Grangefield Grammar School (Boys)1954. Photograph courtesy of Cliff Thornton. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Grangefield Grammar School (Boys)1954. Photograph courtesy of Cliff Thornton.
Yes, Mr Bradshaw had a lovely turn of phrase and given the opportunity, I”m sure he would have called a spade a non mechanical soil displacement facilitator. I am pretty sure Mr Bradshaw was once set up after announcing in assembly that a “Yale-type key” had been found on the playing field, dangerously close to the demilitarised Green Line of sexual segregation with the girls school. For the next few weeks ,such keys seemed to be found with amazing regularity on the field – probably just so pupils could anticipate him using the phrase “Yale type” in order to lighten up our otherwise somewhat mundane assemblies! I think he eventually caught on after a fortnight of increasing chuckles. However, once he took off his glasses in assembly, you realised it was something serious coming along!
Hi Terry this is David Honeyman I was at GGS 1962 – 1967 same years as you I believe. I’ve no pics at all from the school, so would apprecate seeing any that you have. I did find a photo from Roseworth Junior I think you’re on that. I found out recently about the Grangefield demise, a friend had been on one of the final tours. I live in Berkshire.
Yes, Mr Bradshaw did take against certain fashions. He spoke out in assembly against the “increasing use of RAF style packs”. He meant the cheap surplus store alternative to school satchels, on the top flaps of which the more artistic (and indeed less-artistic)of the early 1960s decorated pop images and slogans.
My brother John Robson (1960-66) (now a university librarian in Hamilton New Zealand)drew my attention to this website. Charlie Gillett was indeed a member of possibly the worst jazz band of all time, though I was on clarinet, not trumpet. It was more than a quartet – the lineup included Peter Bingham on trumpet, John Wainwright on banjo, Malcolm Bell on guitar and Richard Wimbleby on trombone. Our one and only gig was at a school dance (compered by a sadistic games teacher called Rock Hudson) and we went through a routine of “Marching Through Georgia”, “Margie” and the “Saints”. When Hudson called for a slow one we went into “Tammy” which brought the house down – we were booed off by a crowd of fans waiting for the guitar group to come on. A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Maybe, but we were really bad! I have a very clear memory of Geoff Hutton playing “Ain”t Misbehavin””, but I remember it as taking place after morning assembly. It was normal practice for some young pianist to play us out with Bach or Mozart, and the sound of Fats Waller brought a look of shock and horror to the faces of the assembled staff. Like others I have happy memories of Grangefield in the late 1950s, in spite of its obvious shortcomings (like its apalling separation of boys from girls). It seems to have prepared me well for a serendipitous life. My fondest memories are reserved for “Tot”Munday who taught us Latin dressed in a three piece suit made of rough brown tweed and beat us systematically with a chair leg. Although he wouldn”t have lasted five minutes in today”s pc world, his was a civilised voice. Importantly, for me, he ran the Debating Society and supported the School Magazine, the two things which taught me most. I also remember headmaster Bradshaw announcing that duffle coats (the dangerous uniform of sedition)were to be banned, but, always one to call a spade a spade, describing them as “outer garments made of felt with hoods and peg-like fastening devices.”
ian a, by all means contact me direct via email.
Further reminiscences that might stir somebody”s memory. The sixth form room where we used to pool our daily milk to brew milky coffee which we drank with ginger snaps somebody provided at a shilling a dozen. Such luxury. Buying bags of little green pears and apples from the adjoining property. Was it a farm? Art lessons with Pansy Cleeland, and the day he had us all climb out of the artroom windows supposedly to do outdoor art, and having to scramble back in when he found the head was approaching the room.
John Bond – replying to an earlier note of yours – we”ve been away a bit – it would be good to catch up, both online and if possible in UK but this isn”t a suitable venue for personal discussion. Unfortunately I”ve taken my email address off this site for a particular reason so you can”t get to me through it. If you”ve registered yours I can ask them for it.
I don”t remember the school dentist, although I remember the upstairs library. But I do remember our dentist using gas and the horrible smell. The gas was like a truth drug and got you owning up to your misdeeds!. In the first year or 2 in Melbourne I think all my english fillings came out and had to be replaced – either better dentists here or improved technology.
