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Obituaries
The President and OBA committee members would like to express their sincere condolences.
Michael Snow Wednesday 4 August 2010
Michael Snow who was born on 3 October 1933 and was at BGS from 1942 to 1950 died on Wednesday 4 August 2010. Michael had been living in Carnforth, Lancashire.
Robert Rennard Foulds Sunday 20 June 2010
Robert who had been living in Ripon attended BGS from 1934 to 1942.
The Rt Revd Alan Smithson Thursday 17 June 2010
The Rt Revd Alan Smithson, who attended BGS from 1948 - 1956 and was Bishop of Jarrow from 1990 to 2001 died on Thursday 17 June 2010.
James Douglas Kenningham Tuesday 8 June 2010
James, born on 18 August 1930, attended BGS from 1938 to 1947. James had been living in Bradford and leaves a widow.
Jim Normington Sunday 6 June 2010
James H Normington, known as Jim, (1941-49) died on 6 June 2010 aged 79 of cancer. He leaves a widow Karla and three children. Karla said that although Jim did not keep in touch with former school friends he always remembered BGS with great affection and mentioned his teacher Stan Glassey (?) and another teacher who encouraged his birdwatching enthusiasm. Jim was a documentary film maker and had travelled all over the world. In recent years he took many still photographs for his local park in Beckenham, Kent. Their sale as greetings cards provided an extra income for the park. For as long as he could this year he helped in the preparation of another video.
David Pennington Saturday 22 May 2010
David Pennington, who taught at BGS for 29 years died on Saturday 22 May 2010 in the comfortable surroundings of Spring Mount Residential Care Home.
Peter Bolton Friday 21 May 2010
Peter Bolton of Charlotte, NC died on May 21, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Peter was born August 21, 1944 in Shipley, England and is the son of the late Cyril Bolton and Muriel Bolton. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Joan Bolton; daughters Julie Bolton-Williams and Gillian Rummell; son Graeme Bolton; grandchildren Emily, Paige and Jennifer Williams; Jarod and Connor Rummel; Elizabeth and William Bolton; brother and OB Richard Bolton (1950-56); brother-in-law Alan Akroyd,and a host of loving family and friends.
Peter attended BGS from 1954 to 1962. After school he graduated from Manchester University, where he was awarded a B.Sc in Civil Engineering. He joined Alfred McAlpine & Son in 1967 as an engineer and was transferred to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1969, where he worked on the Civic Center. During their 13 years in South Africa where all the children were born, Peter helped build the Ermelo-Richards Bay railway line and then worked on opencast mines in Newcastle and Vryheid, Natal. In 1982, Peter and his family were transferred to Atlanta, GA where Peter looked for acquisitions for McAlpines. Finding a sand and gravel company in Montgomery, AL, he was transferred there in 1985 to run the company. When McAlpines bought Blythe Construction in 1990, Peter was transferred to Charlotte where he became the Safety Director. During his 20 years at Blythe, Peter has been known for his strong work ethics and ensuring the safety of all who worked on the construction sites. Peter was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and a Certified Safety Professional.
While in South Africa, Peter was a Charter Member of the Vaalkrans Lions Club. In Charlotte, he was a member of Toastmasters Monday 6-O and Queen City.
Peter loved his family always encouraging them to strive to be the best they could. He got great pleasure being Papa and Grandpa to the seven grandchildren. Peter was a member of Raintree Country Club and when time permitted enjoyed playing golf with friends. He especially loved going to the house at Wild Dunes with family and friends, walking on the beach and working on projects around the house. He loved reading, and traveling to different places and countries.
Peter Birkett Wednesday 19 May 2010, aged 92
Peter died on 19th May at 92 years and 364 days. He was at BGS from 1925 to 1935 and was a contemporary of Denis Healey. His love was rugby and sport and he suitably inspired his two sons John and Richard to the extent of cleaning their Rugby boots each week so that they could glide over the mud! The Funeral was on 28th May at which family and friends celebrated his character and life.
John Vernon Nettleton Tuesday 18 May 2010 aged 77
John born on 9 June 1932 and who was at BGS from 1943 - 1950 died on 18 May 2010 in Knutsford, Cheshire.
Francis Oates (Titus) Saturday 1st May 2010, aged 94
He died on his morning walk through Guiseley.Titus loved to walk each day and was unhappy when the weather kept him indoors, so he died in the open air, near his home.
He had had a wonderful year since recovering from his illness, and was still as sharp as a tack, doing crosswords and puzzles and e-mailing his children almost daily to stay in touch.
This picture was taken just two weeks ago.
