Soham Grammarians

What was new on our website in 2010?

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For other years please return to the foot of the current What's New page
please note that as this website grows some older page navigations may now be obsolete

December 2010

• Seasonal Greetings to all of you from the Reunion team - Chris Bent and John Dimmock, and the editor, Frank Haslam: thank you for your support and please keep in touch with news of SGs and anything relevant that turns up when you delve into your albums or the attic.

• Please see November for the Fitzwilliam Museum item.

• Fred Eden 44 adds names to the 1946 and 1949 School Photos

• Please fill in the gaps in a new Staff Timeline page which lists staff by academic subject, and also the support staff - see via School Lists > Staff

• Mr Hugh Stalker (Music 1957-Dec 59) is now in contact, in Yorkshire.

• Pages added on the following Staff members - many of these pages have been in draft for some time and the editor has decided that little further progress will be made without 'publishing' them, so please add to/correct their content.
  For those marked with an asterisk, if you are in touch with them, or have other news of them, please help us to update our contact information (their first name if not shown would also be useful):

  see via School Lists > Staff > Staff left pre 1972		see via School Lists > Staff > Staff in 1972
  Mr DA Clark* Mr Lionel Fleet* (also a former pupil) Mr Barry Frampton* Miss DI Franklin* Miss DM Godfrey* Dr John Grassi Mr PR Grover* Mr Graham Hammond* Mr RH Hanworth* Mr Bryan Hollamby Mr Dick Housden* (also a former pupil) Mr RN Joiner* Mr Ivor Jones	Mrs M Kennett* Mr David Kilvington Mr Lionel Kitchen Mr J Lait* Miss Margaret Lawson* Miss McKenzie* Mr JB Rider* Mr Christopher Royal-Dawson Mr Hugh Stalker Mr Summerfield* Mr Henry Twiselton* Mr Chris Wain Mrs Walton	Mr Dick Abbott Mrs May Armitage Mr Peter Askem Mr Tony Cornell Mrs Jarrett Mr Reg Makin Mr Donald Riley Mr Peter Scott Mr Gareth Wood

• John Butcher 47 adds a few memories of the versatile Mr Francis Catala - see via School Lists > Staff > Staff left pre 1972

• David Hobbs 49 fills in the background to the Summer 1957 Soham Grammarian Clerihews - see via Scrapbook .. 1950s ... 1957 Clerihews

• Mr SR Sid Saunders' page is updated: it appears that he died in 1992 - does anyone have an obituary or other information on him? - see via In Memoriam

• JC Franklin - Jeremy - was a fine actor at school. A Jeremy Franklin took part in a couple of episodes of Z Cars. When Jeremy Franklin had an accident, Alan Ayckbourn briefly had to take over his role in Ayckbourn's How The Other Half Loves.
  Is anyone in touch with Jeremy or have information about him?

• The EHS report on the joint SGS/EHS August 1964 trip to Europe is added - see via History > History 2 > School visits - if you went, do you have any recollections/photos?

• the editor starts a page of Sports Records, currently based on the printed information in Sports Day programmes for 1961 and 1966. Many more such programmes are needed so that the development of records can be tracked - see via Sport

• Keith Haddrell 49, now in Wiltshire, is in contact.

• the late Mr Ted Quinn's page is updated - see via In Memoriam

• Sarah Ruczaj adds to the In Memoriam entry for her late husband Martin (1959 entry)

• Gwyn Murfet 56 adds:
  - Regulations regarding school uniform - see via History > History 2 > School Admin
  - a July 1958 letter on Curriculum widening (the creation of the L and T Forms) - see via History > History 2 > School Admin
  - the programme for the 12th May 1961 Athletic Sports and the opening of the Sports Pavilion - see via Sport > Sports Days

• A lunch in Surrey on 30 Nov with Geoff Rouse and David Christie,who live near the editor, was worth the lengthy few miles journey home through ice and snow for leads on new stories, and many photos from a Rouse photo album:
  
  - via School Lists > Staff > left before 72 > JG Speed Mr Speed enjoying a drink with some old boys at the Maid's Head, Wicken
  
  - via History > History 2 > Productions see additions to:
  A Midsummer Night's Dream 1959
  Twelfth Night 1960
  The Winters' Tale 1962
  
  - via History > History 2 > School Visits Lake District 1962
  
  - via Sport > Sports Days:
  the original photo of the March 1963 Fenland Cross Country Champions team replacing that from the Ely Standard cutting;
  the SGS team receiving their cup as 1961 Cambs Grammar Schools Middle School Cross Country Champions from Australian star Herb Elliott;
  and a new Sports Days page in which to recall memories, ideally with really good quality photos.

