the old bradfordian

20 Pages·2017·4.85 MB·English

THE OLD
BRADFORDIAN
bradfordgrammar.com/oba
The Old Bradfordians Association Magazine
Excellence:
The best version
of yourself
by John Hollingworth
Archives Events
Rising Stars News
Sports Obituaries
2016-17 Edition
Bradford Grammar School
Keighley Road, Bradford, BD9 4JP
01274 553714 | [email protected]
Design concept and artwork by VisualSense.com
02/03
The Old Bradfordian
2016-17 Edition
... from the Head
Welcome to the latest edition of
WELCOME The Old Bradfordian magazine.
The following pages are packed
...
with OB news and give a sense
of the diverse and connected
community that characterises
BGS alumni networks.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the company of OBs at Dr Simon Hinchliffe
alumni events this past year. As I admitted at one BA, MEd, PhD, FRSA
of our recent London gatherings, whilst straining Headmaster
... from the President
to be heard above ‘Thirsty Thursday’ drinkers,
these occasions are bolstering my social life which
It seems hardly any time since I was invested would otherwise be a bit thin given my young
family at home. Evenings in London and Leeds
as president of the OBA, and here I am
alongside events at BGS have been very well
writing my last article before handing over
attended and convivial.
the reins, in September, to Ian Holland.
A great deal of positive conversation and action
has come from these evenings. Together we have
explored avenues for OBs to actively engage with
Ken Wootton It has been a great privilege to lead the OBA through some testing
(1964-71) times but also a terrific pleasure. I will take away many happy memories our higher education and careers programme
and discussed ways of developing opportunities
– a trip to Whistler to meet OBs now settled in North America, meeting
for bright young people, from all kinds of
Sixth Formers to tell them about the OBA, and many more.
backgrounds, to benefit from a life changing
My last couple of weeks have been particularly full. The OB London
education at Bradford Grammar School.
Club have found a new dining venue at the Union Jack Club just
Assisting children who would not otherwise be
opposite Waterloo Station; I had an enjoyable evening with them
able to attend BGS is one of the ways to ensure
and would recommend any OB who can get there to do so.
the School’s future success and it connects us
I was at Henley and made contact with Sir David Wootton (OB 1960-
with our noble and historic purpose to serve and
69) and Prof. Boris Rankov (OB 1963-69) who are both Stewards; very
advance our community and region. OBs are
few schools have two members of the forty or so Stewards who run
having a say in these matters and aiding the work
the regatta. Whilst there I also bumped into the Headmaster and the
of the Headmaster and Governors to shape
Chair of Governors who were hosting a number of OBs that I later
elements of the vision for BGS. I am hugely
had the pleasure of meeting.
grateful for the help I’ve received in this regard.
Closer to home, I was privileged to attend the opening of the David
BGS believes in bringing communities together
Hockney Gallery at Cartwright Hall. On display was his work ‘Labor
and creating the conditions for upward social
Omnia Vincit’ which once hung outside the Jagger Library and was
mobility. We do much but we could do more; we
subject to all kinds of minor physical abuse from many small hands;
would like to. Collaborative work with schools and
it makes me shudder to think what could have happened to such a
community projects locally and widening access
wonderful object.
speaks to the very essence of our understanding
Finally, I attended the School v OBs cricket match – a splendid of education as a charitable purpose, rooted in
contest won by the OBs. English statute since 1601.
04/05
The Old Bradfordian
2016-17 Edition
Elizabethan lawmakers identified charitable
works for: ‘… the relief of aged, impotent,
and poor people; the maintenance of sick
and maimed soldiers and mariners; schools
Brian Parker
of learning; free schools and scholars in Editor and former Chemistry teacher
universities; the repair of bridges, ports,
havens, causeways, churches, sea banks, and
highways; the education and preferment of
orphans; the relief, stock, or maintenance of
houses of correction; marriages of poor maids;
support, aid, and help of young tradesmen,
handicraftsmen and persons decayed …’
Do we recognise our BGS counterparts in
these descriptions? I’ll leave that up to you. I’m
nervous about commenting! But OBs will, I’m
sure, get the gist of my message at a time when
independent schools like BGS remain in the
national and political spotlight and many debate
our role in society. BGS was founded to serve
the widest possible cross section of families. I’m
immensely grateful to those OBs who support
Notes from the Editor
us in this worthwhile endeavour.