The comment about the school dentist had me thinking of things long forgotten. This site is an amazing thing. The annual? dental inspection was usually in the library upstairs and the feeling of terror in the queue was palpable. Those fortunate to hear “NRT” (no required treatment) could relax for another year!!
Ian et al, with your predilection for school dinners, and the fun people have been having talking about food in earlier times, I wonder if you have any stories about the other side of the coin – dentists! Our family dentist was in Bishopton Lane, I think, a Mr Moffatt, a kind generous and public-spirited man, I am sure, but he put a fear of dentistry in me that took some fifty years or more to surmount. I remember the gas anaesthetic ringing in my ears like a circular saw as I went under, and the bowl spinning round close to my face as I came back up again, with him saying “Spit now.” and the school dentist was even more terrifying. Madame L. An enormous Russian, actually our next door neighbour in Whitton Road, Fairfield. Imagine trying to pluck up courage to go and ask for our ball back! I think I lost more tennis-ies on account of my fear of dentists than almost any other reason. she worked in the health centre in Yarm Lane, I think, but I always imagined she had all the equipment – pliers, drills etc in a room in the house, and it seemed much safer to wait till I could afford another ball. Hers was the last house in Whitton Road before the fields. Now I think it”s all built up as far as Edinburgh or whatever direction it”s in. PS I can”t find the previous bit I wrote, but I think a slip of the finger had my brother at GGS ten years earlier than in fact – it would have been the early sixties.
I enjoyed Jimmy Durrant very much. He used to take annual easter school trips to the Lakes. I remember him showing us a trick involving a filter funnel down someones trousers – the idea being you then poured cold water in. Luckily he noticed he”d picked up a bottle of sulphuric acid and stopped him in time! But that was a rare aberration. He was a great teacher admired by all
Jimmy Durrant’s clouts were something else…
I met Jimmy Durrante in Darlington Memorial Hospital in November 2006. He was in for chest pains and was quite lively. I was with my elder brother Dave. “Barabas” as he was known talked us through the fates of lots of teachers. Interestingly he referred to them all by their nicknames “Chick” “Bull” etc. He said the last thing he expected that day was to be talking to 2 old boys. He honestly had not changed in the 43 years since I”d jast seen him.
Hi Brian – Mary Rae – that was him. I think you”re right I only came once or twice persuaded by my wayward friend Dick! I didn”t spot the little Aussie flag on your comments, but right again!
Hi Ian My recollections were me, Marty Rae (also know as Wolf Head), Neil Pallister and Dicky Radge. The landlady used to put on the jukebox for free and we could choose the records. I must be honest I do not remember you being a regular. Then we went back to school to Jimmy Durant for chemistry and had to hold ourselves to go to the toilet before the next lesson. Looking at your postings are you living in Melbourne because that is what the temperatures I have been having in the last week or so were like. Happy new year and all the best PS I can”t remember if we had one pint or two.
Brian Leak – Was it Marty who accompanied you and Dick at lunchtimes? Can”t remember a surname. I might have only joined you occasionally not regularly – can”t remember. Anyway a Happy New Year to you, John Bond, Charlie Gillett and everyone else and hope you all had a good Xmas
Ian Aufflick, Amazing. I hadn”t been on this site for months, and clearly turned back to it on the day you decided to talk to me among others. I decided to wait till this morning to reply, when I find your wonderful and long addendum. I will read it again more carefully, but just let me say a few things now. Yes I think we were very good friends, but don”t remember much detail. (Don”t worry about the academic shadow. I”ve had one all my life of some sort.) I also remember the bull. I had begun to think that was something I had made up, but I remember it charging round the playground. I am fascinated by how you found out about my leaving Trinity. I”ve never heard from anyone else what it seemed like. Going to school in Hertfordshire was a complete break with everything and everybody I knew and I don”t think I ever met any old pal”s when I came home for the holidays, speaking like a suvv”ner, talking about “parths and barths, and grarss!” People thought I”d become posh. Nebuchadnezzar was Mr Nesbit the head, with his performing flea. You”ve got me going now. I”m living in Wiltshire, now. Don”t know if that would be on your itinerary but it would be great to meet and share memories. Gosh Ive forgotten all the other bits I wanted to comment on. I don”t even remember being in Mrs Campbell”s class, but I don”t think I could have been in it for long. Were you in Miss Allen”s when I had to sit at her big desk and read to the class – something about the famous five and a flying chair or something? And when we did the Abraham story where one of us had to lie down under the paint table to be woken up, I think by God, and say “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.” I think floodgates may be about to open. Those were the days, when sledging meant going down Hartburn Bank on a plank of wood. Good on you, mate!
