18th December 2014Adrian Abbott writes: Another suggestion. How about a section on School trips abroad? I went twice to Switzerland and once to Austria.
I will start the ball rolling with a photo of the Hotel Schonbuhl in Wilderswil, Switzerland taken in 1965.
That should jog a few memories! The group with Reg and Nance Morgan contains some well known faces, also Jean Littlejohns and Mary Curtis with the coach driver who I believe was called Ernst. God, didn't we look young!
Adrian
We do have a school groups' section on the right of the main window and I have added Adrian's photographs to it. Clicking on the group picture will take you to the page as well. ~ Tony
August reunion. We have the opportunity to make this either a finger buffet or a BBQ buffet, both with veggie options. Which would you prefer if you came. Urgent feedback please. Email update @
budecountygrammar.org or give your opinion on the facebook page or the Nostalgic Bude page. Please only vote once. LOL.
Just say BBQ or Finger.
This item finalised - finger won the vote.
Roma Barnes (Leonard) writes:
I have just seen images and news of two school friends that I would dearly like to be in contact with again! Kay(Kate) Chegwin and Sally Lavis. I have just been contacted by Naomi Dinner. I was in the 1966-69 year group.
I am looking for photos/programmes. Among some of the teachers who left a real impact on me were Mr Holdcroft (English)-witty and encouraging and two history teachers: Mr Law and Miss Martin.
I remember Mr Law for giving a talk on private schools that .touched on the idea of homo sexuality( very radical talk to sixth formers). He also gave me an amazing insight into history by talking about notions of time and ordinary peoples hidden history.
This led me to study History at Warwick University and hence my future.. Mustn't forget Miss Martin excellent notes and teaching. She dissuaded me from going into milk and agriculture to go to university instead and pursue the study of history!
So these are significant figures at a time when there was the chance to become the first generation in my family to go to university and go to the scary " new" universities which didn't demand a Latin "O level" and accepted science "O levels" to replace that missing Maths one. Would I get in nowadays I wonder?!
I did end up with a D.Phil in History so perhaps I had a fortunate time thanks to BGS.
Thanks Tony for getting this up and in action,
Roma
Simon Pocock has just provided some names for the cruise picture (see right index). Anyone know any of the others?
Editor's Update:
Gill Cole (Stanbury) sent me a 1971 image which I'd forgotten to put up so that now appears in the list on the right. She also provided some corrections to the names in the '62 and '67 images which have now been done.
Tony
Editor's Update:
I finally managed to get all of the updates done so do please scroll down through this news page to catch up with all of the events. Don't forget to also look at the messages page where anyone wanting to get back in touch may have posted a message. If you want to contact someone for whom I already hold an address let me know and I'll check with them to see if they want to be put in touch, just in case they owe you money or something and would rather not be found! LOL.
Wendy
and I are down in Bude in August - housesitter/catsitter already booked -
and I am waiting for prices to come in for a reunion during that week. So,
please make everyone you know who went to the grammar school aware of it and
suggest they subscribe to the site so that they don't miss out on further
information about it.
The new site layout now has the school year photographs on the right side
together with any school group pictures and images of teacher gatherings. On
the left you have the news archive, reunions, features and some links. The
Bude webcam is excellent although it would be nice if it were live action
rather than working on the 'refresh' basis.
Can I suggest you also check out the Nostalgic Bude facebook page.
It may be a while before the forum is up and running. I'll let you know.
Finally, Adrian Abbot has sent some fascinating photographs of the old school being demolished. I am sure some will jump with joy at seeing them, but suspect that as we get older we might feel more charitable towards the old place. Click the photograph or go to 'Demise of the School' in the left hand index.
I'll send more information about the reunion as soon as we have it, but the best way to stay in the loop is to subscribe.
Tony
Roma
Barnes (Leonard) writes:
Hello Tony, I am Roma Barnes, formerly Roma Leonard, from the 1966-69 year group.
I have just got around to picking up on this link to the past. As a retired history teacher I plainly have too much time on my hands! I live in Southampton now.
Your name is familiar to me. Were you in John Selby’s year? I still have contacts with John Selby who lives in South Africa (The Cape area) as he moved there years ago to work in the mining industry. He is now “retired” but does contract work. My mum was a godparent to his first daughter so hence the personal link although the family has left R.S.A. now and moved to Australia! Looking forward to hearing from you. The website sounds an interesting project!
Regards, Roma
No, not John Selby's class. I think you were in Naomi Dinner's year. I was intended to be in that year, but arrived at the school having failed everything except maths at my previous school, so went back a year to re-sit. I was actually 19 when I left. Tony
More from Jackie Adams:
Dear Tony,
Paul Pearce has asked me to send you a photograph of the 5th form School Reunion held in 1995 together with names:- Hope all is well with you both and that you are looking forward to further School Reunions! Bude is fairly quiet at the moment I expect the mad rush will soon be here though.
I have been told that your parents Hotel at Upton (Elements) serves a very good meal.