Ours is a very special school. Increasingly I’m Please note in last year’s Welcome to the 2016-17 edition of the
aware of what BGS means to many OBs. Talking magazine it was incorrectly
Old Bradfordian – the news magazine for
to folk at the hugely successfully 1940/50s lunch stated that the man of the
in May was another one of those occasions match trophy at the annual the OBA. Many thanks to everyone who
OBA v School cricket match
when one gets a sense for that deep affection was the Jack Ashby trophy. has helped, especially Emma, who was
former pupils feel for their alma mater. I enjoyed I apologise for the error.
literally thrown in at the deep end!
some wonderful conversations about, for The trophy is the ‘Jack
example, the former goings on of the radio and Ashley Memorial Trophy’,
donated by Mark Ashley
football clubs and even received compliments OBs continue to thrive with the Brownlee brothers
(1966-72) in memory of
on my speech, a first (!), for not being ‘overly leading the way. Alistair winning the first two triathlons
his father.
long’. High praise indeed. The food was splendid, held in Leeds with brother Jonny not far behind. Other
There may also have been
the company superb. I greatly look forward to notable OBs are Abby Mae Parkinson, Team GB cyclist and
a technical issue in receiving
future OB events and having the opportunity to obituaries for this issue. Deborah Sides, performance analyst. This year marks the
first time the magazine has gone digital with only
extol the ongoing virtues of BGS and bearing If there are any missing, we
a few hundred hard copies printed.
witness to bonds of friendship forged at school do apologise.
that are clearly surviving the test of time. Please forward these on to Hot news just in – Laalithya Vadlamani (2011-15)
[email protected] has just been appointed ‘President of the Oxford Union’.
for the next edition. Yet another notable achievement for an Old Bradfordian.
So, please enjoy all that follows. Keep in touch
I look forward to receiving articles from
by completing our OB survey (details available
OBs for next year’s magazine.
on request if we haven’t yet managed to reach
[email protected]
you) and I hope to have the pleasure of your
company at one of our forthcoming events.
‘Hoc Age’
06/07
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2016-17 Edition
CONTENTS Right: BGS Speech Day
2017 guest speaker,
OB John Hollingworth
(1991-99)
02 Welcome 13 M emories of BGS: 81 years on
by Derek Oldfield (1935-40)
07 E xcellence: The best version
of yourself 17 Image gallery
10 David Hockney: Rising Stars ...
80th Birthday 18 Deborah Sides
21 Abby-Mae Parkinson
11 Memories of BGS:
22 Anthony Smith
BGS in the 1940s
by Malcolm Brook (1944-49) 24 News
29 Events
32 Sports
34 Remembering ...
EXCELLENCE:
THE BEST VERSION
OF YOURSELF
I have worked at BGS now for
two years. It has certainly flown
and time passes quickly when
you’re enjoying working in such
a beautiful School. When Dr Hinchliffe asked me to be the guest
As part of my role within the I have just started at BGS after speaker at Speech Day earlier this year my
Communications, Development having run my own business for
immediate reaction was ‘have you got the wrong
and Marketing (CDM) team, I am three and a half years.
responsible for all BGS publications, number?’ Once it became apparent that he hadn’t,
My role in the Communication,
including the ‘Bradfordian’ and ‘Hoc Development and Marketing (CDM) that concern was swiftly replaced by another,
Age’ magazines. I am thrilled now
team will involve keeping in touch more pressing one – ‘what can I usefully say?’
to be a part of the ‘Old Bradfordian’
with our alumni and being their first
magazine, supporting and co-
point of call, so I am looking forward
editing, alongside Brian Parker, Editor
to getting involved and meeting To be asked to return and address the school suggests that one
and former Chemistry Teacher.
many Old Bradfordians over the should have something worth saying – some wisdom worth passing
This magazine really brings to coming months and years. on. At thirty-six and smack bang in the middle of my professional
the fore aspects of BGS heritage,
Please get in touch if you would journey, I felt a shade under-qualified for such a privileged task.