G’day mates. I’d forgotten the website having had no quick reply to my comment and only stumbled on it by accident late at night while searching something else with my name in it. What a surprise seeing myself written about – it was a bit like reading my own obituary! Nice to be here to reply to it! This site is buried though – on page n of a stack of school sites with a few earlier ones also about Grangefield. Brian Leak appears on a few, CG also. John Bond. Good of you to remember me. I often wonder what became of you. I remember that one day you didn’t come to school any more and we were told nothing. My father told me later that you’d gone to a boarding school. We’re getting to the age where remembering school days better than yesterday is a bit of a worry! Sorry about the academic shadow bit, I was obviously a self-centred mark chaser even then. Didn’t realize how little it related to life success or even earning power! Ah well, enough atonement and philosophy, I didn’t know you were a playwright and obviously good – any more than I knew of Charlie Gillett’s eminence. By the way in response to his comments Charlie Gillett at school was one of the nicest guys you could meet, straw hair and all. (Hope he’s still got it). I joined Trinity latish in the first form, under Miss Allen. You have a good memory for names. Ron Moyes also came to GGS as did many others I guess. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? I have all school photos but don’t remember all the names. From 32 to 42 kids. David Williamson, Bertie Precious, Tex(?) Richardson, Malcolm Kinnis, David James, Ken Shaw, John Boyes, Bobby Littlefair, Malcolm Liddle. Lots of familiar faces but few names. I think you’re on the 1951 Miss Watson photo, back row 4th from left, beside M Liddle . If that’s you, you’re also in J3 1952 (as you said), under Miss Cochrane (of the ruler on the hand punishments!) sitting on ground at left front, so my memory on dates was wrong. I often recall to the grandkids our horrible school lunches with billposters’ paste for potato and taking turns bringing sauce to school to stir into the stuff. We had to eat everything! I brought YR sauce and even collected a full set of England soccer players I bought so many bottles. (that last mention is because the grandkids like everyone here have tomato sauce on everything. Even pancakes as I heard recently). Were you there when the bull escaped from a Knackers truck (lorry) and ran round the school yard? Salmon – we had to learn hymns on Wednesday afternoon till we knew them. Since joining a church here 20 odd years ago that’s stood me in good stead, as I still know the standards off by heart. Charlie Gillett – I obviously misread. Top Music identity not sports writer. Plenty about you from my googling! I’ve been away a long time! Apart from rugby you were a great runner if my memory’s right – 440 yards then. Was Pete Robson the trumpeter in our sixth form “dixieland” band led by Geoff Hutton with Joe Flegg on guitar, with Geoff shouting chords at Joe all the time? I bought and learned the clarinet to join them but my playing was on a par with what you recall and I was replaced by a better clarinettist who might be the guy you mention. I have a feeling I was a conceited mark grubber at least in lower forms with the aim of getting more marks than anyone else. I must have been pretty antisocial not to follow up our chance meeting in Cambridge. Possibly because I’d worked a year before going up and got distanced, or I was aware of the great difference in our sporting abilities! Talking about sport we could start a new thread of conversation about Australian, Indian and English cricket! (one sport I’ve always followed and played though not at school as I hated the masters – remember Black Jack, and Ambrose). I thought we (aussies) had largely cured that sledging and bad relations attitude under Ponting and was surprised to see the criticism which has arisen. We keep winning because we’re good. I do get sick of seeing Lee (for instance) turning round and jumping up like a maniac in the umpire’s face to appeal. Ambrose is responsible for the biggest blot on my report card – a D+ for woodwork. Paul Dee remembers musical humour. I remember 2 other sidesplitting occasions at school house music concerts. One where Ken Whitfield trooped his whole house of one year on to the stage – it went on for ever to eventual roars of laughter. The second was Len Hutton – school captain – playing Jesu Joy of man’s desiring on the clarinet, getting stuck in a loop and repeating the same sequence over and over to sniggers then laughter till he gave up. Geoff Hutton took chemistry at Newcastle and became a teacher I believe. But after that I don’t know – perhaps he’ll come across this site and like me suddenly find he’s reading about himself. Dave Barrow – so Ken Whitfield, “Bull” Wright and D”Arcy were still there in your day (I was ‘53 to I suppose ’60). Did Ken Whitfield still write BYB on your books if you hadn’t backed them? No-one’s mentioned Chick (Kitchen – chemistry teacher as well as Jimmy Durrant?) who was a good sport. Gammy Dunn and his motorcycle mates doing their ton zoomed past him on the moors once which he took in good part. Also Tot Munday, Latin, deputy head – equally a good sport, though handy with his little stick taken from a chair. I still remember “expergiscere” (sp?) which we could shout at anyone who fell asleep in lessons. Anyone know what happened to Dick Radge (Atkinson reckoned he’d be hanged before he was 30!) – looking up radge on google reveals a lot of funny meanings but no person. Ken Shaw is another name. Colin Fletcher – Have you read the book A Boy from the Village by Restall about your home area? You might be interested that I’m married to a close neighbour of yours from Sunnybrow avenue. Well that’ll do for now.