CHARLES FRANCIS OATES (Titus / Crested Falcon)
Francis Oates’ involvement with Bradford Grammar School began in 1926 when he gained a Governors' Scholarship, followed by a County Minor Scholarship. It lasted through the rest of his 94 years, both as a master and as an active old boy.
After 9 years as a pupil at the old Bradford Grammar School, he gained a County Major scholarship to Leeds University. He graduated in 1938 and gained a Diploma in Education the following year, when he also gained an External degree from London University.
In July 1939 he was appointed civilian Education Officer in the R.A.F. to help teach the large number of recruits before and after the outbreak of war. In September 1941 he was commissioned Armament Officer in the technical branch of the R.A.F. After training he spent 3 years at South Cerney in Gloucestershire. With the war in Europe over, he was posted to the Far East and saw service in India, Burma, Singapore and Malaya, being awarded the Burma Star.
On returning to civilian life he married Gladys, née Simpson, and their family grew with John, Mary, Charles and Edward (d. 1961). Gladys died in 1974. In time the family added grandchildren and great grandchildren, working and living as far afield as Saudi Arabia and Canada.
He taught for 3 years at Hartlington Hall in Burnsall, a small boarding branch of Leeds Grammar School. Then he returned to Bradford Grammar School, now housed in new buildings, where he taught chemistry until his retirement in 1976. This was evidenced by the odd acid burn to his shirt collar, or handkerchief. One of his unusual classroom habits was to write or draw on the blackboard, with both left and right hands, sometimes simultaneously.
In 1930 he had joined the 14th Airedale Scout Troop, only weeks after its formation. This was a turning point in his life. He went on to be a King's Scout, Cub instructor and Assistant Cub Master. He stayed in the Scout Movement for 50 years gaining a Medal of Merit and bar and a Silver Acorn.
During his time at BGS he was scout master, first of the 5th. Bradford West, 1st. Grammar School troop, with weekly meetings on Tuesday afternoons and alternate Saturday afternoons (after a lunch of “the lot” at the Tuck Shop). Some Saturdays would be away from the school, felling trees, erecting a cable runway in Spring Woods, or having “wide games” at Druids Altar. There were annual camps for the whole troop for two weeks in the summer, with weekly camps at Easter and Whitsuntide for smaller groups.
Later on Titus took over the 19th. Bradford West, 2nd. Grammar School Troop, following W. E. Clarkson and G. Hodgson. The meetings were held above the stable at Thornville. He shaped the lives of countless boys, both in the classroom and in the scouts, with many excursions and camps.
One other responsibility at BGS was First Aid. He tended to cuts, bruises sprains, etc, and the occasional change of clothes resulting from a fall into the Manningham Park Lake. He was a long time member of a masters’ evening bridge group.
Just prior to his retirement he married Margaret, née Womersley, and spent the next 30+ years with her. They spent much time travelling abroad and visiting relatives. He was for over 25 years a member of PROBUS, and one year was President. For many years he drove librarians with books for the housebound; and for 6 years he was with Margaret joint secretary for the Guild at Chapel. He loved the outdoors, gardening, collecting first coins, then stamps.
For many years he attended the OBA ball with Gladys, and, as long as he was able to travel, he was a regular at the OBA dinner. His time at BGS gave him contacts and conversations around the world.
Throughout his life he pursued knowledge for knowledge’s sake. He graduated from a typewriter, through a word processor, to a laptop computer in his 90’s. He then enjoyed daily correspondence with his family and friends around the world. It was also handy to help with his beloved cryptic crosswords. He never lost his love of the printed word, and read several books a week, ranging from the classics through various naval series, and other historical novels, to detective fiction.
Late in 2005 he moved with Margaret into sheltered accommodation at Primrose Court, just prior to his ninetieth birthday. This brought his hobby of gardening to an end, to be replaces by daily walks around Guiseley. Margaret died in March 2009, and Francis on 1 May 2010, while on a morning walk to the former Parkinson’s site.
John Sidney Hill - 10.03.1911 - 01.03.2010
Pictured first on the left in the back row. John Sidney Gill attended Bradford Grammar School in the early 1920s, died 01.03.2010 aged 98. He was very proud of his time at BGS and liked to keep up to date with school news via the newsletters.
Arthur Winston (Win) Barker 5.3.1930 - 18.11.2009
Win is pictured second from the right during a visit to school in September 2007.
We were notified by the sad death of Win (1939-1946) by brother John (1936-1946) on 23rd November 2009.Click here to read Win's obituary taken from Toronto's newspaper, The Star.
Dr. Gerald Charles Padgett. (1945-1953). BSc, PhD, MI Ceram, FI Ref Eng. died suddenly Monday 18th August 2009.
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