including our motto ‘Hoc Age’,
like to get involved in our careers I was even a little nervous arriving back to such a familiar but
providing an authentic impression
programme, if you would like to visit unfamiliar place.
of the School as it is today, defined
the School or just let us know what Fortunately, I was blessed with brilliant teachers across the board
by our historic foundations, values
you are up to. during my time at school and was deeply relieved to see two of
and cherished traditions, but also by
our innovative and forward-looking Rebecca Bull them – Julian Reed-Purvis and Kate Wilde – waiting to greet me,
approach. Alumni Relations my wife and son at reception on the day itself. I was stunned at
the idea that they would think I might have forgotten them. BGS
[email protected]
It’s a pleasure to be a part of it’s
certainly leaves its mark on those who pass through its doors.
01274 553710
continued development.
When I arrived for the final year of Clock House way back in 1991,
Emma Wragg I was an unprepossessing and decidedly average student. I came
Communications Manager from a humble background. I grew up on benefits with a single
parent mum near Keighley. She had scrimped and saved enough
[email protected]
to pay me through that one year in the hope that the entrance
01274 553709
08/09
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2016-17 Edition

Right: John Hollingworth plays. I’m probably best known for my recent work as Captain Henshawe Your task – as
and BGS Headmaster throughout three series of the period drama ‘Poldark’ on BBC One. students – is to
Simon Hinchliffe
persevere, to keep
Far right: John Hollingworth Conscious that I was asked back to speak at school during a high point in
presents an award my career, I resolved to be candid about the difficulties of self-employed going. That’s all you
need. Don’t work for
life. It’s easy to make life as an actor sound attractive but I’ll let you into a
your parents, or your
secret: it’s nowhere near as glamorous as it looks in the glossy magazines.
friends or even for
For the majority of actors ‘glamorous’ is the last word they would choose
your teachers – work
to describe their working lives.
for yourself, because
I contacted Equity – the actors’ trade union – to check their current
the habit of work is
employment figures. The results were startling. Only 8% of UK actors
what you need to
work at any given time, which means that 92% are unemployed. An actor
succeed when you
works an average of 11.3 weeks a year professionally. Only 6% of Equity
walk out the front
members earn over £30,000 a year.
door of the school for
It can be the most fantastically charmed life. When it’s good, it really is your last time.
great. I have enjoyed exotic stints in Jamaica, Prague, Madrid and – well –
BGS changed my life.
exams to the Senior School would see me land an Belgium. I’ve also had to live in Bolton for six weeks and suffered weekly
It gave me the tools I
assisted place at the School – whereby my fees touring through Coventry – twice. I have had to graft to get by – for almost
needed to get ahead.
would be covered by the local authority by dint of as long as I can remember – no matter the glamour of the job I’m on.
There’s nothing you
being a ‘promising student’.
One break through theatre job in the heart of London’s West End paid so shouldn’t feel entitled
I managed to come top in the English exam badly that I had to work in a call centre during the day in order to pay the to if you’re willing to
and bottom in the Maths exam which led to an rent. Then there was the time I rushed back from filming a day on a major put in the hard work
interview with then head of school Mr D.A.G. Hollywood blockbuster to make my evening shift selling Christmas trees for it and keep your
Smith (DAGS to all and sundry) during which – on a roundabout in Ealing. After finishing a series of ‘Poldark’ one Friday feet on the ground.
in between puffs of his pipe – he weighed up I pitched up on a building site the Monday after and ended up staying Whatever you do, do
whether there was any potential ‘promise’ sitting in six months because I was being picky about the acting work I wanted to it as well as you can.
front of him that might be worth taking a punt on. move on to next. It’s a simple message
I remember him quite literally scratching his head – but hopefully a
That’s the truth I’m best qualified to speak to – the lesson that I can
at the prospect of what to do with me. Nobody useful one.
most usefully expound. It can be hard out there. And this place – this
was more surprised than me that he decided I
brilliant school community – trains you for success out there, but it also
should benefit from a fully assisted place. Perhaps
provides a foundation, a strength and a resilience to get you through the
he was a betting man.