Hi: I didn’t go to this school, but Geoff Hutton was my chemistry teacher at Basselton in Thornaby 1976-78.
Ian, I have just come across this website, and am amazed to see my name in your entry. I do remember a Ronnie Restall from Sunnybrow Avenue. Is it his sister you married? Quite a coincidence, as I lived a hundred yards away in Parklands Ave. I have lived near Scarborough for over fifty years. I wish you well.
Charlie Gillett Well you seem to have ended up with a more colourful life than me – labour candidate , band, sports writer. Actually the once I met you at Cambridge was at Fenners where I was doing Judo, but you”re right – I sold the suit after 1 year and gave up! After that I stuck to snooker – every morning in the Union, and punting at which I was quite good. I relate with pride that I came 143rd in the school cross country and swore at Mr Bradshaw who commented to me that number 144 was gaining on me. I have a form 4 photo with 32 guys on it so I can give you a few more names when I go through it – eg Bobbie Littlefair, Kennan, Bruce Nicholson, Holman, Turner and Ian Hutchison. I remember Geoff H playing after assembly, his Fats Waller usual, and Atkinson (Master) putting a penny on the piano. Strange to think we”re probably all retired now – I was the youngest.
Colin Fletcher You were also pretty bright – a doctor I presume? You were very good at chess at which I still haven”t a clue. You remember Dave Smith presumably?
Brian Leek Do you remember the pub in stockton frequented by you, me, Dick Radge – and who else? Was it the Green Tree? We had pies and played the juke box – Tallahassee Lassie was my favorite.
John Bond Hi John sorry I haven”t been back to this website before now. Of course I remember. I think we were good friends? I thought you actually left from Miss Watson”s class, J2 – before you said. I thought your dad died and you went to a boarding school. Wouldn”t mind getting in touch. We”ll be in UK later this year (now 2008)
A bit of catching up! Charlie Gillett. I was never asked to join the Shadows! When Jet and Tony left the Shadows they teamed up and had a couple of hits (“Diamonds” is one I recall) as a two-some. They were scheduled to embark on a cross-UK tour to capitalize on their hit records when Jet (as I understand it) because of personal problems, was unable to meet his commitments. I was asked by his manager to replace him. I had just signed the record deal with Polydor and was obviously excited about my own prospects, and obviously didn”t want to leave my own band in the lurch, so I (politely) declined. So far as the mock election at Grangefield I was hoping that I could beat the “Fifth Form Freedom Fighters”! I was amazed, and totally unprepared, to win the whole thing …as those who remember my “acceptance” speech will remember! Geoffrey Daniel: I guess those stains on the bedroom pillow really are brain cells! I had completely forgotten “The Kaliphs” name. But you are quite right! But I do remember the Windhovers, and the front-room recording session. Unfortunately I too lost touch with the Atkinsons. Archie Foulds: Where in God”s name did you find the EP? I once saw an internet site in the US that listed the EP cover (no disc) for $75 (!!!) I even contacted them to find out who was mad enough to pay that kind of money for a cover, but they had “lost” their records (obviously both ways!) To add to the list of GGS teachers does anyone remember “Upsan” Downes – the Music Teacher. It was great to be reminded of some of the old names. I still have some affection for Captain D”Arcy (I was a mamber of Duck”s Army). Does anyone remember those excellent gents who sold bangers at the gates of the Dining Hall (“Belsen”). Cheers to their memory!!
I have just stumbled across this site and have been astonished at all the memories and connections it evokes. I was at Grangefield from ‘59 to 66. To the staff list I can add Ding Dong Bell, Gordon Rattenbury (deputy), Jim Betts, and Jim Scott (a seminal influence on me as I too ended up in politics as Labour leader on Harrow Council); and I think the ‘Isiah’ (from Howard Spence) was the Chemistry master ‘Jimmy’ Durrant who gave us the classic: ‘Every time I open my mouth some idiot speaks!’ First of all the musical strand – I am looking at a copy of an EP by ‘Les Denvers’ with three lads and two lasses hanging through the iron bars of some impressive gate. The EP features 4 tracks: Little Latin Louby Lou, Do you love me, Mix it up and Poison Ivy from ‘Cinq jeunes copains d’une ville d’Angleterre (Bellingham)’ (sic) – Roy, Brian, Adrian, Jenny and Pauline. I never (knowingly) saw them play live but ‘Poison Ivy’ is the standout track for me. Then there was the Cyclones to whom Brian Humpherson refers – much more my vintage – and they are still on the go. I last met up with them and many other old friends in October this year at my old chum Graham Rayner’s 60th. Joining Brian and Graham, Norman Hardwick, Cliffy Thornton, Mick Wassail and Pete Mackie, along with Geoff Barker – the Cyclones played a blinder. The set list has expanded but still has all the old staples from Chuck Berry catalogue. The Cylones have been the rock around which a good few reunions have reeled over the past ten years. I still remember the classic ‘Summertime’ at Chepstow with Nicole Tibbells from Teeside and the Swingle Singers guesting on lead vocal. Pete Gilroy and Lesley (nee Morrison) had even made it over from Australia to the bash organised by Ned Heywood (now a potter and ex Mayor of Chepstow!). Charlie Gillett used to run a ‘pop music club’ at Grangefield and I will not embarrass him by revealing that Cliff and the Shads featured on his playlist for those of us lower down the school when he was in the 6th form. The Cambridge connection – Steve Clapham, and then I, followed Charlie to Peterhouse at Cambridge. Steve was a runner like Charlie and was I remember the master of cool – with dark shaded glasses. Then after me I think the connection was broken!! I started out on rugby … but soon hit the harder stuff…. ‘67-68 were student struggles … the Garden House ‘riot’ … Senate House ‘sit in’….. great fun! The rugby connection – I played a lot – the first team at Grangefield went unbeaten in my last year and then Johnny Moore and I played for Stockton RFC 1sts on the Sat. afternoons too in ‘66-67 season. I don’t remember drinking before matches! Yes I do remember playing with Colin Sinclair, Ian Fox, Arthur Chapman, Oliver Turnbull. All these were with me in the ‘67 sevens side that won the Barrow and Durham sevens comps and came runners up at Nottingham. I last saw Turnbull just married (in 67 I think) boarding a jet at PIK (I was doing a student summer job on apron services). Then there is the Scott connection – I really cannot remember playing rugby with Tony but we certainly had friends in common at Stockton RFC and lived just half a mile apart. But now comes the strangest twist of all. Howard Spence remembers Tony with ‘a girl from Bradford’. Well that girl was Gerry Boldy. She married Tony in 1967 and they split 10 years later. I married Gerry Scott last year. We had been together since 1997 – introduced (actually several years earlier!) by way of a mutual friend from Peterhouse. The first time I remember meeting Tony was at the premiere of his ‘Enemy of the State’ in Leics. Sq. when he invited Gerry and I. And who else was there but lots of old Stockton RFC players inc Gordon Smith and Richard Dawson. When Gerry and I saw Tony last year in LA the seed was planted for the reunion that Tony organised one year ago. As well as Charlie and co, I even met Arthur Chapman’s wife Stella for the first time there. And after so many years, so many of us were taken back to Stockton and Grangefield. Of course, the heart of the British film industry was forged in Teeside. Not only did it produce Rid (Bladerunner sets being modelled on Teeside!) and Tony but also Frank Roddam whom some of you may remember as Barbie Deehan’s boyfriend (later husband). Barbie and many more of the Grangefield girls still keep in touch with many of the Grangefield boys and long will it remain so. The cruellest thing for me has been that Gerry died in April this year when there was so much to live for and so many good friends to keep and rediscover.
