This edition is very special as it marks 25 years since our first newsletter was posted to just thirty people. The
brilliant idea of a newsletter was conceived by Tony Simpson, our immediate past chairman, who continues to edit it. I say brilliant because it has been our main engine for growth allowing us to reach and
receive contributions from Old Wallaseyans in all parts of the world. Prior to this the dissemination of news relied on word of mouth generally between those who lived close to London and attended dinners
there. Now we are in touch with over 350 OWs around the world who provide the newsletter with a rich and varied selection of news, reminiscences and comment.
The newsletter truly is the
cement that binds us together and I know from the correspondence I receive that it is eagerly awaited by you all. Let us hope that the next 25 years sees the continued growth in circulation and content of the
newsletter and with it the Old Wallaseyans World Wide. Wherever you are, keep contributing and make the effort to come and see us in London from time to time. Your fellowship both physical and through
your writings is much appreciated.
I am sure that you all join with me in thanking Tony for his great efforts over the last 25 years and in wishing him many more years in the Editor's chair.
My best wishes to you all
Bob Bryans - Chairman of the Old Wallaseyans World Wide.
NEWS FROM MEMBERS
Douglas Addison
1948-55 <douglas.addison@oldwallaseyans.co.uk> I don't fly out to Finland until the 2nd May, but I am still flat out organising things, bearing in mind that I will
be sailing except for two one week breaks, until mid-September. Incidentally, a brief synopsis illustrated by sketches of my last summer sail around the Northern Baltic is on www.tmsc. Tmsc stands
for Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club of which I am a member.
Lisa Andrews Former Head Girl of Wallasey School I would like to start by apologising for the delayed letter of thanks. I have been awfully
busy over the festive period both personally and professionally.
I was very pleased to receive The London Wallaseyans Prize for Head Girl, and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the
donation of my prize.
David Citrine Thank you very much for the Head Boy's prize; it was most kind of the Old Wallaseyans to donate it. It was an honour and a privilege to be Head Boy and
I look back with a lot of pride and happiness.
I am currently studying for a degree in Environmental Science at Aberystwyth in Wales. I enjoy it and I am learning a lot of new and exciting things
everyday. I believe school gave me many opportunities to be ambitious and achieve my own goals. This summer I am working in Connecticut, USA. for two months with 7 -15 year olds. I am teaching them
survival skills, camping, water sports and also how to have fun outdoors. I think this is very exciting!
My apologies for not attending the Old Wallaseyans' dinner in London, Lisa and I had
intended on coming. Unfortunately to come to London, stay in a hotel and go to the dinner was a bit extravagant for my student loan! Hopefully,I will be able to attend at some point in the
future.
Thanks again and I would also like to wish you a happy New Year.
Brian Clay
1942-50 <clay93up@blueyonder.co.uk>We have been here nearly a fortnight and still have boxes
unpacked as we have nowhere to put stuff and until we get the jobs that need doing done, things look likely to remain that way. However, we are getting organised and much as we would like things to happen
overnight, we have to be patient. Why is it that everything takes 4-6 weeks to be delivered! Hopefully by the end of June we could be something like straight.
Richard Peter Dunn
1946-51 <rp.dunn@which.net> I have just stumbled on the OWW website and would like to join the group.
I was at WGS from September 1946 until July 1951, on the arts side
in the Sixth, and well remember quite a few of the names mentioned in your Newsletters, notably Neville Andrews and John Bennett, with whom I rowed in 1951. I might also be interested in attending a dinner if
there is still one this year. I have lived in Cambridge these last twenty years and am quite often in London.
Barbara Frankl <b.frankl@ntlworld.com>My father John Cracroft Taylor
attended WGS from around 1928 to 1934. I seem to remember being told that when he was young he played hockey and I do remember his going to the local cricket club when I was a child, although I think that was to watch rather than to play. Do you have any records of pupils from that period that are available for research?