Best wishes - Jackie
You'll find the reunion image under REUNIONS in the left column or click on this image.
26th September 2014Paul Vickerstaff writes:
Hi Tony,
I have just spotted an UNKNOWN in the 2013 Re-Union.
In image 3 with Dave Morgan it is Keith Heathcote.
Best wishes, Paul
Thanks - now corrected, Tony
Roger
Hunter has provided a number of images including his
school cap, a picture of him in uniform and a copy of the School Play programme which was staged in the Parish Hall.
I'm just putting small images of the cap and Roger's 1960 picture on this page, but if you click on them you'll get the full size versions. I've also put the School Play programme in the FEATURES section on the left side of the site.
I'd dearly love to get a photograph of one of the girl's hats. Surely someone out there has one somewhere?
Angie Huzzey (Angela Laity) writes:
I am in the 1962 picture, 4th row down 17th from left. My name was Angela Laity now Huzzey.
Thanks for the memories!
Good luck, you will never know how wonderful it is for me to see and contact friends from the 50s and 60s who I had lost contact with for 50 yrs or more.
Keep it up !
Lorna
Cawthorne (Adams) writes:
Hi Tony,
Would you please subscribe me to the Bude County Grammar School news updates.
My name is Lorna Cawthorne (nee Adams) and I attended the school from1961 - 1965. You already have me named on the 1962 photo.
Just like to point out that the girl next to me on the left is Linda Lee (Vickery), not Bate. It is her sister Sandra (in another photo) who's married name is Bate.
I have only just found the site and am looking forward to reading your snippets of news. Jackie Adams from whom you seem to hear regularly is my cousin-in-law. I have lived most of my life in Bude only leaving for a few years here and there because of my husband's job.
Kind Regards, Lorna
Martin Faherty, a colleague of Roger Mutton sends more sad news:
In your profiles there is a 1962 photograph of Roger Mutton.
Roger served in the Somerset & Bath Constabulary followed by the Avon & Somerset Constabulary from 4 April 1972 to 4 February 2000.
He died in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, on 6 May 2014 and leaves a widow living in Minehead, and two adult children. I have no association with Bude Grammar but worked in the police with Roger for many years.
I hope this information assists with your profiles. I was unable to find a photograph of Roger in uniform. The black and white photo enclosed is from 1979 when he was in CID. The colour photograph with his wife Wendy was taken at the wedding of their daughter in 2009.
The monochrome picture is full size, but you can click the colour image for a larger version.
Jackie Adams (Barrett) provides this sad news:
Regret to say one of the past pupils has just passed away - RON HARRIS, late of Victoria Road, Bude and Central Avenue, Holsworthy Born January 17th 1932 - Tuesday 29th April 2014.
I would imagine he was at the Grammar School 1944 onwards. He has younger twin brothers (Charles and John also Grammar School Boys), 2 daughters Julia and Claire and 2 step-daughters Lisa and Jo.
He was a very likeable person but had suffered illness over the last few years. Employed during his career by British Telecom and in his retirement a very keen and good model engineer. He will be missed very much by Shirley, his wife, and family and friends.
Janet Ainley (Budd) writes:
Hi Tony
I can’t tell you how surprised and delighted I was to stumble across the 1962 school photograph when I re-joined Facebook last night. When I first looked at the photo which was quite small I didn’t imagine I would pick myself out but how wrong can you be!!
To hear from you today is the most amazing co-incidence/chain of events. On the spur of the moment I drove to Bude this Wednesday on my way back home to Devon from a family Easter in Truro. I was last there 3 years ago.
I came in through Widemouth and your name popped into my head as I was idly reminiscing about the old days! I recall your parents lived there.
Life is funny isn’t it?
I do want to keep updated about any of my former classmates. Trouble is I left BGS at the end of the summer term 1966 and moved up to Bristol and have lost touch with all of them. Can you possibly help with the whereabouts of Susan Mulhall (nee Daw) and Rosemary Tupper. I see there is nothing against their photo profile but I guess this is still being developed?
Great work on the website – thank you
Cheers, Janet
Another item on Sean (Lord Shayne) Bloomfield. Go to the linked page and scroll down. The original article is here.
15th April 2014Roger Hunter has found this photograph of the teachers in 1963 and I've put it in the TEACHERS
section in the right hand column or you can click on it here.
If anyone has more group or teachers pictures please send them to me updates (at) budecountygrammar .org.
Please also let me have any school sports groups or any action shots from games or sports' days. Someone must have some somewhere?
11th April 2014Jane Cunio has sent a picture from a school cruise. Can everyone check it out and give me names, the itinerary of the cruise and the year. Thanks. Email to updates (at) budecountygrammar .org. You can see the full size picture under 'SCHOOL GROUPS' in the right index or click on the image.
Jackie Adams
(Barrett) (inset picture) writes:
You would be very sad to see the old Grammar School today as you have
probably heard it was a Care Home and just recently it was closed as there
were insufficient residents and people were quickly moved out and today it
stands empty and desolate. I expect the Ghosts of Bude Grammar
are still there, actually I heard it has been purchased by McCarthy and
Stone (who build flats for the elderly etc).
