Olympic Gold Medallist Stephen Martin MBE at launch of Sporting Wall of Fame See pages 12-13 Also featuring Nelson Mandela Edward Heath Dad’s Army and... Kylie Minogue (All appear in our past pupils’ contributions) PROUD TO SUPPORT BANGOR GRAMMARIANS. TALK TO US ABOUT THE THINGS YOU NEED FROM YOUR BANK BRANCH. PHONE. ONLINE. First Trust Bank is a trade mark of AIB Group (UK) p.l.c. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.), incorporated in Northern Ireland. Registered Office 92 Ann Street, Belfast, BT1 3HH. Registered Number NI018800. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. 2 www.grammarians.co.uk Chairman’s Message Terence Bowman Fellow Grammarians, It is my great privilege to pen these notes as chairman themselves in many of Bangor Grammarians, not only as successor to Geoffrey different careers and it is Miller who held the office with distinction for three years important that current – the Sporting Wall of Fame (reported elsewhere in this pupils are made aware edition) will be a lasting testimony to his time as chairman of, and indeed inspired – but also when I see the many past post-holders since our by, their noteworthy organisation was founded in the 1928/29 academic year. achievements. The names of industrialists, academics, medical, financial “In many schools their and legal figures, even a few sporting heroes, appear in gold Alumni associations have lettering on a board outside the Principal’s office, but I become an essential part suspect I am the first journalist to serve as chairman. Not of building a sustainable Outgoing chairman Geoffrey only that, I am very likely among a small number who fundraising programme Miller (left) hands over the chain opted for a career without pursuing the traditional Bangor to allow schools to of office to successor Terence Grammar School route of four or more years at university. support and develop a Bowman. Picture by Ken Best I was already earning a living at 19 (married and buying range of extracurricular a house four years later) while many of my Class of 1975 activities and also fund more major long-term projects. contemporaries were still settling in at their chosen place of These activities are becoming increasingly difficult to fund continuing education. in the current financial climate and many schools have That said, I suspect the timing of my election as chairman been forced to reduce their extracurricular opportunities coincides perfectly with the great changes we are witnessing for pupils significantly. in both education and employment. How many times have “The Board of Governors agreed to support and develop we heard in recent years the suggestion that if you want an Alumni association for Bangor Grammar School and we to pursue a financially rewarding career, then train to be a are delighted that the Grammarians are also supportive of plumber, an electrician or a car mechanic? Perhaps a slight this important venture. The Alumni website, which can be exaggeration but the reality is that the Careers Department accessed via the Grammarians and the school’s websites, at the Bangor Grammar School of 2018 is already looking will go live later this year and we hope many of our past beyond the traditional university route, especially with the pupils will use it to renew their association with the school. uncertain post-Brexit era that awaits us all. We have already received some generous bequests from past Careers conventions – the first was held as recently as pupils that are now funding activities in the Music and 2015 – involve exhibitors covering just about every area of Sports departments and we look forward to formalising the employment market, including Belfast Metropolitan such support in a more structured manner in this new College, South Eastern Regional College, Sainsbury’s, venture.” Randox, Denroy, Kainos, Citigroup, the Royal Navy and In closing, I trust you will enjoy reading the 2018 the Royal Air Force, in addition to Queen’s University and Grammarian, whether in its printed or digital version. This Ulster University. This complements the excellent careers is the fourth edition it has been my honour to edit since forum established several years ago by London-based taking over the reins from my multi-tasking predecessor Bangor Grammarian Mike McConnell via the LinkedIn Jim Claney. While the magazine has changed considerably online networking site, which encourages former pupils in page numbers and appearance since 2014, the basic to offer work