John D Fraser 1942-48 [John has sent us this piece about Harold Lee. Those of you who were at WGS in the forties may remember him as
the lab technician who worked behind the scenes in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics labs. - Ed] I felt I must write about Harold Lee. He was often referred to as Greasy Joe. He was in fact a great
friend to me and helped me in many ways. I got to know Mr Lee when we both joined a Model Engineers Club, which was held in the church hall alongside the Captains Pit in Hoseside Road. I joined with
Philip Downs and we went to the club for two years. Philip and I decided to go, as there would be interesting demonstrations and no doubt trips out. At first we didn't quite know how to treat Mr Lee as
he was a member of staff at school but we soon found him to be very friendly. There was another boy at the club from WGS, William Reece, he was mad about trains especially as his initials were G.W.R.
Great Western Railway! The club was very interesting and we had superb demonstrations of scratch built "00" railways. One demonstrator was a Mr Vasey Ask who was one of the pioneers in
scratch built layouts. We had trips out to the Gas Works in Gorsey Lane, The Clarence Dock Power Station and the Mersey Railway Works. There were other trips but I cannot remember much about them;
the ones mentioned have stuck in my mind always. Mr Lee went with us and explained things we didn't understand. Mr Lee showed Philip and me how to silver solder, a skill which I have used regularly for
jewellery making. Over a period of time he and I became very friendly. He came to the house and asked Mum if he could take me to an exhibition in Liverpool. Mum was a little uncertain but then
asked him to tea and they had a good natter. Mum found him to be harmless and soon we went off to see the exhibition. I remember much of what I saw there. There was a Hurricane's propeller there
made of resin but filled with bus tickets. I saw a machine that made the sheet metal into the parts used for making geodetic (?) parts for the Wellington Bomber, there was a Merlin working cutaway engine
and many more things. Mr Lee delivered me home safe and sound. He also had some lovely art books that he showed to my brother Jim and although he was interested he couldn't at that time afford to buy the
books however cheaply Mr Lee would sell them for.
Mr Lee made some sails for a boat I had. The boat had a history as it was made from a piece of wood salvaged from a fire, which destroyed an
ancient, half timbered pub in Liscard. The man who salvaged the wood was a fireman and the father of one of the members of Egremont Baptist Church. I was given the hull only. Mr Lee made masts and
showed me how the boat should be rigged but he had left Wallasey before I got around to doing it. I did eventually rig the boat and I enjoyed sailing it on the boating pool in New Brighton.
I remember Mr Lee
asked me what I wanted to do when I left school - I said I'd like to do art. So, before he left Wallasey for a new appointment he gave me a superb folder which he had made, a small folder and several useful
ring binders. I still have the small folder and binders, but the large folder was stolen from my shed together with treasured drawings and paintings. I always found Harold Lee very pleasant and reliable;
he was really a very good friend to me. The slight speech impediment, which he had, was no problem to me, or to my Mum. He was to me a great friend and I missed him greatly when he went to new pastures -
I think he went to the Croydon area.
Martin Gallimore 1961-67 <marting@derwentliving.com>Having browsed the Old Wallaseyans website I have come across information about the DVD that was made at the
school, showing a typical day etc. I attended Withens Lane from 1961-1967, so would be very interested to obtain a copy. [Webmaster Bob Bryans can send you the DVD price £ 12 including postage to any
part of the world - Ed.]
I moved away from Wallasey many years ago, but I'm sure watching it will stir up a lot of memories. When I go back to Wallasey from time to time - nostalgia 'takes a
beating.' In the more deprived areas it's looking grim. Hopefully things will improve, but exactly how is uncertain. Anyway, at least they haven't turned the school into a carpet warehouse or some
such. It's good that you keep the society going,…and link up with ex pupils - wherever they are (colonised half the world I think.!) I must get around to joining the society one of these days. [You
are now a member - we don't have a subscription! - Ed]
Ian Gilmour
<ian@annanrugbyclub.com>[This is about the gents whose picture was formerly on the Home page of the site. -Ed.]
I have not yet seen anyone identify the lad in the blazer and boater from the WGS DVD. Undoubtedly this is PAV Jones (Peter Anthony Vaughan Jones) 1952 to either 1959 or 1960. He may have
stayed on at WGS for an extra year, then went to Cambridge.
Steven Hallam 1963-68 <sch@highway1.com.au>I was looking at the Old Wallaseyans website recently and when I
saw the article on the DVDs and how you are trying to identify people, I had to respond and let you know that I am in the first picture, the one with the Duchess of Kent opening the new school in Leasowe. I am the second from the left in the last row (top left hand corner of the picture). My name is Stephen Hallam and I attended WGS from 1963 to 1968; the first four years at Withens Lane and the final year at the new school. I remember the Headmaster at the time was Mr Bruce;
I still have all my school reports. I was in the School Press with Jack Dugdale who also took me for maths. On his advice I had a printing apprenticeship with the Liverpool Echo and
eventually became Pre-Press Manager at The Pitman Press in Bath. I emigrated to Australia in 1990 where I now have my own Pre-Press business. It is a pastime of mine to look at the Old Wallaseyans site
occasionally and see if there are names I remember, so keep up the good work.
[Later]The move was over 40 years ago and the memory is not what it was but I will relate what I can.
I don't remember anyone else in the photograph - sorry that's a poor start. The year we moved, 1967, I was in form MVB - the form teacher was Mr Strong, who also took us for German. Mr Bruce
was Headmaster and I think Maurice Eggleshaw was still Deputy Head at Withens Lane. I was in the choir - sat on the stage at assembly - Paul Somerscales was Music Master - I was in an operetta performed a
couple of years earlier "The Little Sweep". That last year at Withens Lane was traumatic, we knew we were moving and I think we took advantage of the fact and school work took a back
seat. I certainly remember missing a lot of classes and going into Liscard with other classmates when we should have been at lessons. I was part of the choir on the opening day of the new school.
It was fantastic. I remember the day fairly well and for a number of years kept a copy of the printed programme that was given out on the day. As you can see from the photo, I came fairly close to the
Duchess of Kent on the day. We had lockers at the new school. I remember that as a big difference from Withens Lane. We kept our books in lockers rather than in desks. I remember the lockers
had wooden doors, but they were flush and you couldn't open them!! The first couple of days someone went round with a drill and bored holes in the locker doors so you could put a finger in to pull them
open. The gym was brilliant and we were also next door to the Girls Tech!! I was also in the School Press with Jack Dugdale who took us for maths and also had the Model Railway, which he used to show on
fete days. It was called the Otago Railway. As Mr Dugdale said "It ought to go". The press at Withens Lane was in a brick shed at the bottom of the back playing field behind the canteen. The
new press was in the school - brilliant. Mr Dugdale encouraged me in my enthusiasm for printing and due to his guidance I became an apprentice compositor at the Liverpool Echo. Printing has been my life
ever since.
I'm getting away from the move now. The new school had all light wood furnishings - lockers etc. No desks, just chairs with a sort of rest attachment thing.
I thought it was great at the time but looking back I miss the old hall with the honours boards. I used to study them. The names of Old Wallaseyans who had achieved great things at the school and beyond
and I always hoped that one day I would be on one of the boards. I still recall seeing the name of Fred Perry on one of the boards.
I suppose that first year of the Leasowe school was a bit of a
let down in hindsight. We had a language lab. We studied German through headphones rather than Mr Strong hitting us over the back with a ruler if we got something wrong. He was Irish, teaching us
German!! A lot of new technology that didn't exist at Withens Lane and we played with it rather than learning from it. It is a bit weird but I have stronger memories of Withens Lane than Leasowe.
I'm not sure if any of this is useful or relevant, but looking back, being a part of Wallasey Grammar School made me the person that I am. I still have my school reports and would be
happy to email one of them to you if you would be interested.
Another memory from Withens Lane - I used to help out in the canteen at lunchtime, serving food etc. The canteen lady in
charge was Mrs Jarvis, and as well as serving lunch I used to go up to the school and ring the bells for the end of first sitting and the start of the second sitting. Power!!!
Mr Hoyland was the groundsman; we had a couple of run-ins about me climbing up the walls of the fives court.
Enough for now, I'm rambling. Please pass on my warm regards to all Old Wallaseyans; I have
warm memories of my time at the school.
