Assisted places THE School Governors, after con­ tions resulted in a large number sultation with the headmaster of entries and I awarded 30 and staff, gave a cautious wel­ places at 11, 4 at 12 and 5 at 13; come to this new scheme, our 5 places at Sixth-form level designed to attract able boys (and were eagerly snapped up, one Sixth-form girls) into the school going to an internal candidate from back-grounds where fee­ atQEGS and two to boy-applicants and paying might present insurmount­ two to girl-applicants to the able problems. The difficulties of and financial considerations are It is a pity that a scheme Sixth-form_ In view of the interest the scheme (with the weight of strictly tied to a means test. which restores our birthright as in Sixth-form entry, mainly boys administration falling entirely (The old D.G. system could right­ the local Grammar School,should and girls in Lancashire compre­ upon the school) are outweighed ly be said to favour the middle­ have been accompanied by politi­ hensive schools without Sixth­ by its merits: unlike the former class, and - as I said on Radio cal controversy and that threat forms, the Governors decided to Direct Grant system, the criteria Blackburn in welcoming the to withdraw the scheme when the make certain other monies avail­ for selection is personal to the scheme, applicants need to come present Government shanges. Not­ able in bursaries to outside headmaster (and clearly here is an from ultra-large fami lies where withstanding this, much interest applicants, over and above the academic selection procedure) the father is in prison! l. before our main school examina- Government'sfive places. The Headmaster Mr Philip Johnston, has been chosen as one of nine lay peopleto represent the Dioceseof Blackburn on the Church of England General Synod for five years. Last summer he travelled in the United States and Canada as winner of the Headmaster sConfer­ ence Page Scholarship_ His accountof the trip is on page 15. MAGISTER Page 2 Obituaries THE REFRIGERATION CENTRE (Blackburn) Ltd. Gordon Birtwistle Mr Gordon Birtwistle, a member of the Old Blackburnians' Association Committee and our Master of Ceremonies at the Association Annual dinner, died on October 23, 1980. He was a pupil at School from SCHOOL BUILDINGS 1947 to 1954, on leaving School he took his degree at Manchester CHERRY TREE, BLACKBURN University. Mr Birtwistle joined the pharmacy department at Man­ chester Royal I nfirmary and re­ mained there until 1961 when he joined the family pharmacy business. At School he was a keen sportsman and later became a Telephone and at playing member of the Old Blackburnian' football club. He Blaekburn 21637 Aeerington 33404 was a former President of the Castle Toastmasters Club, now the Speakers Club. Gordon Birtwistle was a sincere man with a lively sense of humour and will be greatly missed by his many friends. Our sincere sympathy and condolences to Mrs Distributors for Osborne, Gordon Birtwistle Birtwistle and her family. Craig-Nicol and Lee LESLIE Wilfred THORNBER MR LESLIE Thomber (1927-33) Cnmblehuhle died suddenly on February 2nd. 1981 , aged 64. Articled as a Mr Wilfred Crumblehulme of Over Surveyor and Valuer on leaving Hulton, Bolton, died on February school he retu rned, after service INVEST IN STYLE 16, 1981 aged 71 . He was a pupil with the Army in the Middle at School from 1922 to 1925. Mr East and Africa, to qualify and Crumblehulme wasa former Presi­ serve for over 25 years as Rati ng dent of Lancashire County Cric­ Valuation Officer in the Wigan ket Club and was also President District. of the Bolton Cricket League uUrlng that time he was an SUITS by and Westhoughton Cricket Club. active and prominent Rotarian Mr Cnimblehulme was a and took a keen interest in sport, • Boss generous benefactor to the Old particularly cricket, although in Blackburnians' Football Club. his fifties he gained a Du ke of Several awards, both team and Edinburgh award for swimming • Skopes individual, wereini tiated through one million lengths. his generosity. One individual Another Old Blackburnian, a award will in future be known lifelong friend Vic Whitsey. Bishop • Maenson as 'The Crumblehulme Award'. of Chester, took part in the He also had a great love of funeral service at Roby Mill music; he did pursue a singing Methodist Chapel. • Magee career which took him all over He leaves a widow, Bertie, a the world. son Robin, and a daughter Barrie. in pure wool, and Terylene blends FRANI( TYSON from Mr Frank Tvson who gave the Aerospace) there becoming Chief £79 toast to the guests at the 1980 Designer. Mr Tyson was one of a Old Boys Dinner died suddenly team who designed the Jetstream. in Januarythis year. He was a Fellow