological Society of London was founded in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles. Honorary Fellows include HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1977), HM The Emperor Akihito of Japan (1991), Sir David Attenborough (1998) and Dr Desmond Morris (2013). The fellowship is awarded to…”those who are distinguished in zoology or who have promoted the aims of the society, a limited number to be admitted”… Ken Sims said: “To receive the Honorary Fellowship of the Zoological Society of London is very special for me. In addition to running two of the world’s finest zoos, the Society is the world leader in its work for education, research and international conservation.” “I am grateful that I have been allowed to help support the teams of dedicated professional staff in their effort to conserve and protect wildlife wherever it is endangered. The team effort at the Zoological Society of London has paid off in that both London Zoo and Whipsnade are enjoying very strong increases in attendance and revenue, in sharp contrast to the early 1990s, when the closure of London Zoo was a real possibility.” Ken Sims first became involved with the Zoological Society of London in the 1960s, supplying animals when he was working as rubber planter in Malaya. After returning to the UK and opening Thrigby Hall Wildlife Garden in 1979, Ken became more closely involved serving on committees and working with London and Whipsnade Zoos through the British Zoos’ Federation. He became a Trustee of the Zoological Society of London in 1994, has been Vice President three times and also chaired the London Zoo Board and the Zoos’ Advisory Committee. Ken is a former Chairman of the British Zoos’

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Federation and has represented the federation on the committee of the European Association of Zoos. Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is at Filby near Great Yarmouth, t. 01493 369477, www.thrigbyhall.co.uk. The Wildlife Gardens open every day at 10am. For more information about the Zoological Society of London see www.zsl.org. [It is to my shame that I have been intending, for so long , to use this article about distinguished OL Ken Sims (1952-59 Windsor). Like so many KES students, Ken went on to an outstanding and successful career. I often think that we weren’t aware of how many talented people we shared classrooms with! Ed]

Old Boys’ Cricket Team

Greetings Andrew,

This might be interesting for the newsletter. Growing up I'd heard that our grandfather Bernard E. Bremner was captain of the old boy's cricket team. Perhaps someone will recognize some of the players? It might have been taken when he was on the board of governors. Grandfather is in the back row centre.

Belated Happy New Year to you and your family. John

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KES SPORT 1965-71.

The content of the Lennensian magazines show that many sports continued to flourish. The "main" team games of hockey, soccer and cricket, thrived resulting in many notable individual achievements. Many pupils were able to take advantage of opportunities to participate or excel at house or school level in these sports as well as athletics, swimming ,cross-country, badminton, volleyball, tennis and briefly in 1965 a revived interest in boxing! KES pupils regularly achieved selection or colours for their county or beyond through the age ranges upto senior level.

While statistics are not the only measure of success or enjoyment the results of KES 1st XI's at Soccer. Hockey and Cricket in this period do indicate the effectiveness of good coaching, organisation, facilities and collective effort. A sample of six years reveals a win/draw % for Soccer of 55%, Hockey 60% and Cricket 75%. In these and other sports the opposition included other grammar, secondary modern and public schools, universities or colleges, RAF sides, local teams and of course the O.L.'s. or staff.

By the standards of the time the extensive playing areas,general facilities and equipment provided an excellent foundation for sport. Many staff and some senior boys of course continued the KES tradition of giving up their time to run teams or competitions. Grounds maintenance was second to none and in these years in the very capable hands of Dick Legget and Charlie Smith. New or older boys were soon made aware that any interference or even treading on the Ist XI hockey pitch (adjacent to the school car park) or the hallowed turf of the main cricket square was thought to be a very serious offence! Incidentally the investment in cricket in this period is also reflected by two things. Firstly KES must have been one of the few state schools with an early version of a bowling machine which on its fast setting gave a batsman about .4 of a second to play or evade the ball. Secondly, thanks to the school captain P.B.Roscoe and C.D.Reynolds the school made and operated its own small electronic scoreboard in 1968 (a year before Wymondham College built their own very large version).

Notable individual achievements while at school include Alex Macduff (1964-71) who excelled in athletics and represented KES at county and regional level reaching national standard in the High Jump from 1966 onwards. In cricket Bob Childs (1966-72) took many wickets with his accurate leg spin. He played and captained Norfolk at U15 and U19 level as well as appearing in matches for the South of England against the North (run by the English Schools Cricket Association) or the North v the South in matches run by the National Assocn. of Young Cricketers. At Hove in August 1971 he played for the North against a team from the South which included a young Graham Gooch.