Brian G Stanley Jones 1934-42 OWW Newsletter No. 46 (2006) brought a surprising result from a lady in North Wales. She, too, is following up the
'JONES' family tree as I wrote about in Newsletter 2006. She had chanced upon whilst searching the web. For her father used to go to WGS. She was intrigued by the connection with Owen Gethin Jones
and got in touch. As a result we met up with her, in Betws-y-coed in April. Peter and Cathy were with us and got very involved. Lyn Davies introduced us. 1. a remote cousin who produced a
photograph of my father and cousin taken in November 1916 shortly before his cousin was killed in France; a newspaper cutting about his death; and a letter written by my father to his aunt.. 2. Vivian
Williams, a Welsh historian, the author of a book (in Welsh) 'Owen Gethin Jones'. Over a good lunch, he told us a lot more about the family, and took us round much of the countryside visiting Penmachno,
a quarrying town of about 2000 inhabitants 150 years ago, now hardly any other than holiday cottages and their occupants; this is where Owen Gethin Jones and his branch of the family were buried. Peter and
Cathy are back to the early 1700s in their research; Lyn Davies back to the 1200s, and IF she is correct, all the ladies in the family (by direct descent) will be Welsh Princesses. Probably of little interest
to other members, except to show an unexpected result of the NEWSLETTER. You may recall that I came across reference to Brian Ashmore in Cumbria in 2006; and met the wife of an old Wallaseyan in New Zealand
some years ago. It is surprising what one finds when you get nosey. Which leads me on to a tour of South Africa in January 2008. Whilst there I spoke on the phone to Bob Liptrott (ex WGS and 2nd
Wallasey) . He moved out there in the early 70s. He had just undergone a knee operation. He could not drive to meet us for dinner, but sends his greetings to any who remember him. We have
gone soft and enjoyed a tour organised by SAGA. Excellent except for Heathrow.
Still travelling: We reached the Isle of Man in June 2007. In three weeks , we are off to Slovenia, Italy,
Austria and Switzerland for 6 weeks Unfortunately, our mountain walking days are past, but we manage to find new interests..
We were sorry to miss the 2007 Reunion, but we hope to be
with you in 2008, however, that will depend on health. The 2nd Wallasey Scouts will be celebrating 100 years this year - I have a good photograph of the Golden Reunion 1958.
Jack Jones <jack.jones@merseyrail.com> A
1961 photo of pupils and staff circa 1961 has come into my possession. Please email me if you want the 30-inch photo. [We were pleased to accept - Ed]
John Sutcliffe Jones
<john@jonesco.freeserve.co,uk>The picture featured in the latest newsletter looks familiar. It
looks as if it was taken at one of the summer camps though I'm not sure whether it was Penrith or Welshpool. I think it includes Don Jonas, Bill Davies, Alf Hill, Jim Maxwell & Frank Parr. Bill as
you will know is no longer with us, but the others are in contact. As we are all in our 80s we are going through a number of get-togethers, the next will be Jimmy Maxwell's on June 1st. Eric Jones will
be there as will Frank and Fred Hadrill. W T Smith hopes to make it, using some of his large number of air miles. Bill and I are in constant touch with long telephone calls using Skype. We can be
on for more than an hour because we are cooperating on investigations into Global Warming - mainly picking holes with what the so-called scientists are pumping out. Bill lives outside Washington D.C. and
before he retired he was the World Bank's expert on irrigation and energy production, mainly involved in parts of the world that end in 'stan', or Africa or the far East. He has been dragged in again, and is in Laos
at this moment but thanks to Skype we still have frequent discussions.
I see that you are looking for accounts of what happened to people after leaving WGS. You will find something that you may find
interesting if you look at my website, <www.datanalysis.co.uk>. Don't be put off by the title, you will find a large section to do with my education, at WGS of course, and my subsequent career.
I have had a fantastic life and much of this was due to the great education, by fantastic teachers that I had at the 'Grammar'. The others of our 'mob' all share this appreciation of all that the school did
for/with us. What on earth has gone wrong?
Steve Jones <swordofgideon@talktalk.net>My Great-Uncle Vincent William Jones was killed in action during the Second World War.
Despite many hours
spent looking on the Internet and researching through history books, I cannot find any details of his death or other members of his company. The facts I have managed to ascertain are the following:
Vince was 26 born in 1914. Lived in Saughall Massey, his mother's maiden name was Massey. Older brothers Charlie and Bill. He died on the 24th or just after on April 1941. Probably in
"operation demon" which was the evacuation of Allied Troops from Greece. He was a sapper in the Royal Engineers 3rd field company Cheshire's. There is a memorial to him and other members of the
3rd field company, RME, in Athens. It can be seen on the Common Wealth Graves web site. Most of the field company on the Athens memorial site, appear to be other young soldiers from the Wirral. Is
there anybody still alive from the 3rd field company Cheshire's, who were in Greece? or does anyone have any information regarding the 3rd field company's activities in this "Greek Tragedy?" Thank
you.
Peter Moore <pete@moorep43.fsnet.co.uk>Success! We have struck pay dirt in the quest to unite me with my old schoolmate David Robinson, who was seeking my
assistance in a claim he is making against the shipping company for which we both worked in the 50's. Following that info. I wrote to the solicitors acting for David, giving them my details, and this morning
David spoke to me on the phone from his home in Exeter. He reckons that he contracted this condition from the lagging on the steam pipes that was common practice on the ships in those days, and the lawyers
wanted to confirm it, which I have. He told me that, after his time as a Purser in Harrison's, he transferred to the same job in Cunard where the food was fabulous, he had a drinks bar in his cabin to
entertain the passengers and the pay was very much better. Valhalla! However, eventually the novelty of the high life wore off, he divorced the passenger which he'd married after a whirlwind romance, came
ashore, married again and got embroiled in the licensing trade, with which he stuck until retiring, at which stage he succumbed to the dreaded mesothelioma.
Here's a synopsis of my CV for anyone who is vaguely interested:
Left WGS in November 1947 to join T. and J. Harrison & sons Ltd as a Cadet. After eight years at sea and attaining my First Mate's
Certificate, I met and fancied the delectable Margo McHarrie, sister of Marshall McHarrie ex Head Boy of WGS, negotiated a relationship that flowered with her and maintains to this day. Following the nuptials,
foreign travel began to pall so I started to seek a shore job, finding the ability to navigate by the sun and stars didn't excite land based employers but eventually my potential was spotted by a shrewd manager at
Messrs. R. Silcock & Sons, purveyors of animal feedstuffs so, following an initiation into the art, I was dispatched to Cumberland to flog their nosh to the unsuspecting farmers in that fair county. I
proved to have a certain empathy with said farmers and was thus able to make a decent living, employed by several firms as one was sold out to another, until retiring ten years ago, keeping a handful of customers to
augment the pension and keep in touch with the industry.
A few years ago I took the plunge and purchased a computer. Now, after beating it into submission, I'm in regular contact with
emails to and from a number of Old Wallaseyans scattered about the globe, to wit; - Neville Harrop in Hobart, Tasmania, John Whitfield in Perth Australia, Doug Jones in Alberta, Canada, Collin Wynne in
Vancouver Canada and Bob Webb in Hereford UK, all of whom left WGS in the late forties.
Peter Robinson <petrobbo@hotmail.com>
[Replying to Terry Goodall's letter in Newsletter No. 49 - Ed.]
Re photo
This is 'Gobbo' - though I thought it was 'Robbo' - the former may have been more appropriate!!! - I have now
taken retirement from being Governor Electus of the Isla Pinta in the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador - I joke!!! -Though it may have been a good role??
It was good to see our name when I read the above News Letter
being the first having not bothered with reading earlier ones - but will now try and catch up!
I do not know the photo you refer but I have in front of me a white cardboard mounted photograph of the 1959 Boat Club
- the year in which the school won for the first time The North of England Head of the River, at Chester and the All England Pennant -clinker division - on the Thames Head of River in VIIIs. The
crew was Captain Dave Knowles - stroke, Alan Henney, Joris Krumins, me, you, Robin Tankard, Robin Thomas - referred to in your note -, Bryan Winstanley at Bow, and the cox was Les McFarland!!!- all our yesterdays.
Terry Goodall <terryali@xtra.co.nz>[Reply to Peter Robinson's letter =- Ed.]
Gidday "Peter"
AMAZING! F-I-f-t-y y-e-a-r-s…
And I don't think I ever knew
your real name! You're right; I think I 've got my wires twisted re "Gobbo" - probably mixed up with "Gibbo" ("Mr" Gibbens, our esteemed coach). Sorry about that, Robbo!
I
also need to apologise for all the times I jabbed my oar handle into your back, before doing the same later to Robin Thomas. Since then I'd long since given up "shooting the slide" (polite term for
bum shoving!)
I did keep involved with rowing - and a few other things- at Exeter Uni, but gave up in humiliation after being beaten by a Reading crew including Robin. Went on to Carnegie College
for postgrad teaching (just sort of fell into it!) & was less than thrilled to find Bill Wise (PE teacher - how you forget!) was also upgrading his quals there.
Against all odds, we got on fine - picture
him on the precarious pillion of my rattletrap scooter blasting through the Pennine blizzards back to Wallasey weekends.
Helped to run the new Ellesmere Port GS rowing club - back on the Dee, & then
exported myself to NZ in 67. More school rowing, (+football, gym etc.etc.) but very challenging with NO boats, blades -nuttin! Good fun! We borrowed facilities from the local club in Levin, a little
country town (with lake), and entered regattas on the condition we could bludge gear from the rich schools - a bit like our '58 adventure on the Thames tideway.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained - not many
trophies (actually none, nada, zero) but heaps of fun stuff. Married one of the 7th formers (but much later!) cos she was Scottish, and it seemed like a good idea. It was - and still is.
Last trip to England was over 20 years ago, but set foot briefly in "UK" by visiting my newly married #2 son in Belfast late last year. #1 son is settled with 2 super brats in Brisbane Oz, so that's likely
to be the pattern of our next major travels. Planning to make a State Visit to The Old Country next year (summer 09).
Attached picture is on Santorini (I hate heights!) last September whilst on a trip to #2 son's Italian wedding (yes, she's Irish!)
I must chase the spiders off our picture of Our '58 Triumph. I've also kept
my copy safe! What a Crew, even in monochrome! The worrying thing is - I can remember all their names too…. so, whatever happened to ….?
The photo mentioned in my first message to the website is on the home
page - it may possibly include you - or not, but it's that close! As it is with (possibly) Robin Thomas, but as I don't have any clues about the other 6 or so, it's probably from a different era. Yes, I should
order the DVD as well…
Life in NZ is brilliant (mostly) - which is why "home " is now here not there, but visits are likely to be more frequent as Ali and I put the squeeze on our working hours.
We're both still involved with education, providing specialist services to students (& adults) with dyslexia, but we can adapt our "Work-Time" to suit as we've just sold our tutoring business.
More trips - pity about having to pay for them…
It was a real BUZZ to get your message - I have cc'd Bob just to show him what his efforts as webmaster can lead to, & also because I remember
sharing my Primary school days with him. Vaughan Road Rules (we wish!)
Robbo, please keep in touch - so long as it never becomes a chore. We might even get the chance to meet in the not-too-distant
future! U2 Bob! Orrabest (or in best New Zild…Ahora
Nui)
Mike Scott
1956-61 <kscott7@san.it.comI received the WGS DVD this evening and am watching it right now. I am thrilled with it. Memories are flooding back and some are even
pleasant. I'm halfway through and have only recognised a few boys so far and can only remember one name, a boy called Dyer (or Dwyer) in one of the dining room scenes. I thought I recognised John Davis
in the Chemistry lab but I wouldn't swear to it. Anyway, thanks for sending this. I am very appreciative of your prompt turnaround.
[Later:]I watched some more of the DVD this evening
and I thought that I must relate this story to you regarding the memories flooding back to me after seeing film of the WGS Garden Fete.
In my first year (56), Fred Allen announced during the morning assembly that
the upcoming garden fete would include a competition for the first year students. We would be allowed to find a way to raise money for the school by running a side stall during the fete. The winner who
raised the most money was to receive "a substantial prize".
My friend Derek Boyce and I were determined to win this substantial prize and immediately began making plaster of paris models, which we duly
painted, to sell on the day of the fete.
We easily raised the most money and were called to the head's office one morning. Imagining what the prize was to be and how we were going to carry it on to the bus
home was very exciting. To receive a mere handshake from Fred and no prize was the greatest of injustices to us. We stewed about it for the rest of the year.
Derek West
52-57 <derek.west@oldwallaseyans.co.uk>Things are going very well with the move to my new house in France. There were only a few minor - removal van brought down -the telephone cable and then
got stuck in the front garden and had to be removed by a tractor. Nevertheless the wine is cheap and the sun shines.
S Dawn Woods <treesmcse@aol.com>I'm doing a bit of research on my family and wonder how I might find about a past pupil of WGS? He was my grandad's cousin David
Bernard Wills (born 1921). [He was with me in Mr Atchley's form in 1936 and with me in Mr Richard's form MVB in 1937 - Vic Green]
WALLASEY - AN ISLAND? By Bob Leach
One of the compensations for the aches and pains of old age is the ability to drift in and out of sleep.I have fallen asleep while entertaining guests at home, and to prove that this is now a natural function
beyond my conscious control let me report to you that I actually fell asleep watching my favourite team, Arsenal, play in an important match.
The falling asleep incident which I am about to
describe concerns Wallasey because with the help of a strong light and a magnifying glass I had been reading Ian and Marlyn Boumphey's book "Yesterday's Wirral; Wallasey and New Brighton" and the bit about
Wallasey almost being an island caught my imagination & the probabilities of what this might have meant politically, were on my mind as I drifted into sleep one evening. Wallasey was mentioned in the
Doomsday Book under the heading 'Wales' which in those days meant 'The island of Welshmen'. So, are we Welsh and not English? I think Liverpool, as Merseyside, might have something to say about that!
It does seem that Wallasey was connected to the Wirral Peninsula by the Wallasey Pool. This was the time when Wallasey was an ideal hiding place for those seeking to avoid the invading
Saxons.
I remembered that in the 1950s I took the children by car past Hoylake & West Kirby & along the northern bank of the River Dee. We came to a village,
which still had ships' bollards on the pavement, but sand had reclaimed the land & now buildings and roads stood where once water had been. Over the years sand had altered the mouths of the Dee and the
Mersey. No, I do not think that had Wallasey been an island Wales would have claimed it as they had the Isle of Anglesey. This they wouldn't have got away with. But what if the River Dee had
developed a strong tributary northward and had met a strong tributary of the Mersey flowing South then the Wirral would have been an island and not a peninsula. It would have been more like the size of the
Isle of Man and they claimed, and won, the right to rule themselves, Manx Law. If we had had Wirral Law would this have affected the history of the old Wallasey Grammar School?
I am greatly impressed by the present School's newspaper "Wallasey School Times" & from its pages one can read about what the school offers and the wonderful
curriculum, so imaginative, that one knows that whatever politics may have done in the past, the future of the school is in good hands. What is especially welcoming to an Old Wallaseyan is the sign over the
door, "Wallasey School Est. 1595". They embrace our history of the Old School in Withens Lane with the new school and thus our new name "Old Wallaseyans Worldwide" is a most apt
title. I do urge pupils and Wallaseyans in general to join this London Branch with its Annual dinner in October. Thanks to Stan Lawrence the Dinners are held at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, but we have ventured
further affield; House of Commons once & the House of Lords twice. In April 1997 I invited the Old Wallaseyans Committee to have dinner with me at the Civil Service Club. There were ten of us.
The Committee presented me with a superb piece of sculpture made and designed by that master craftsman, Tony Simpson. This unique and beautiful memento of my 80th birthday was mounted on a base of pure
marbles. I won't attempt to name woods used by Tony as I can just about tell pine from oak but there is wood of a different colour & texture inlaid. To add to the beauty there is a second
inlaid wood shaped, Grecian style, athlete running, drawn in the delicate style of the art produced in the days of the famous marathon run with the news of a victory in some battle on Grecian soil.
Then in 2006 I was presented with a second trophy designed and constructed by Tony and all I did for this honour at the House of Lords Dinner was be the oldest guy there.
In April 2007 I held a family party to celebrate my 90th birthday and on behalf of the Old Wallaseyans Worldwide I received a third
trophy.
Those three beautiful works of art command central position on the mantelpiece of my lounge. My thanks to Tony & to the Old Wallaseyans who associated themselves with the birthday good wishes.
His wife Sabina accompanied Tony & Vic Green & Philomena were also present. Sabina had written a poem for my birthday and it was more a lauding eulogy than I deserved. One
verse speaks of my years as a schoolmaster. Any success I had is due to my teaching as the masters at the old WGS taught me.
To youngsters in Wallasey I do recommend attending our Annual Dinner,
we are quite informal. I will tell you of the ex-pupil who was responsible for this, Nigger Ward.
Immediately after the war it was all very formal. We stood up in
turn & gave our name, years at school and our profession. Thus we had "Charles Cheeseman, Senior Director of The World Bank, Harold Horton, managing director of the World Nuclear Programme, Martin
Malcolm, owner of Europe's largest drug factory. And Nigger Ward stood up "Nigger Ward,
Unemployed".
There was shocked silence, then laughter, and never again was there pomposity. It became very informal. Wives and friends were made welcome and the only restriction was that the men wore lounge suits
and tie.
I drifted back to wakefulness. There on the mantelpiece were the three magnificent trophies so I knew I was home. Then I recognised the smiling faces of a few neighbours we had
invited in that evening.
My wife bought a serene ending to this little episode when she said, "Your tea has gone cold, dear. I'll make you another cup."
ObituaryJohn Armstrong (1935-41) died on the 27th November 2007
Richard Hamilton (Dick) Jones (1929-39) died on the 19th March 2008 aged 87
Robert (Bob)C Leach (1930-35) died on the 19th March 2008
Dr Ken Sargeant
died on the 30th January 2008
John Douglas Watts (1932-40) died on the 8th February 2008 aged 86
Brian Jones writes: I first met Dick Jones in 1936, when I went from the 2nd
Wallasey Cubs into the Sea Scouts, and he was my first coxswain. I thought he was God. In 1938 Dick joined the Territorial Army; along with many others of the Rover Crew he was in 149 Royal Horse
Artillery based at Hoylake. In 1939 most were called up, and we saw them infrequently when on leave. They assured us that they didn't have to ride horses. Dick was sent to North Africa, and Tobruk.
Here he was taken prisoner of war. He had a hard time. His privately printed book 'A tale of a desert rat' gives a graphic account of his experiences as a POW, including having to swim for survival when
the POW ship he was on was torpedoed by a British submarine. Released in 1945, I was on leave at the same time and we spent many hours together. On one occasion walking through New Brighton, Dick
decided it was time for tea and entered a nearby café and duly ordering tea and scones for two. The waitress exploded "Don't you know there is a war on?" Dick duly educated her in a most polite
manner. In 1958, the Scout group held a 50-year Reunion in which Dick played a leading part. From then on the Old Boys' Association developed and Dick eventually became Chairman. He was
a great character and a very good friend. His wife, Joan, played an active part in his activities. Our thoughts are with her, at this time.
Andrew Page Watson writes: Bob was Cheshire Mile Champion in 1936 and
Champion Miler of Wallasey from 1937 - 39. He served as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers in Egypt. He came third in the 1500 meters at the Palestine Championships and represented the British
Empire Forces team in the 1940 meeting against Greek, Turkish and Egyptian teams. He trained in music and was the author of many books. He joined the London Old Wallaseyans Dinner Committee in 1976 and was
appointed Treasurer on October 12th 1978 and served for 12 years until Roy Swinbank succeeded him in 1990. He remained a Committee member until 2000, the year in which he sponsored a LOW dinner at The Savage
Club.
Sheilagh Finnigan (<jefinnigan@shaw.ca>) writes: My father Douglas was a Head Boy and Rugby
Captain of Wallasey Grammar School in 1937-38. My grandfather was Alfred Watts who was a teacher at WGS and my uncle Alan Sedgwick Watts also attended WGS. Dad always spoke fondly of his time at
WGS and often referred to this time in his life when asked for a brief biography. My Dad was in public service for our community for 26 years as both an alderman and Mayor of our municipality. He had a
long career as a civil engineer with the British Columbia government and before that spent 5 years in Africa as an engineer with the Rhodesian government.
Editor: Tony Simpson 97 Fairdene Road, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 1RJ Tel. 01737 553 462
Secretary: Vic Green 7 The Downsway, Sutton, Surrey Tel. 020 8642 3488
<vic.green@blueyonder.co.uk>
Chairman and Webmaster: Bob Bryans Hillside, Mill Hill, Keysoe, Beds MK44 2HP
Tel. 01234 708 815 <Robert.Bryans@onetel.net>
Treasurer: Clive Lewis-Jones 50 Westhall Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9BH
Tel. 01883 627 607 <clive@lewis-jones.co.uk>
www.oldwallaseyans.co.uk