November 2010

• Together with Soham Schools the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge is creating an education partnership, bringing experts and objects to Soham and helping primary and secondary school classes travel to the Museum to engage with their collections and learning activities. The project will also include a local history research project and an exhibition for the entire community.
  
  The aim is that the effects of this project will reach the entire catchment area for Soham Village College.
  
  Monday 6th December sees the launch of an on-line campaign with donation doubled by the Big Arts Give Challenge fund. Full information about the project and how to donate is available through the following site: http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/support/bigartgive/

• The pages of much of the Summer 1957 issue of the Soham Grammarian had clerihews - almost all about about members of staff - as page footers - refresh your memory via Scrapbook .. 1950s ... 1957 Clerihews

• Accounts from the Soham Grammarian of the trips to Bouillon in the Ardennes in 1961 and Davos in Switzerland in 1962 are added - if you went, do you have photos, recollections - see via History > History2 > School Trips

• A page has been added for the last Speech Day on 18th July 1972, at which Mr John Browning presented the prizes, and for the 1941 Speech Day at which Mr JT Wolfenden (later Lord Wolfenden) presented the prizes, and for all the other Speech Days for which we have progammes - but there are many gaps. Do you have one that we are missing? - see via History > History 2 > Speech Days.

• Fred Eden 44 provides the transcript of a tape recorded by his late brother George, who was a Soham Fire Brigade Runner at the time of the Soham Ammunition Train Explosion on June 2nd, 1944, on the 50th anniversary of that event. George was one of the long line of Edens at SGS - see via Scrapbook ... 1940s

• Barry Claxton 49 adds a photo of the 1951 U14 Cricket XI - see via Sport > Sports photos

• Stuart Eden 71, now in Kent, is in contact

• Bob Hinze 52 provides a photo which he says his grandchildren call The Boffin - he thinks it was in the Lower VI so about 1957. He would like to be reminded who took it! - see Scrapbook ... Other ... Who/What/When?

• Were you involved with the 1958 Summer Fair to raise £1000 for the Cricket Pavilion? Can you add more photos? Thank you to Ivan Whymer 56 for his - see Scrapbook ... 1958 Summer Fair
  
  Ivan has also provided a photo of a gymnastic display on the Lawn, a very large scale affair - this was part of the July 1961 Garden Party to raise funds for the Soham Swimming Pool Fund - see via Scrapbook ... 1960s ... 1961 Summer Garden Party.
  
  ... and most intriguingly, Ivor provides what appears to be a Christmas card, undated, from Mr [Headmaster 1916-1930] & Mrs Platt in the form of a postcard with a photo School Group, Soham Grammar School .. which includes three girls. He has yet to identify Reg - his father- on it, to whom the card is addressed - see via Scrapbook ... Other ... Who/What/When?

• Stephen Murfitt 65 is a distinguished potter and educator who returned to his native fens at Wicken. At school he was encouraged by Peter Askem, as he acknowledges on his new website - see Pages by/on SGs

• Fred Eden 44, the father of Stuart Eden 71, some time ago provided copies of the letters received in June 1972 about the closing events at SGS in July 1972 - Speech Day, HMS Pinafore, and the Commemoration Service - see via Scrapbook ... 1970s ... June 1972 letters to parents

• Philip Foreman's page is updated with a cutting found by Susan and Brigid Riley in Mr Riley's papers - it was about the award to Philip (1934 entry, later Sir Philip) of the CBE for services to export in 1972 - see via Pages by/on SGs.