challenging times. The credo that has got me through the demands of my
After proudly serving as Head Boy in my final chosen career has been what I learnt at BGS – get your head down and
year at the school I went on to take a first class work hard and keep doing. ‘Hoc Age’.
honours degree in English Literature at Trinity

College, Dublin, and subsequently trained as an

actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In the
nine years I’ve worked professionally as an actor,
I have appeared in ten feature films, 21 different
television shows, 14 radio plays and 12 stage
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1
Memories of BGS:
David Hockney:
BGS in the 1940s
80th Birthday
Malcolm Brook (1944-49)
David Hockney celebrated his 80th
birthday on 9 July this year. To mark I joined Thornville, the BGS Prep school, in
this occasion a permanent gallery September 1945 at the age of eight, and came
has been dedicated to him in to school by tram from Thornbury to Forster
Cartwright Hall. Square, and thence by trolley bus to Thornville,
2 which was situated opposite Manningham Park.
The gallery featured sketches and 1 ‘I used to love going to Although the war had just ended almost everything
photographs from his youth and a Cartwright Hall as a kid,
it was the only place in was rationed, including petrol, so that nobody came
mechanical dachshund. Hockney
Bradford I could see real
said that he always enjoyed visiting paintings’ – David Hockney by car – it was either public transport or bicycle.
Cartwright Hall as it was the only 2 & 3 Self-portraits and
photos from Hockney’s
place he could see real paintings.
personal albums are among Foster Square station belonged to the LMS
The major items on show included the pictures on display (London Midland and Scottish Railway), and
3
two sketchbooks, mainly self- 4 Brian Parker and his wife’s a major hobby for a lot of pupils was trainspotting
invitation to the opening
portraits from the 1950s when he the magnificent steam trains. The station
of the gallery
was at Bradford Grammar School forecourt had vending machines for Nestlé
and later at Bradford School of Art. chocolate bars, but they had been empty since
In 1959 he went to study at the the war began; none of us could imagine a world
Royal College of Art. The gallery also where you could get chocolate from a machine,
includes interviews with Hockney by without ration coupons!
4 the filmmaker Bruno Wollheim.
The editor, Brian Parker, and his wife
were lucky enough to be a guest at
the opening of the gallery.
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2016-17 Edition
There were few new toys available during WW2 –
all manufacturing resources were devoted to the
war effort. However, shortly after joining Thornville
the very first post war Dinky Toys appeared in
nearby Busby’s Department store and caused a
minor sensation … and long queues!
I think I joined the main school in September In November 1949 the Brook
1948 in class 3E and another classmate was David family left Bradford for Devon. I
Hockney. He was very obviously talented at art transferred to Exeter School and
and occasionally would draw a cartoon on the sadly lost contact with my former
blackboard before class started. The cartoons BGS classmates. However, my stay at
were funny but invariably unflattering and the class BGS holds many happy memories,
would start with the master demanding, ‘Hockney, in particular two outstanding
remove that drawing from the blackboard!’ teachers gave me an enormous
‘War surplus’ products were sold in special urge to visit faraway places. Captain
shops in central Bradford at very low prices; they Hare in Thornville and ‘Dynamite
included tents, sleeping bags and inflatable RAF Dan’ Downend in the main school
yellow dinghies. They helped make up for the were both absolutely brilliant at
shortage of toys. One day, I came across David teaching Geography and gave me
and his friends with such a dinghy in the reservoir an enthusiasm for travel, which has
in Fagley Woods. I had gone there for the fishing, never ended.
however it was a warm day and I also ended up in I completed my schooldays at Exeter
the reservoir – the dinghy was fantastic fun! School and left in 1954 to become
Early in 1949 Prince Philip officially opened the a Chartered Accountant, however
present BGS building and made a very amusing my urge to visit those faraway places
speech. He arrived with a large ornamental key, was instrumental in starting my
opened the main door, found the assembly hall own business – Sparex Ltd in
full of pupils and staff, and commented, ‘Someone 1965 - making Tractor Accessories
must have got here before me to let you all in’. and selling them worldwide.