experience and careers guidance to students premiss remains the same – you, the past pupils of Bangor nearing the end of their years at the School. Grammar School, are its main contributors and for that I While it goes without saying that excellent academic am most grateful. standards must be maintained to prepare the boys for By a noteworthy coincidence, one of the contributors, whatever career they choose, all this reflects a multitude of businessman Terry Neill, shares the same name as a changes in modern life, not least in terms of scientific and prominent figure on our Sporting Wall of Fame. Both were technological advances. born in the 1940s: one became a captain of industry on I wholeheartedly endorse the Alumni project, brainchild the world stage, having gained rugby and cricket Colours of Board of Governors chairman Paul Blair, which he at the School, the other a hero to many as former captain describes thus: “A number of schools in the province have and manager of both Northern Ireland and Arsenal. How recently developed Alumni associations. Their purpose is appropriate, therefore, that 2018 should have witnessed not to engage with the wider school community and become only the launch of the Alumni project but also the School a hub for communications with past pupils and friends reaching its first-ever soccer final! of the school. Pupils from this school have established www.grammarians.co.uk 3 In this issue Chairman’s Message 3 Boxing Day hockey / golf outing 25 Principal’s Report 5 A busy life in music 26 Diary dates / annual reports 7 Debater represents UK in the USA 28 Cycling trip to WW1 Battlefields 9 Archives Report 31 Sporting Wall of Fame launch 12 Obituaries 35 Bangor Dinner 15 Coach recalls unprecedented trio 40 BGS was key to stimulating career 16 Schools’ Cup winners’ reunion 43 The Class of 2017 19 Of days gone by 44 Edinburgh Dinner 19 From Clandeboye Park to Anfield 46 London Dinner 21 In the News 49 Businessman Terry Neill reflects 22 Grammarians Committee, 2018 Patron: S. D. Connolly MA President: Mrs E. Huddleson, MSSc., B.Ed., PQH (NI) Hon. Vice Presidents: B. A. Styles B.Sc., D. B. Greenaway B.A. (TCD) Cert. Ed. (Cantab) Vice Presidents: Trevor Gray, Paul Weir, Geoffrey Miller Chairman & Magazine Secretary: Terence Bowman, 8 Mountnorris, Newcastle, BT33 0QZ, [email protected] Vice Chairman: Alan Black, 7 Manselton Park, Bangor, BT20 4LY Hon. Secretary: Peter Blair, 13 Ward Avenue, Bangor, BT20 5HW Hon. Treasurer: Norman Irwin, 10 Riverside Road, Bangor, BT20 4SA Hon. Membership Secretary: Lyn MacCallum, 23 Rossdale Road, Bangor, BT19 6BE, [email protected] General Committee: Ken Best, Trevor Gray, Peter Matthews, Carl McClean, Gary McNinch, Geoffrey Miller, Russell Moore, Paul Weir. Past chairmen of Bangor Grammarians l929/l930 Dr S Patterson Rea l948/l949 R G Wilkins l967/l968 R J A Simms l986/l987 Dr R A Lightbody l930/l931 M Wilkins l949/l950 D B Moore l968/l969 R M Gray l987/l988 J A G Whyte l93l/l932 A W Corry l950/l951 E V Agnew l969/l970 M R Butler l988/l989 D W Gray l932/l933 F McKee l95l/l952 C D Radcliffe l970/l971 B A Thompson l989/l990 J R Lightbody l933/l934 J M McFeeters l952/l953 C Neil l971/l972 H Blair l990/l991 S B E Johnston l934/l935 S M Claney l953/l954 R L H Magrath l972/l973 R R J Boyd l99l/l992 W R T Dowdall l935/l936 V Salter l954/l955 J E Barbour l973/l974 M M Brown l992/1994 W McCoubrey l936/l937 S Christie l955/l956 H F Rea l974/l975 R O Christy l994/l995 R O’Fee l937/l938 J Ritchie McKee l956/l957 S Johnston l975/l976 M Rea l995/l996 A C Briggs l938/l939 S Connolly l957/l958 W E Moore l976/l977 B Livingston l996/l998 D McQuillan l939/l940 E V Agnew l958/l959 W Wilson l977/l978 J T Blundell l998/l999 S B E Johnston l940/l941 W T Strain l959/1960 R H Hamilton l978/l979 W J L Cairns l999/2002 N R A Walker l941/l942 J C Taylor l960/l96l R D McConnell l979/l980 J C Taylor 2002/2004 R J Claney l942/l943 G A Matthews l96l/l962 G T Henderson l980/l981 Dr J H Connolly 2004/2007 K Best l943/l944 W J L Cairns l962/l963 R E McNeilly l98l/l982 B J S Kissock 2007/2011 T J I Gray l944/l945 S Smith l963/l964 R K Hamilton l982/l983 R A Milliken 2011/2014 P Weir l945/l946 Dr J C Nicholson l964/l965 W R T Dowdall l983/l984 M L J Morgan 2014/2017 G B Miller l946/l947 A R Finlay l965/l966 A H Hewitt l984/l985 R J Parker l947/l948 F A Reid l966/l967 J Curry l985/l986 J B Adrain * Ken Best’s cover photograph shows Stephen Martin MBE at the newly-unveiled Sporting Wall of Fame in the School’s Sports Department.