• Mr Rex Waller's page is updated with a tribute from his local paper and news of the dedication of a new building in his name at Sexey's School, Bruton, by the Bishop of Bath & Wells, in October 2009 - see via In Memoriam > Rex Waller

• Dink Palmer 46 provides a copy of the 11 Dec 1948 programme for the first post war Dinner of the relaunched Old Boys Society - see via Scrapbook ... 1940s
  See also, via the Reunions Page > Earlier Reunions for reminders of the origins of our keeping together, from 1919/20 and 1948

• Ted Stanley 49 adds a few names to the 1952 and 1954 School Photos

• John Butcher 47 has provided photos from the 1952 and 1953 Sports days, an icy day in 1953 or 54, Brian Pullen and some scouting photos. Can you add information, names etc. before eventually these items are allocated to other pages? - see via Scrapbook ... Other ... Who/What/When?

October 2010

• Making contact:
  Michael Pearson 65, a fireman then teacher, now retired to Norfolk. He was at SGS 65-67 before leaving for Cambridge High School for Boys
  Ed Smith 56

• Lewis Heavens 44 provides a LVB 1947-48 photo - see via School Lists > School Lists Index > 1940s > 47-48 > LV

• The programme for the 1957 Christmas Concert is added courtesy of Ed Smith 56, via Helen Smith of EHS - see via Scrapbook ... 1950s

• Wilkes Walton 37 adds images of his Sergeant's stripes, ATC Gliding & Flying Hours Logbook and Norman Cup memento to the account of the Soham Grammar School at War talk - see via Reunion Dinners
  
  Peter Askem (Art 54-72) was a schoolboy at The Perse when Stanley Stubbs was Head - for an amusing story of one of the consequences see History > Stubbs
  
  Tony Hall 45 adds some names to the 1946 School Photo

• Peter Easy 63 retired earlier this year and has moved to the Welsh coast. He was Vice-Principal Academic Quality & Customer Service, Napier University, Edinburgh from September 2005 and Senior Vice Principal from October 2007.
  
  Work is completed on refurbishing the School Photo pages and enlarging the component photos.
  If anyone has a good condition 1956 School Photo please let the editor know as the one in place has several cracks.
  Please review the photos for your time at SGS to see if you might now be able to add a name or two.

• A Photo Report of our 2010 Annual Dinner can now be seen via Reunion Dinners - that report links to the Soham Grammar School at War talk that was given and a list of those who booked for the event.
  
  The Photo Report includes a link to a letter to us from Dr Carin Taylor, Principal of Soham Village College about keeping in touch with what is happening at SVC and a partnership between the Soham Schools and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

• 70 booked for our Dinner last Saturday. Gwyn Murfet 56 brought along a small display of items related to Soham Station.
  The date for the next Dinner is Saturday October 1st, 2011.
  
  Peter Deasley 54 has kindly offered to attend Mr Quinn's funeral on 7th October (see below) on our behalf, others are also welcome to attend.
  
  John Kisby 43 provides news of the deaths of the following - they are recorded on our In Memoriam page:
  - Owen Keith Bethell, 1943 entry, 29 Nov 2002, aged 70
  - Doug EM Cranwell, 1937 entry, 28 Sep 2010, in a motor accident, aged 83: Doug was a founder member of Ely Rugby Club and a life Vice-President of Ely City Football Club, and was an accomplished sportsman at school. His funeral is on Oct 12th at 12:45, at St Wendreda's Church, Church Street, March PE15 9PY.
  - David Norton, 1942 entry, 23 May 2010, aged 79
  - Peter John Lythell, 1943 entry, 17 Dec 2009, aged 77

• Susan and Brigid, Mr Riley's daughters, provide a photo of the pike their father caught which had a rat in its stomach, being dissected by Upper VI formers; plus their parents' wedding report from the local papers - see via In Memoriam > Riley, Thomas Luke

September 2010

• 21/09/10 Patrick Quinn, Edmund (Ted) Quinn's son writes: I regret to have to let you know that Edmund died peacefully in his sleep on the 10th September. I know that he had some good friends from his time in Soham. Perhaps I could ask you to pass on the sad news to other Soham Grammarians who knew him.
  
  The funeral will be at 11:30 on Thursday 7th October at the Charter Chapel, Canley Garden Crematorium, Coventry. It will be family flowers only; if people wish donations can be made to Macmillan Cancer Support, care of Henry Ison & Sons, 76-78 Binley Road, Stoke, Coventry, CV3 1FQ.
  