He then compared the school motto, ‘Hoc Age’ The business was successful and
(get on and do it), to the Navy’s equivalent motto was sold in 1981 with seven overseas
of Swing It Till Monday! subsidiaries and customers in over
70 countries.

Together with my son I subsequently The 1930s decade was one in which there
started Stovax Ltd, making stoves
was a great deal of change. At home there had
and fireplaces, and Gazco, which
been the Silver Jubilee of King George the Fifth in
manufactures gas versions of the
fires. We also founded Original Style 1935, followed by the abdication of his successor
‘Although the war Ltd, which makes ceramic tiles. All of
Edward the Eighth, and the crowning of his
the companies are major exporters
had just ended almost brother, George the Sixth.
and have resulted in more than
everything was rationed, 1,000 jobs being created in Exeter.
Working for them has also given me Memories of BGS:
including petrol, so that
the opportunity to travel extensively
nobody came to school by worldwide – at the last count it was 81 years on
75 countries, with 38 visits to the
car – it was either public
USA alone. However, much of the
Derek Oldfield (1935-40)
transport or bicycle.’ credit must go to Messrs Hare and
Downend for giving me the travelling
bug in the first place! I really was
lucky to have been taught by them.
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‘... all the masters were
wearing academic gowns,
many of them in poor
condition through ill
treatment ...’

Throughout the decade the Bradford Corporation deposited countless lorry Above: Price Hall, the scene In 1936, just before his retirement, Dr Edwards cut
loads of clinker and ash collected from the innumerable textile mills in and of countless assemblies, the first sod to prepare for the foundations of the
concerts and performances
around Bradford. They were dependent upon steam to power the varieties since its construction in 1947. new school building. The Foundation Stone was
of machinery employed to convert the City’s stable industry of raw wool into laid by Sir Henry Price in the following year. He had
worsted cloth in which it led the World. By levelling the Clock House Estate it given a donation of £30,000 for the new Main hall
was possible to develop the excellent sports pitches that are now available, and (now known as the Price Hall) and building then
at the same time provide a site for the new school building that was planned. took place until 1939 when it was finished.
Administratively there were to be changes to the staffing and these took place During the War years ‘Dig for Victory’ was
during the second half of the decade. As a matter of curiosity, there were also three undertaken in the field opposite St. Peters Church
Jones’ on the staff that year, Dr Clement Jones, in Moorhead Lane, Saltaire. It was virgin land and
As a young boy from a local council school who had won a Bradford City
Mr Ellis Jones, Head of Physics and Mr Iolo Jones had to be dug two spits deep, initially under the
Scholarship to BGS, I had to attend an entrance exam and have an interview
who taught Maths. watchful eye of Mr Eric Ewbank. It is now the site
with the Headmaster during the previous summer term, prior to starting the
of the flat called ‘Petersgarth’.
following September. To be met and greeted by a tall, slim grandfatherly At the end of the school year in September 1946,
figure with a walrus moustache and clad in an academic gown and mortar there were three retirements of senior staff and one To conform to Government regulations the
board was a new awesome experience as such dress was unknown at my resignation. Dr Edwards, the Headmaster, retired School had to be divided between a number
previous Junior School. as did Dr Clement Jones, Second Master, and Mr of buildings. Some of the scholars had been
Ellis Jones, Head of Physics. Mr Farrell the Head of evacuated to Giggleswick School (I suspect that
To find on my first day at assembly (or morning prayers) that not only did
Classics resigned to take up a career in the law. they were mainly junior pupils from Thornville).
the Headmaster process the length of the Main Hall in Manor Row before
The rest of Thornville scholars were moved to St.
removing his head gear when reaching the dais and beginning the service. They were replaced by Mr Eric Percival Smith as
Peters Church Hall whilst Thornville and Clock
All the masters other than Bill Smith the PE master, who lined the walls were Headmaster, Mr Charles Hall (the Senior History
House (until then the Headmaster’s residence)
also wearing academic gowns, many of them in poor condition through ill Master) as Second Master, Mr Eric Ewbank as
each had a limited number of senior pupils as did
treatment. Although, on my first Speech Day, which was at Eastbrook Hall (St. Senior Classics Master and (I believe) Mr Pocock as
the main school in Manor Row where the Sixth
Georges Hall – Bradford’s Concert Hall – was leased to Gaumont British as a Senior Physics Master.
