Soham Grammarians

What was new on our website in 2013?

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December 2013

• 22 Dec Helen Smith (ex-EHS) writes: Sadly I have to report the death of my brother Dr Edward GR Smith on 17th December after a long battle with cancer. The funeral will be on 10th January at Vinter's Park Crematorium, Bearstead Rd, Maidstone ME14 5LG at 1.15 pm.
  
  Ted Smith was in the 1956 entry at SGS. Our condolences go to Helen, who will be providing more on her brother in due course.

• Steve Herod 57 adds some recollections of Colin Capes 58, the Cranwell Cadet killed in a climbing accident in June 1966 - see via In Memoriam > Post WWII Forces deaths.

November 2013

• Form 4B taken in 1954 - I am not sure who gave me this photo on paper at the Dinner, nor which entry year this lot would have been - please remind me! see for the moment via Scrapbook, and of course we need names ...

October 2013

• 66 have booked for this year's Reunion event on Saturday 5th October, 12.30 for 13.30.
• Giannina Bartlett (formerly Jane Bartolozzi) writes: I noticed [on the Staff in 1972 page] that you have a Mrs BM Wilkes listed there whose subject is unknown. She is almost certainly the Mrs BM Wilkes who taught Latin at Soham Village College until the summer of 1977 when she retired. I became a pupil at the College in 1974 and I believe she was there then.

September 2013

• Dick Turnill 59 writes: "It is with sadness and shock that I have to inform you of the death of my cousin David Reader (1951 entry) on the 10th September 2013. David went into Addenbrooke's on Friday 6th September to have a mass removed from inside his chest. He was up and walking around the ward on Tuesday 10th, chatting about his next holiday when he suddenly collapsed and died. He was 72." For more see In Memoriam

• Making contact:
  Mike Hallam 51, retired Assistant Principal of Abingdon College, Oxfordshire 1975-1995. Mike has added memories of Edward Armitage (see via History > Edward Armitage > Miscellany) and the late Peter Herod 51 (see In Memoriam)

August 2013

• Mrs Brenda Casbon writes with news of the death of her husband Albert Brian Casbon (1948 entry) of Littleport, formerly of Little Downham, suddenly at home on Sunday 4th August 2013, aged 76 years. Devoted husband of Brenda, loving dad of Lynn, Angela, Diane, Neil and Juliet. Also a proud grandad to his ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Funeral Service at St Leonard's Church, Little Downham on Friday 23rd August 2013 at 11am followed by committal at Fenland Crematorium, March. Family flowers only but donations, if desired, for Descensus Aquarium Lodge may be left at the service or sent to Ely Funeral Service, 4 Tower Road, Ely, CB7 4HW.

• Mary Hutchinson has written about the death of her father Frederick Barton (1936-7 school entry) aged 62 in 1989. He had an interesting career in electronic communications - for more see In Memoriam.
  Mary has also provided several 1930s/40s issues of the Soham Grammarian, from which the Salvete list of arrivals from the Autumn 1936 issue has been added - see via School Lists > Entry Year guide > Sep36

July 2013

• Please see the announcement in June about this year's Reunion: emails have been sent advising the date. Booking forms, when we have the full details, will be sent by email or post as appropriate.

• Making contact:
  - Roland Fletcher SG'64', in Cambridgeshire: Roland came to SGS into the Sixth Form 69-71: he has identified himself on the 1970 School Photo.
  - Tony (Terence Anthony) Pearce SG56, now in South Australia. Originally from Pymoor, Tony was at SGS 56-57, his family then moved to Tooting Bec in South London "before sailing to Australia in February 1959 on the good ship Stratheden". He says he is seriously considering coming to a reunion.

• We have been notified of these deaths. Each has been added to our In Memoriam page:
  - in January, Ken Vail SG50, of Risby, aged 74, a leading graphic designer and a writer on jazz: via Marian Vail
  - in February this year, Sir Philip Foreman CBE SG34 one of our most distinguished SGs: via Lady Margaret Foreman
  - in April, Luther Gilbert SG30 of Littleport, aged 94, the father of James Gilbert 65. Luther attended reunions up to 2004. We hope to add some material that he had. For more about Luther see In Memoriam.
  - in June, Donald Fuller SG39, of Soham, aged 87: his funeral was at Soham Parish Church on 16th July at 3.30pm: via Reg Fuller
  - also in June, David John Peters SG62, in South Africa, aged 62, son of John Peters (SG44): as John says "it is not in the order of things for a child to predecease one"
  For more on David see In Memoriam.

• Received from an unidentified donor (postmark Watling St Gillingham): programme for Junior School Speech Day July 16th 1969 and the last issue of Soham Grammar School magazine (Summer 1972). If you are the donor please contact the editor.

June 2013

• We are pleased to announce that Simon Curtis 67 will be our speaker at this year's Reunion on Saturday 5th October.
  