  1956 School Photo

  Ted Quinn taught Physics 1950-56. Together with SGS colleagues Leon Kitchen and the late Rex Waller he was a regular reunion attender - a happy band of brothers. Our condolences go to his son Patrick and daughter Elizabeth and their families. His wife Kathleen died six or seven years ago.

  Rex, Ted and Leon at the 2004 reunion

• Also, via Keith Fuller, news of the death of Bill Hartley Hawes 39 of Fordham on December 16th 2009, at the age of 81 - see In Memoriam

• 26/09/10 News of the death of Les Seal 32 last November, via his son Paul - see In Memoriam

• Edward Ewbank writes from NZ about being a London child billeted with the Stubbs (wartime Head) family in 1942. With thanks to the Cambridgeshire Collection, Mr Stubbs' career after SGS - Headmaster of the Perse School 1945-69 and his death at the age of 70 in 1976 is recorded - see via History > Mr Stubbs 40-45

• Clair Titley writes: I work for a social history documentary company called Testimony Films, currently working on a documentary for Channel Five about the work of Sir Nicholas Winton and the Czech Kindertransport. He helped to rescue over 600 children from Czechoslovakia in 1939, by bringing them to Britain. The British government required a sponsor for each child. One of these children Harry Singer (born 8th Oct '27), is recorded as having been at Soham Grammar School. Please see Messages

• News via his brother-in-law Donald Monk 50 of the death on 23rd August 2010 of Hubert Nash 48 at the age of 73. Our condolences to the family - see In Memoriam

• News via his stepson of the death on 24 Nov 2009 of Ronald C Audus 42, an Electrical & Mechanical Engineer.

• 2/9/10 - Emailing and posting of booking information for our Annual Reunion Dinner, in Beechurst Hall (Assembly Hall) on Saturday 2nd October is being completed today. If you have not received anything by 12th September please let the editor know. A booking form can be printed off from the Reunion page.

• Photos
  - thanks to Susan and Brigid, the daughters of Mr Tom & Mrs Brenda Riley we have an early 1930s School Photo. Can you help to identify the year? - see via School Lists & Photos > early 30s
  - Peter Lupson 57 via Roger Logan 57 provides a photo of the 1963 Football 2nd XI, some faces still need names - see via Sport > Sports Photos

• Making contact:
  - Graham Bye 53, Cambridgeshire
  - through his daughter Michele we are in touch with Herman Kon 41, who with his family escaped from Poland. They had been forced out of Germany in 1938. He was a wartime evacuee from London, coming with the Jewish Free School to Ely where his parents took over the running of the Ely Jewish Boys Home. He was in the Rugby 1st XV and Head of Hereward House - see Scrapbook 1940s
  - Terence Rule 55, Cambridgeshire

• Research for the 2010 Dinner talk on SGS at War suggests that Staff Sjt Duncan Wright 32 of the Glider Pilot Regiment, who died on D-Day, was captured and murdered - see In Memoriam > WWII Roll

August 2010

• Please make sure you have 6.30pm Saturday 2nd October in your diary and remind your Grammarian friends - it's our Annual Reunion Dinner, in Beechurst Hall (Assembly Hall). Booking information will be going out about 1st September.

• Mike Delanoy 48 provides a photo of an athletics display team ca 1951-52, with most faces identified - can you pin down the date/event? John Hill 48 has been quick off the mark with completing some of the names - see via Sport > Sports photos

• Fred Eden 44 provides a postcard sent to Mr Riley signed by some of the scouts on summer camp at Shalfleet on Guernsey in the Summer of 1967. Intrigued? see it via History > History2 > Scouts ... 67-68

• Rupert Gandy c28-33 via Stephen Martin 62 (Rupert is his father's cousin) corrects his identification on the 1929 School Photo

• Paul Hammans '68' corrects his name on the 1972 School Photo: he is church manager for one of the principal churches in Cambridge.