Forms were housed.
cinema) all the masters were in impeccable gowns together with the hoods
Regrettably, the Headmaster died after about two
relating to their respective degrees. The building was commandeered during the
years and Mr Charles Hall was Acting Headmaster
second World War as a Primary Training Centre for
Doctor Edwards the Headmaster was resplendent in a red gown and mortar until the appointment of Mr R. B. Graham in, I think,
the first six weeks training of conscripts into the Army.
board. There were two other Doctors on the Staff, Dr Clement Jones, the 1938-39. During my four years and eight months in
The School did not move in until the end of 1948
Seconder Master, Head of Mathematics and Dr Williams who taught German. the School before leaving in April 1940 there were
when there had been a great deal of refurbishment
I cannot remember whether these two gentlemen also wore three Headmasters and one Acting Head.
and it was officially opened by The Duke of
different coloured and styled gowns.
During my time at School, the blazer and
Edinburgh in 1949.
cap badges were in the form of the School’s
monogram surmounted by a crown and were
embroidered in the wearer’s House colours. In
those years all boys were required to wear caps
unless they were members of the Sixth Form.
The new general badge for both blazer and cap
was introduced, I believe, about the time that Mr
R. B. Graham became Headmaster, and has only
recently been replaced.
These images provide a
brief snapshot of the many
wonderful moments from the
past year at BGS.
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2016-17 Edition
RISING
STARS

...
We love to keep in touch with
Old Bradfordians and follow their
DEBoRAH SIDES I owe a lot to the School, the A Level PE
careers beyond BGS with interest.
(2004-11) programme together with Biomechanics was
Here three OBs reflect on their _ fantastic and I loved every minute of it.
The movement and physics of sport, it’s all
experiences ... Cycling Performance
so interesting.
Analyst for the British
Cycling Team The teachers also supported me with my work
_ experience and selection of universities. They
treat you as an individual and tailor their support to
Sport and Exercise
your needs. Even now, the teachers stay in touch
Science, Bath
and support me. They like to know what
I’m getting up to. You’re not just a name, they
really care about you and your future.
DEBORAH At School I did a lot of work experience and really
got my name out there with lots of different sports
teams, and the same went for university. The year
SIDES out in Australia was an unpaid year trying to get the
best work experience I could. It’s about speaking to
everyone you can. Making those contacts.
Cycling Performance Analyst for the British Cycling Team, Deborah Sides,
attended Bradford Grammar School. I absolutely loved After university I completed a PhD. I worked with
British Athletics for three years and then British
‘I came to BGS for Sixth Form and I really wanted to study the A Level PE it at BGS, the
Cycling for three years. My path was laid out nicely
course which I’d heard was great at the School. I knew I could also get the
sports facilities for me, but it’s all about being in the right position
support I needed to balance this alongside the academic side of things
— that’s where BGS came into the mix.
including Biology, Chemistry and Psychology, all of which I wanted to study. are renowned and I
I cycle myself and could see how the Cycling
I absolutely loved it at BGS. The sports facilities are renowned and I played played every sport
Performance Analyst position for the British
every sport under the sun.. I was also lucky to have the opportunities that
available to me
Cycling Team was the pinnacle of jobs in this field.
BGS opened up for me when it came to looking for good universities. I ended
up studying Sport and Exercise Science at Bath University for four years. This under the sun Cycling is Team GB’s most successful Olympic
included an industry placement in Australia, and it was fabulous to get hands- Sport, so I knew I wanted to reach for that. I
on experience in an area that I love. The School helped me in that I had all remember standing in the Sixth Form Centre on
the qualifications and experience I needed. the day that London won the 2012 Olympics bid
and thinking – ‘That’s where I want to work’. My
So I was at the top of my game when it came to applying for a job —
dream came true, I was at London 2012 and then
as these jobs are quite rare to come by.
Rio 2016.