  This year it will be a daytime rather than an evening event. Details for the Lunch are being finalised but we thought it would be a good idea for you to get this in your diary now. Booking information will be sent by email or letter as appropriate in due course.
  Who can you tell/get to come along?
  
  Simon Curtis FWCF, HonAssocRCVS is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (2001-2002). He is a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers by examination and has been a farrier since 1972. He has lectured and demonstrated farriery in 19 countries on five continents including the USA, Australia, India, Russia, South Africa and Dubai. He has published three textbooks on farriery, as well as contributing numerous papers to professional journals. He is the first and only farrier to be made an Honorary Associate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the highest honour possible for the College to award to anyone who is not a veterinary surgeon. In 2005 Simon was inducted into the International Farriers Hall of Fame at the Kentucky Derby Museum. He is also an Honorary Farrier with Racing Victoria. He is currently Chairman of the Farriers' Registration Council. Despite a busy calendar he has often attended our reunions, sometimes with older brother Mark '66'.

• David F Munns 57, in Cambridgeshire, makes contact via Mike Goodchild

May 2013

• Donald Monk 50 attended Michael Holland's funeral at Cambridge Crematorium on 1st May and although names were not taken spoke with Michael's partner to say he was representing the Soham Grammarians. Also present were SGs Richard Dean, Terry Day and Robert Gwynn.

• Janet Perrett has informed us of the death of her brother John Colin Baker, who attended SGS 1951-57. He died in Yeovil Hospital on the morning of Sunday 21st April. The funeral was on May 1st at Crewkerne Church, followed by burial in a woodland burial site on Toller Down - see In Memoriam

April 2013

• At our 2012 Dinner Chris Bent spoke of some having wondered whether we might find this being a lunch time event more acceptable, rather than coming in the evening as in recent years.
  
  Obviously we would still like to be in the Beechurst Hall. Soham Village College are happy for us to change to lunchtime. This year's Dinner will be on Saturday 5th October.
  
  What are your views on a change from the evening to lunchtime? (we will also be contacting recent attenders who have email)

• John Dimmock 59 provides news of the funeral of Michael Holland SG60 (see below). It will be on Wednesday May 1st at 11.15a.m. in the West Chapel at Cambridge Crematorium. Donations in aid of the Terrence Higgins Trust.

• Susan Young is the daughter of the late John WR Taylor, who had a distinguished career in aviation writing and publishing. "My father, John WR Taylor, was a pupil at Soham in the years leading up to the second world war and spoke a great deal about his time there ... As a family we have continued in his aviation footsteps, my brother having written many books and myself, as an historian." If you can provide memories of John Taylor please contact the editor.

March 2013

• Donald Monk SG50 reports that Michael Holland SG60 died on 23 March aged 64. Michael had been active In producing Amateur Dramatics in Ely over the years so was well known in the area. It is thought that before retiring he had been at Cambridge Regional College as a lecturer in Business Studies - possibly retailing and before with John Lewis in Cambridge. Funeral arrangements to be advised.
• Brian Harwood SG59, of Soham, died on Monday 11th March 2013, aged 85 years. Beloved father of Jane and Jill, dearest grandfather to Hayley and Richard, dear great-grandfather to Jackson. Fondest fiancé of Ann: Ely Standard, March 14, 2013.

February 2013

• Published in the Eastern Daily Press on 15th February 2013
  RILEY, DONALD HENRY of Holme Hale on February 9th peacefully at home, aged 76 years. Will be sadly missed by all. Funeral service at St Andrew's Church, Holme Hale on Monday, February 25th followed by interment in Church Norton churchyard, Selsey, on Tuesday, February 26th. Flowers or, if desired, donations for Macmillan Cancer Support may be given at the service or sent c/o W.C. Littleproud & Son, Family Funeral Directors, Hale Road, Bradenham IP25 7RA.
  
  Mr Donald Riley taught English and Music at SGS 1966-72. We are seeking further information via the funeral directors.
  [The funeral announcement was spotted by Colin Hambidge 68 in April 2013]

January 2013

• Best Wishes for 2013.

• Peter Nicholl's memories of SGS and indeed of Cambridgeshire life are phenomenal. He came to SGS in 1939. He lives in Burwell. He wonders if others from his time remember the following staff who made short appearances:
  - Miss Stunt (French, 1945 for a few terms?): she took Peter and Dennis Allen to Cambridge to see a production of a Molière play. Dennis was mortified to be asked to carry her hat-box.
  - Mrs O'Gorman (Maths, about 1943)
  - Mr Lloyd (Maths, couple of terms 1943). He was quite elderly, came out of retirement, wore an old fashioned black suit.
  - Mr Wandersford (1943, replaced Mr Lloyd?). Maths and general teaching of the lower forms.

• Roger Sykes 42 responds to Peter Nicholls' memories above : I certainly remember Miss Stunt. We always thought that whilst she was relaxing in the ladies common room, she smoked a pipe! