More Reminiscences .......
1933 BGS First XV
This splendid picture of the 1933 First XV has been sent to us by Cowley N.G., who lives at Threshfield near Skipton. He is pictured seated on the far left, and writes: "I do not remember the names of all the players in the photograph. In the back row, right, is Jack Dudley, who was formerly headmaster of QUEGS Wakefield. Our captain became the Librarian at the Houses of Parliament, and next to me is Bert Luxton. Up to three members of the team died fighting for their country in the Second World War."
Musical memories....
The Bradfordian obituary of Leslie Walsh (whom I recollect was always known by boys as 'Pa Walsh') reminded me of Stanford's Te Deum. I still recall the words nearly 25 years after leaving the school even though I have never sung it since. Those who were patrol leaders in the BGS scouts at the same time as me may
recall me writing the minutes of one meeting to be sung to the same tune and have an approximate fit to the lyrics.
I vaguely recall singing it at the subsequent meeting. This must have been an unpleasant experience for the others. Shortly after his appointment, Barry Lancaster, the subsequent music master, asked all of us to sing a short solo in our once-a-week form music lesson to assess our potential for the choir. I was 'growler number 4' in form 4X of 1976/77 with no hope. I recall we always finished the autumn term with the nine lessons and carols concert in the Price Hall.
This was a grand affair with all the masters wearing their colourful academic hoods, and filing into the hall in 'red book order' according to length of service, and Sue Hinchcliffe's team of dinner ladies sat on the balcony in their pink overalls. In Leslie's time the final carol was 'Adeste Fideles' sung in Latin. Barry replaced this with the English words of 'All come all ye faithful' but for several years the boys who recalled previous times would continue to sing the Latin version. I was convinced that our hymn book 'Hymns for Church and School' was replaced with an alternative in order to eliminate this practice.
Simon Preston (1973-81)
Memories of the 'Divinity Field Trip'
Since it is nearly 30 years ago that the Divinity Field Trips began I am afraid that I cannot be specific as to how they originated, but I do recollect that during a lesson with one of the Lower Sixth Sets the topic of Christian history in England was broached. It was inspired by Matthew Butler who asked whether it would be possible to visit some of the locations about which we had been talking.
It was in 1977 when the Parents' Association had donated the first minibus to the school, the Geography department had been the first to make use of it for their field work and the master in charge of it was keen for it to be used more.
Matthew was the inspiration behind the whole project - he was already deeply involved in the activities of the Victorian Society - and was soon as deeply involved in ours. He produced prodigiously detailed handouts including routes, maps, cathedrals, churches, manor houses, archeological sites, monuments and museums. Every trip was meticulously times and Matthew kept us strictly to the schedule so we knew how much time we could spend at each destination, how long for lunch and at every hostelry.
News spread through the Lower Sixth and I had many requests to join from all the sets. Among the regulars were of course Matthew himself, Ian Wilson, Peter Waller, Andrew Hinde, Stephen Cope, Paul Ayers, Chris Thompson, Andrew Bell, Chris Marsden, and Jan Woloniecki.
Masters Tony Moxon, Derek Butler and Donald Haigh came and were brilliant sources of extra ideas.
I simply held the mini bus keys and drove. We had more than 17 trips plus a four day expedition to Scotland achieving a total of 71 churches, 12 cathedrals, 7 castles, 18 abbeys and 10 country houses. In those days there was little traffic on the roads and driving was brisk.
Friendships were made and maintained long after school days ended and I have many happy memories of eating hard boiled eggs in monastic precincts, fish & chips at Wetherby, locked Victorian churches, Andrew Hinde's monologue about the American policeman, Paul Ayres sardine sandwiches and Jan Woloniecki's spring onion and garlic salami sandwiches which sent members screaming from the minibus.
We had a delightful wassail party slide show every Christmas at Matthew's home where we received the warmest of welcomes from his mother accompanied by a splendid feast.
I was immensely touched by the bond of friendships created by these trips especially when I was invited to a dinner in London to celebrate my 70th birthday and found almost the while of the minibus present. Sadly we are now all scattered throughout the country but I still keep in touch with Matthew whose undoubted flair for splendid organisation proved to be instrumental in gaining the honour of the invitation to join the staff of HRH Prince Charles at St. James' Palace in connection with the Prince's work with young people.
For me, these trips were an unforgettable pleasure and source of information which was so valuable for my later university lectures on the history of Christianity in Britain.
Donald H. Taylor,
Senior Divinity Master,
1955 - 1989.