Just to add to your 25 Charlie is John (Rick) Richardson. About to retire from his construction business on Teeside in order to devote more time to the Boro ( and his several grandchildren). My recollection of Stockton RFC in the days when you played was meeting at the Station Hotel for away games and the players having a couple of pints before getting on the coach. (I was a 3rd team man but we travelled with the 1sts). I wonder how that would go down now. Tony Scott was scrum half with his other main interest being rock climbing which I understand he still enjoys.
Googled Grangefield and great to recognise so many names although I was part of a younger year – best rugby players our year were Peter Wishlade (now a local lawyer) and David Rayner (retired engineer) – perhaps neither as fast as Charlie G. – went with Wishlade to see Buddy Holly & Crickets at Stockton Odeon in 58 – hopefully some of you also went – remember Ridley Bros. from their house in Fairfield Road – saw Tony later when he was I think studying at or going out with a girl from Bradford- does anyone recall the biology master called “Isiah” as one eye was higher than the other.
I well remember Goeff Hutton playing Fats Waller”s “Ain”t Misbehavin” – bit of a contrast to the other festival items! I was in the first year at the time – I don”t think there was another Music Festival until about 1964. Geoff”s playing had a dramatic effect – I”m still obsessed with playing jazz piano! Does anyone know what happened to him? Fascinating to read Charlie Gillett”s comments – “The Sound of the City” was an invaluable reference in my own musical career. For a while I was in the same class as Charlie”s younger brother Jan. We were all in awe of Roy Smith playing with the Denvers, but I wonder if any other school produced as many rock bands as Grangefield. Maybe some will remember The Cyclones 1962-64 – actually got together again 40 years later – and still doing gigs!! Geoff “The Blues” Barker is still singing well, and after Charlie possibly the most knowledgable person I know on Rock and Roll. Curious to know if you are still playing Roy. Many thanks to Geoff Daniel for the photos.
Roy Smith & The Denvers! My recall is that their full tag was “Deke Everett” and The Denvers – or am I hallucinating in my nostalgia? And were they not The Kaliphs originally? I was in the same Grangefield class as Roy for a year or two, circa 1960/61. A few years later I was in a folk band called The Windhovers and Roy helped us produce a tape of our modest efforts in Maggie & David Atkinson”s front room – we made acetate copies and I still have mine, badly scratched. If you know where any of the Atkinsons are now Roy, do tell! I lost touch after about 1969 and remember their friendship with great affection.
I was at GGS from 64 to 69 when Rupert Bradshaw was headmaster. A few of the other teachers I distinctly remember were Peter “Rock” Hudson, John “The Face” Green, “Daddy” Ken Whitfield, “Bull” Wright and “Ducks” D”Arcy. Happy days!
Correction ! I mixed up Geoff Hutton with Geoff Hunter also a talented pianist from about the same time. It was Geoff Hunter who became a Canon of York Minster. Apologies to Geoff Hutton who may have been confused over his elevation to the higher ranks of the C.of E.
I don”t actually remember Geoff Hutton playing Fats Waller as mentioned by Colin Fletcher but I do remember him accompanying Ian Milner on the trombone playing a sprightly little virtuoso piece called as I remember “Wonderful Spring” A group of us directly in front of Ian started to be bowled over with barely contained laughter – Ian bravely continued with his tootling although his face was going from red to purple. Sid Dumbell,the assistant head,sitting across the aisle started by glaring at us but eventually he was shaking with laughter too. My ribs were sore for a couple of days. Geoff Hutton went to Oxford then into the Church and retired as a Canon of York Minster. At school he seemed so much older than the rest of us idiots. Ian read physics at Durham University – a great lad.
charlie gillet. I cannot let two coincidences go by without mention. a) I stumbled upon my old Sony Award programme for 1992 (I was up for Radio Play – somebody called Stoppard won!!!) In the programme it says you won the Gold award for 1991 and are also pictured with Mark Knopler. b) In the thread here on Grangefield, we are also both included – actually side by side as it were, on the subject of Ian Aufflick. I lived in Ian”s academic shadow at Trinity. Unlike both of you, i was refused entry to Cambridge! by three colleges, but I did get “o” level latin first go, unlike my driving test. Your world service programme keeps me very happily awake many a night and it”s brilliant to know that you are a local lad. Whereabouts in presumably Stockton?