of the Royal He was a pupil at school from Aeronautical Society and in 1979 GRAYS 1924 to 1931, took his degree at was awarded the MBE for services Pembroke College, Cambridge. to the Aircraft Industry. Fol­ 1 Penny St. and After graduating he went into lowing his retirement several years the Aircraft Industry, for some ago he still acted as consultant Market Hall, years at Fairey's then at Handley engineer for British Aerospace. Blaekburn. Page where he stayed for over His other interests were sport, thirty years, becoming Chief particulartly cricket in his youn­ Tel. 53275 Stressman and eventually Deputy ger days, bowls,chess, music and Chief Designer. Soon after the books and he was also widely closure of Handley Page he went travelled. to Scottish Aviation (now British He leaves a wife and two sons. MAGISTER Page3 Former Headmaster N.S.TrevorBenson Members of staff, both scales, and his shrewdness and past and present, former pu­ perception made possible the NIALE Sean Trevor miracles of annual budgeting pils of the School and many Benson A.F.C., M.A., against the sombre background of present-day parents will have Headmaster of Queen the rapidly-risingcosts of this per­ Elizabeth's Grammar iod. He carried Ollt, with astute been saddened by the news of School, Blackburn, 1948- business acumen , the many the death of former Head­ 56. deferred repairs and decorations master, Rev. N.S.T. Benson, of the war years, saw to the mod­ ification and extensions of the A.F .C., M .A., in November N. S. T. Benson teaching facilities In Hartley last year, only three days be­ was posted to Upavon in Wilt­ House, as well as the purchase shire, to help wi th the training fore he was due to retire. He of adjOining properties for the of instructors, and was promoted future extensions and needs of William was 68 years of age. He died Squadron-Leader in October, the School. He was responsible in Ashford, Kent, where he 1941. The following spring he be­ for the erection of the wing of came Deputy Chief Instructor at Armistead was preparing for his retire­ eight classrooms, now called the the new Empire Central Flying AFTER gammg a scolarship to 1953 block. All these activities ment move to nearby Wye. School, where the students were Christ's College, Cambridge in give some indication of the per­ all senior officers from all parts 1924, Bill Armistead (1905-1 0) sistent and indefatigable pursuit Mr. Benson was born in 191 1, of the world, and late in 1943 read Mathematics, was subse­ of an ideal of dignity and use­ quently declared a Wrangler and and educated at Wolverhampton he jOined the staff of the Director fulness for the School which Mr. went on to join the Staff of Grammar School. In the Sixth of Flying Training at the Air Min­ Benson followed. Thatideal Christ's Hospital School at Form he specialized in Classics, istry. In London, and later received further impetus by the Horsham in Sussex. He served this obtained a Higher Certificate back at Empire Central Flying launching of a Building Fund ancient foundation for forty years three years in succession, and won School, his work was largely becoming Head of Mathematics Appeal during his last year of the Classical, Reading and Scrip­ concerned with writing training­ in 1937 and Second Master in office, a measure that has been ture prizes. He played soccer and publications and preparing offi­ 1949. successfully followed by Head­ cricket with more enthusiasm cial memoranda. He was awarded He achieved a high rate of masters and Governors on several than skill, was Chairman of the the Air Force Cross in 1942. scholastic success and could count Debating Society and Editor of occasions since. distinguished academics, actuaries and engineers amongst his former the magazine, and became in his At the cessation of hostilities At Easter, 1956, Mr. Benson pupils. He was influential in the last year senior cadet in the Of­ in Europe, Mr. Benson returned was appointed Headmaster of Mathematical Association, lec­ ficers' Training Corps and Head to Giggleswick to continue his Giggleswick School, a post he tured for the Inspectorate and the of School. teaching career, until he was ap­ held until he became Headmaster Ministry of Education and col­ laborated in the writing of text­ pointed Headmaster at Queen of the Cathedral School in Salis­ In 1930 he won anopen clas­ books. sical scholarship to St . John's Elizabeth's at the beginning of bury in 1963. In 1968 he was or­ On retiring in 1967, 8ill and College, Oxford, and also County 1948. He arrived in Blackburn dained and in 1970 was preferred his wife Joan moved to Shal­ Major and school-leaving scholar­ shortly after the Governors had to the living of 8road Chalke, bourne in Wiltshire.