Another thing to relate Tessa Adams (no relation to me but a friend) ) was
in the same class as Shane Bloomfield and has passed me a copy of the double
page spread he appeared in, in the
Daily Mirror on Wednesday
February 22nd 1967.
I see from the Grammar School site some mention has been made back in
January about him and I haven't gone any further into it as I am not
on Facebook. For those at school when Vi Tilzey was school secretary, she
became widowed and later married Bill Wright, (Geography teacher), well she
was 97 yesterday and we went out to dinner with her, her son Paul and wife
Mary, and about a dozen friends. She seemed to enjoy it, she asked Paul
several times 'Am I paying for all this ?', she still has a good sense of
humour !!
Kate Compston (Kay Chegwin) writes:
David Williams lives at Widemouth: I see him quite often. There are others
that I know are in Bude, but I haven't recognised them, maybe, or just can't
bring them to the top of my mind now. I'm facebook friends with Sally Lavis.
My brother Mike married a German girl, and they live in Germany. They have
two children. Mike is an irrigation engineer, coming up to retirement age,
though says he can't afford to retire yet. He goes abroad a good deal to
advise on, and mastermind, irrigation projects. He comes to Bude
occasionally, to visit, and I'm hoping to go out to see him in Germany this
year. He's also been an OU tutor in Europe, though cuts have put paid to
that now. I started off my professional life with nearly a decade in
the ministry of the United Reformed Church, then later retrained as a
psychodynamic counsellor/therapist working in an agency and in the NHS. I'm
retired. I have one daughter and two grandsons. Have found much in and
around Bude to keep the brain cell working. Enjoy swimming, surfing, walking
- and writing.
I've been back in Bude for four and a half years now, after living away for
40+ years. My married name is Compston - and I also became Kate, rather than
Kay. My husband died in 2006.
Really good to have the excellent 1962 photo, which rolls back the years
(though I look a decidedly grumpy 14 year old!) I enjoyed re-making contact
with Jill and Iwan Davies before they died. I have regular contact with Pat Holdcroft, and see the Worralls once or twice a year: they live in
Porthleven now. Rob Corney is in Bude, Di Gurd (as was), David Parsons, and
others.
Thanks for what you do to keep the site going.
Best wishes
Andrew Willcocks writes:
I have a couple of photos somewhere. One of a school group from the early 70s and one of a group who went on a trip to Coventry. It was interesting to see photos of some of my old teachers, especially 'Happy' Ashworth and David Williams.
The story about Reggie Morgan throwing a triangle reminded me of a time when he whacked me on the head, because I didn't understand some homework. I walked straight into 'Law Man's' office to complain and Reggie had to apologise!
Allan Vodden writes in reference to the 27th January
item:
Yes Jackie is right. I do have three older sisters Eileen (who lives in Ashwater) Shirley (Sherborne) and Valerie (nr Bideford) and we lived at 3 Broadclose Hill.
Shirley also went to the Grammar School and is in the 1952 picture.
I have lived in Exeter area for many years currently in Brampford Speke where we moved from the previous house in Newton St Cyres. The coincidence was we subsequently found out the buyer of the Newton St Cyres house turned out to be Helen, the daughter of our old physics teacher Peter Ashworth. Small world!.
Hi Tony.
Regards, Glynn Hughes
http://www.francisfrith.com/bude/
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My brothers name was Michael Sean Bloomfield, Shane, or Lord Shane
as he titled himself, adopted this name when he returned to Bude
after some time spent in the Merchant Navy. |
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Yes, knew him. Where is he now? Think he appears in one of the
pictures 1962 or 1967. |
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Hello Tony,
hope you are having better weather than down here, but don't expect you are ! It was so interesting to read your latest email, you must have worked very hard as I do realise that people who do this put a lot of hours in (for all our enjoyment). (Thanks for those kind words, Jackie. Tony) I am enclosing two photographs one is of two of the 'lads' who came to the April 2013 Reunion The one on the left is Allan Vodden (who I believe had two sisters Eileen and Sheila) the girls used to live at the bottom of Broadclose Hill, and if in fact Allan is a younger brother that is where he was too. The other person in the pink shirt is Andy Walter (son of Bob Walter, the Auctioneer and Estate Agent in Belle Vue) Andy was one of five children, possibly the youngest son.
Also 27th January 2014The other photograph is not a School Reunion as you can see but is of Geoffrey Rundle and his wife Jeanette, they live in New Zealand and I have corresponded with him by email since Shirley Dell (Dempster) died in 2006. I believe he was fond of her in his younger years, (her father was Frank Dempster the Photographer in Queen Street). He certainly was at the Bude Grammar School in 1952 (he is in the middle of the back row in that 1952 photograph). He is 80 now and has been in New Zealand since 1964. He and his family lived at Red Gables, Killerton Road, Bude but he was a very ill person and had to have some ground-breaking surgery around that time, he did not stay for too long at Bude.