Have just discovered this site. I was also at Grangefield from 1953 – 60, so Charlie”s list of names brings back memories. I can confirm that Ian Aufflick was streets ahead of the rest of us academically, in the same way that David Smith was with chess. Do you remember Geoff Hutton playing a Fats Waller tune at the School Music festival to stony faces from the staff? Charlie Gillett”s career has been impressive; he won”t remember, but we had the occasional disagreement about music – perhaps he was right after all. I saw Malcolm Ozelton and his wife about 10 years ago on one of their visits to the UK, but have lost contact again. Three names to add to Charlie”s list: Ken Shaw, Ian Kennedy (good bowler), and Colin Storey.
Have just discovered this site. My dad was Jim Stockill. Any stories about him? He died many years ago at the age of 71 and it was great to see a young picture of him in the staff photo. I was wondering why he was known as G?? Also Stirling? He left Grangefield and went on to be Head of Maths at Peterlee Grammar where he remained until early retirement. I know I am biased but he was a clever man academically. He won a state scholarship and Durham university scholarship ….he just loved teaching Maths and wasn’t particularly ambitious. Hope some of you out there have some happy memories of him!!
Thanks, Stan, for bringing Roy into the frame, because I have more questions for him. (1) Why is “hit” in inverted commas? A hit is a hit! (2) I read somewhere, perhaps on Stan”s site, that Roy was invited to join the Shadows when Jet Harris and Tony Meehan left. But Roy said no. I”m interested to know his reasons. (3) How long did the band last as a going concern, and what did Roy turn to afterwards, for a living? (4) Finally: I think that we were opposing candidates in a mock election at school, Roy as a Conservative, me as Labour. And although Stockton was a solid Labour town, Roy beat me hands down. Is that how you remember it, Roy?
The group was indeed The Denvers, and our first “hit” (as such) was called “Mix It Up”, and our second (and last) was “Little Latin Looby Lou”. These tracks, with others from our LP, have recently been re-released in Germany on CD. Ron, you probably made the appropriate career choice!
Charlie Gillett: I have sent an email to Roy Smith of The Denvers asking him for the missing information on their French hit single. He did provide me with all the information on the band for my own website so I guess he missed that part out.
Ron – I looked up the Denvers on Google and discovered that they made several singles for Polydor in France, and even had an album (which misleadingly but typically presented them as a Merseybeat group). There are inferences that they actually had a hit in France, but no clue as to which song it was. Do you know, by any chance?
Thank you, Brian, Cliff had me worried for a minute. I knew my memory was getting faulty, but surely it”s not that bad. Yes, I played on the right wing in a team that had several much brighter stars than me, including fly half Arthur Chapman, with whom I”ve stayed friends ever since. Brian, you were a year older than me, I think, the same year as Colin Sinclair, a great runner as well as a good rugby player. You, Arthur and I were among a group who would play for the school on the Saturday morning and then for Stockton”s adult team in the afternoon. One of the other players in the club at Stockton was scrum half Tony Scott, who necver made the first team but has gone on to bigger and better things as a Hollywood film director (Top Gun, etc). Tony”s older brother Ridley, director of Alien, Blade Runner, etc, was in the sixth form at Grangefield when I started, but I don”t remember him. I”m still in touch with Tony, who recently arranged a reunion of friends from the north east including Grangefield alumni Gordon Smith (another scrum half!) and Archie Foulds. Ron, thanks so much for confirming the name of the group – I remember you well, but forgot you were in the band. You”ll remember Mike Purnell, who I am still in touch with. He has lived in Germany for many years with his wife Petra and their two boys (well, young men, they are now).
I am afraid your memory played you up Cliff Thornton I played in the same year as Charlie and he was a winger!.
Charlie Gillett – the rock group you refer to was probably The Denvers, led by Roy Smith. I was in the group at that time. They went on to turn professional. I left after A levels and thought a career as an accountant would be much more exciting than a rock star!