• Paul Stevens 66 adds a novel recollection of Mr John Adkins (Physics 1965-67) - see via School Lists > Staff > left before 1972

• Richard Brown 60, now in Bedfordshire, is in contact. Retired from teaching he is a busy author and, fittingly for a historian born in Littleport, is an expert on Chartism. He adds to recollections of Mr Bill Rennison (see via School Lists > Staff > left before 1972).
  He also provides some intriguing aspects of Edward Armitage (see Scrapbook > 1960s > SGS in the 60s: an oasis of calm and learning - a history enthusiast's recollections).
  Richard's History Zone is added to Pages by/on SGs

• Alan Bray 60 and the late Tom Gray 60 attended a two-week Senior NCOs Leadership Course at Frimley Park in the Summer of 1966. It was addressed by Field Marshal Lord Montgomery of Alamein, who is in the middle of the course photo, which he signed - see via History > History 2 > ACF

July 2010

• 25 July 2010 - a fresh look for much of the website: where appropriate the rest of the pages will be done as time permits. If a link is not working please let the editor know.

• 15 July 2010 - 50,000th visit to this website. Thank you all for your support.

• Alan (Ray) Yarrow 52, Cambridgeshire, makes contact

• Roger Smith 56, in South Africa, provides the U14 Cricket XI 1959 photo - see via Sport > Sports photos

• Yvonne Gilbert has spotted her late father Robert Gilbert 37 on the 1937 School Photo. He died aged 69 in 1994 - see via School Lists > 1937 Photo and also via In Memoriam

• Ely High School 1905-1972 now have their own website, which we are supporting.
  The 1952, 1956, 1959, 1963 and 1971 EHS School photos are on-line. If you have any EHS connections please let them know about the new website and encourage them to make contact with stories, photos and memorabilia. You may no doubt recognise a few faces ... see via Ely High School

June 2010

• Edward Armitage wrote to The Times, 19th May 1967, on the subject of Corporal Punishment: "Would those who advocate the total abolition of corporal punishment kindly state what alternative punishment they would advise a busy headmaster to give to these boys, none of whom was a first offender?" Who could he have been talking of?
  see History > E Armitage > Some letters to the Times

• The advertisement in The Times on 12 September 1939 for the new head to replace Mr Neill states "a new Headmaster's house is about to be built on the School site." Presumably this was a casualty of the war? - see History > Stubbs 40-45

• Phil Mason 66 has provided the School List for the year 1966-67. We are still hoping that those for the latter half of the 1950s will turn up - please keep looking if you might have had one.
  Phil has also added names and suggested corrections to the 1970 and 1972 School Photos.

• The indefatigable Rev Gwyn Murfet 56 provides 20 photos including the Cloisters a few days before they were demolished, but mostly of the new assembly hall and laboratories. He includes the Horse Fen Crossing and Soham Station - see Scrapbook > 1960s > Gwyn Murfet's Album and Scrapbook > 1950s > Memoirs of a Moggy Rat
  
  He has also provided the cast lists for The Word and Fat King Melon and Princess Caraway, Christmas productions on 12 Dec 1958 - some very illustrious names, updated with a photo of The Word ... - see History > History2 >Productions

• Making contact:
  Paul Lomatschinsky '64', Leicestershire: Paul (Taras) joined in the third form in the school year 1966-67 so his peer entry group is the 64ers - see also Pages on/by SGs
  Phil Mason 66, Cambridgeshire

May 2010

• Rev Gwyn Murfet 56 has been busy again - this time with a seating plan for Form 1T, 1956 - if you should be on it please check it for us - see School Lists > Entry Year guide > Sep56

• Did your other half or a member of your family attend Ely High School? They had their 2010 Annual Dinner on 15th May - see EHS

• Simon Thornhill 65 adds some photos:
  - 1967 Scout camp at Shalford on Guernsey - see via History > History 2 > Scouts > 1960s > 67-68
  - Boarding House - see via History > History 2 > Boarding House

April 2010

• Making contact:
  John Perkins 53, now in Western Australia - John made contact back in 2008 but slipped the editor's net (if anyone else feels they have been ignored please let the editor know) - John updates the Messrs Phelps & Hobbs page with a memory of formaldehyde spraying - see Scrapbook > 1950s
  Charles Bill Tassell 46, now in Leicestershire: his brothers Richard 50 and Ashley 56 are in Italy and Cambridgeshire respectively
  Mark Wynn 69, in Nottinghamshire
  Simon Wynn '65', in Oxfordshire

• Rev Gwyn Murfet 56 writes extensively of his time at SGS, in particular taking a detailed look at 'My First Day at School' - see Scrapbook > 1950s > Memoirs of a Moggy Rat

• Vernon Grooms 42, known as Bill, died at Addenbookes' on March 10 2010, aged 78. His funeral took place at St Peter's Church, Fordham, on March 19th. For more detail see In Memoriam

• Kate Bavester has provided photos and a story about the 100th birthday of her grandfather Joshua Martin 21 last November: if you have any Josh stories please contact the editor - see Pages on/by SGs

• Richard Pledger has provided a photo and some family background for his late father Peter Pledger (left 1938) who is mentioned in the report of the 1937 Summer Scout Camp at Croscombe Barton. Peter's brother John Pledger 34 died in 2006. Richard adds: "There was a clearout of a cupboard at Walton House (now the offices of Allen Newport Ltd) last year and one of my father’s school exercise books was discovered. Most of his school books survive and are in a box in the loft at my Mother’s home - fascinating reading nowadays - I certainly couldn’t do half the things they were taught! They might make an interesting display sometime". History > History 2 > Scouts > 1920s/30s > 37-38

• Fred Eden 44 has identified his brother Jack in the late 1920s School Photo. He since then liaised with Mrs Anita Brown who has the same photo annotated by Fred's brother Jack: the photo was taken in October 1929 and has now been substantially updated, mainly with names from Jack's list, some from Fred and some identified by Mrs Brown (her husband is Reg Brown, a Grammarian) - see via School Lists > School Photos

• David Camps 60 adds a couple of names to the 1962 School Scout Troop photo - see via History > History 2 > Scouts > 1960s > 61-62

• Peter Roe 46 has provided some photos of the following Scout camps - many of which need names putting to faces ...
  1947 Edale - see via History > History 2 > Scouts > 1940s > 47-48
  1948 East Runton - see via History > History 2 > Scouts > 1940s > 48-49
  1949 Edale - see via History > History 2 > Scouts > 1940s > 49-50
  1950 Gillingham, on the River Waveney, near Beccles - see via History > History 2 > Scouts > 1950s > 50-51

• Fred Eden 44 has provided one of the 1940s School Lists - that for the school year 1948-49 - see via School Lists > Index > 1940s

• Robert Powell 56 has provided one of the missing School Lists - for the school year 1960-61 .. that leaves us still looking for those for the school years from 1955 to 1959 and 1966/7 - see via School Lists > Index > 1960s

• On 25 Nov 2008 Peter Hobbs 61 reported the death of his cousin Richard Simpson 66. Richard lived on Anglesey with his wife, son and two daughters. He had been a reporter on a motorcycle magazine, on various newspapers and had run his own business as well as project managing large projects for blue chip companies. He died of a heart attack on October 10th 2008 aged 53. The editor apologises for the delay in reporting this sad news.

• Kevin Cook 70 is identifies himself on the 1972 School photo, with thanks also to his brother Paul
  Roger Smith 56 updates one of the 2004 Dinner photos showing Robin Armitage - can you fill in the other blanks?

• With the Newmarket Open Air Swimming pool site again in the local news a note from Charlie Phelps 50: When I heard in December 2008 that the open air swimming pool at Newmarket had closed permanently, I remembered very well going to the pool once a week with SGS during the months of May, June & July. It used to be pretty cold most of the time as we had early morning sessions. After swimming we used to shower and then put a penny in the Brylcreem machine and get a large dollop which we put on our hair. We all left looking like typical 1950s teenagers with our greasy hair combed back. I should imagine other SGS pupils have more vivid memories of the pool? The editor looks forward to hearing from you.

March 2010

• Charles Smith 49 reports that Peter Tweed 50 has died on 22 March 2010 in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, after a series of strokes.