James (Jim) Sleigh (1962-69) achieved honours in two sports. He played for the county for several years and captained Norfolk in 1968-69. In cricket he represented and captained the county, played in North v South of England matches and reached full 26

England level for ESCA. UI9's v Canada in 1969 (match abandoned) and in 1970 for the NAYC U19 s v a West Indies XI at Trent Bridge. He was an accomplished wicket- keeper/batsman….partly honed on many hours in the nets facing the bowling machine!

Some readers will know of or have seen at recent Reunions quite a few of this team including of course Pete Riches your new OL's treasurer (and very reliable,accurate scorer!). Apologies for my self indulgence in submitting this..partly because it is the only photograph of my brother and I in the same team (he too has the same inherited muscle condition, lives in Derbyshire still working from home as a public relations consultant..having begun as a cub reporter on the Lynn News). Any update or information on "Bonehead" Taylor, "Golly"Goward, "Bonzo"Green (our own Curtley Ambrose), "Jim" Sleigh or messrs Richmond and Gaskin would be welcome, either to our newsletter or directly to me on [email protected].

Very best wishes Bob Childs.

RCF Waite, RJ Ilett, CM Taylor, JPS, RL Richmond,JM Gaskin, SMChilds, RJChilds.

PO Goward, JT Green, JHSleigh, SG Collison, A.Steele & PC Riches.

Bob ,The Quill ,Childs.

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Hi Andrew,

I wanted to share with you a recent activity that saw 5 KES alumni from the food industry come in to help educate Yr 12 students about the sector and employability skills such as CV, covering letters, networking and speculative emails.

On Tuesday 12th March Future First arranged a Feeding Britain's Future workshop. The alumni were from the likes of Aldi and Tesco plus more. They were employees from a range of roles such as store managers, media relations and procurement.

I've attached a couple of photos.

If any of the alumni you work with would like to come in to the school to support events then please remind then to register through future first so that they can get the email invites.

https://networks.futurefirst.org.uk/register

Hi Andrew, Any chance of a "Where are they now" column? As we get on in years, our school friends unfortunately move on in one way or another and we lose track of each other. I left in 1946 and often wonder how my classmates are doing. I know some have passed away but there are still others out there. I recently caught up with one through Facebook. I appreciate The Data Protection Act does not help. I'm quite prepared for my name, e- mail address and telephone number to be published though. Any comments? Sincerely 28

Derek Hooke (Hookey) (5A)

Andrew,

Perhaps it could be said that the longer the Head is there the better they are! Now who could I be thinking of?

John (Sleigh)

[Now, there’s a novel idea! I hope that Sarah is with us for years to come. Ed]

And finally…......

“My school days were the happiest days of my life; which should give you some indication of the misery I have endured for the last twenty five years.” Paul Merton

It saddens me that we have lost a few members this year, who haven’t been able to accept the new committee’s desire to persuade KES pupils from post Grammar School times to join us. As a former teacher, I accept that the job of a school, however it is constituted, exists to help individuals to become well rounded, kind and productive people, able to lead constructive and fulfilling lives. Society has moved on and schools with it, and not necessarily for the better. Personally, boarding at a Grammar School probably improved my life chances and what few skills I have but I will never know. However well, or otherwise, we do, we are all as entitled to enjoy the nostalgia associated with our time at school and our formative years as anyone else. And when we get to the end of the Grammar intake, does the OLA die out? KES won’t. The process of attracting young members has been gradual. I think it will be helped by giving their teachers honorary membership and I believe that there will be a number of pupils from the 90’s at the Reunion. There are now 265 people on the ‘Friends of KES’ Facebook Group – a massive expansion. We need to find ways to persuade those interested in KES to join. And I urge anyone thinking they could perhaps become our Membership Secretary to step forward. The job doesn’t necessarily involve travel – and whoever does it will get the same support that I do – plenty. As Chair of the Trustees and of the Old Lennensians, I feel privileged to be involved in the life of the school so long after I left it. Both organisations have a role to play in helping KES to improve as much as it can. Malcolm Whittley and I attended the Celebration Evening in December. There was plenty of talent on view but not as many parents or staff present as we would have

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expected. An ambitious school needs all its staff present for such a key event and the full participation of its parents. I’m sure it needs us too. Help us make a difference, Andrew [email protected] If you would like to contribute to the next edition, or comment on any of the issues raised in this one, please contact me. Deadline for contributions to the next edition is September 10th, 2019

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