Charlie Gillett – and some of us remember you as the demon scrumhalf of the school”s first team. Replaced when you left by Peter “Dinger” Bell.
It depends on who all the others are, Tim. But I”m the one from Record Mirror all those years ago, yes.
Are you THE Charlie Gillett, the respected writer and broadcaster? I used to read articles in Record Mirror many years ago, I always understood that the writer was a local man.
I was in the same year as Ian Aufflick from the second form through to the sixth. I hope I won”t embarrass him by mentioning that he was incredibly bright, top of the class from start to finish, getting 100% in his exams quite often, especially all the sciences. I was bottom for a while, scraped into the sixth form with five “O” levels, had to take “O” level Latin five times and even then only got the minimum pass of 45%. But strangely, we both wound up at Cambridge together, the first for a long time to go there from Grangefield, although I think it happened quite often afterwards. Ian did Mathematics and Physics and wasn”t interested in sports; I did arts subjects and played any game that was going, so we didn”t know each other well. But he was (and I”m sure still is!) a very nice guy who never said a bad word about anybody. The boy who was always second to Ian was Geoff Hutton, who impressed us by being able to play a pop song on piano after he had heard it only once, and by being the first boy in the class to have a regular – and very good looking – girl friend. I think the next was usually Smith, who played Chess for England schoolboys. Ian Aufflick, Boyes, Stan Brennan, Chesney, Dazzer Davies, Dunn, Dunstone, Colin Fletcher, Gillett, Jack Glattbach, Peter Hawkins, Frank Hunter, Geoff Hutton, Jackson, Matthews, Moyes (yes, the same Ron), Keith Newton, Malcolm Ozelton, Geoff Parker, Mike Purnell, Purvis, Radge, Smelt, Smith, Maffa Stephenson That”s 25 out of 36 that I can remember. The reason I”ve come to this site is that I”ve been remembering one of the most embarrassing moments of my school days, when I was drummer in a jazz quartet which was led by Dave Robson on trumpet. There was a clarinettist and a double bass player, but what were their names? We were support to a guitar group based on The Shadows, led by somebody Smith, a bright fifth former who was also the Conservative Candidate in the school mock elections. I was the Labour Candidate and he beat me hands down. What was his first name? The jazz group played on faltering tune as the people wanting to dance stared at us in disbelief. Did we call this dance music? Well no, now you come to mention it, we don”t. So we slunk off.
Ian Aufflick, there can”t be two of you. Does this list mean anything to you? Anderson, Aufflick, Banks, Binks, Bond, Bulmer, Batty. I think the next was Cosh, Keith Cosh, and there would have been Ronnie Moyes somewhere further down. Add to that Nebuchadnezzar, Cocky Salmon, Canon Salter and Miss Watson with the strop and the plot thickens. I think I left in “52 to go to boarding school, when we were all preparing for the eleven plus, which consequently I never took. Well, well, well!
Hi I was at GGS from 1953 to 1960. Nat – I think my brother was in your year. Bob Kidd – I was a year behind you and joined you in the 6th form – with people like Bob Beese I think?
I also was at GGS between 66 & 91 my mates were Alan stephenson, andrew moore, any help steve.grierson@eurotaxglass.co.uk stephen.Grierson@ntlworld.com
Robert Kidd.. Yes he did move from Halifax, and yes he served his apprenticeship at Robsons, I”ll forward this page to him, nice to hear from you.
I was in the same class as Rob Scott, moved up to Stockton from Halifax I think. Left to become a mechanic at Robsons I think?
This brings back memories I went to this school in the 90s. it doesnt look any different at all really.
My Hubby Robert Scott attended Grangefield from 1966 to 71. Good mate was Andy Grabham. Any bells ringing?
I was known as Nat and initially attended Stockton Secondary School in Nelson Terrace and moved into Grangefield when it opened in 51 . Some of my contemporaries were Bob Harbron Lofty Hutton Friar Tuck Colin Wright et al .I left Grangefgield at age 15 and went into the Royal Navy since when I have never looked back and have enjoyed a great life. Altough I left early I have many happy memories of Grangefield and I am sure that the high standards of the then Grammar School have stood me in great stead all my life.