• Norman Long 56 adds some images to our School Productions collection - see via History > History2 > Productions:
  - Amahl 1961
  - Bartered Bride 1959, and two more press reviews of it
  - he also adds some names to a Pirates 1957 photo, a press review for the 1958 Gondoliers

• New Performing Arts building - from the SVC prospectus - Work is under way to build a state of the art, high quality and eco-friendly performing arts building for use from September 2010. This will have teaching and practice rooms for Music and Drama, a dance studio and a large central theatre for performances. Displays of student art work will adorn the corridors. The building has been designed to sit sensitively in our beautiful grounds – including its outdoor amphitheatre - and will be something of which our students and the local community can be really proud. This facility will also be available to the community and our feeder primary schools. We believe it will become a centre of excellence in East Cambridgeshire.
  
  Dr Carin Taylor, Principal of SVC, told us at the 2009 Dinner "This time next year, we should have a new performing arts facility to seat 180 – a far cry from this grammar school hall and the Conservatory!" and later added "I am pleased to say there is no impact on Beechurst at all."

• Norman Long 56 adds some of his SGS memories including having to write out psalms as punishments from prefects, until the Bishop of Ely put a stop to it saying "it should be a pleasure to write a psalm, not a punishment!" - see via Scrapbook 1950s

• Richard Walker 64 identifies his father Frank Walker on the late 1920s School Photo - possibly 1929 - see via School Lists > School Photos

• Thanks to Chris Jakes 65, for a report of the 1975 Dinner at which Edward Armitage reportedly revealed that he was a punter on the football pools, and doing rather well .. see via Reunions > earlier Reunions > 1975

• Mid 1920s teams: Alan Diver 40's brother Joe Diver was a good sportsman and was in many school teams - can you add names - see - see via Sport > Sports photos

• Making contact:
  Norman Long 56, now retired in West Sussex
  Mervyn Pamment 53, now in Surrey, retired in 2008 after a career in newspapers

February 2010

• 13 Feb via Brian & Beth Lane: Ken Cole 48 died 10th February at Addenbrooke's Hospital after a long illness. His funeral will be in the West Chapel of the Cambridge Crematorium at 11.15am on Friday 19 February. Our condolences to Sue and the family.

• 15 Feb via Donald Monk: Grahame Stevens 49 has died on 12th Feb in his 72nd year. He had worked for a steel company in Sheffield - Davy United, Hull City Council and then Leeds Permanent Building Society, which was taken over by the Halifax. Grahame leaves a widow, Jean and a son and daughter. They retired to Settle in Yorkshire. The funeral was on Monday 22nd, in Settle, Donald thinks. Donations may be made in aid of Oxfam.

• Alan Diver 40 adds a long recollection of his schooldays which may trigger memories for many others, not least for his recollections of some of the long-stay senior masters who taught many of us - see via Scrapbook 1940s

• Hon SG Mike Rouse has provided a late 1920s school photo - will everyone who had a member of their family at the school in the 1920s or1930s please look at this and the 1935 & 1937 photos to add to our identifications - see via School Lists > School Photos [see April - it was taken in October 1929]

• via Google: in 2009 the death of Keith Hopkin 45, aged 75, who for some time had lived in the Mansfield area - see In Memoriam

• Making contact:
  Jon Evans '61', Cambridgeshire; Jon arrived in Form 3 in 1963

January 2010

• A Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year to you all from Chris Bent, John Dimmock and Frank Haslam - and best wishes from Dr Carin Taylor, the Principal of Soham Village College.

• Thank you to those sending messages on the death of Frank Haslam senior, who died aged almost 86 on Dec 6 2009. His Committal at West Suffolk Crematorium and his Service of Thanksgiving at St Mary the Virgin Burwell took place on 16 Dec 2009. A number of SGs who knew him or his son, the editor, were among over 100 who attended. The updating of the SG website is in hand. If anything has been missed, please contact the editor.

• Added
  - August 1964 trip to Europe with EHS - see via History > History2 > School visits

• Photos
  Martin Kyte '69' IDs himself on the 1972 School Photo

• Making contact:
  Martin Kyte '69', Cambridgeshire; Martin arrived in Form 2 late in the school year 1970-71
  David Pollard '58', Canada: David joined the 3rd form in September 1960
  Keith Woodroff 53, Cambridgeshire

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There were 18 email additions in 2010 (18 in 2009, 53 in 2008, 37 in 2007, 34 in 2006, 28 in 2005, 40 in 2004).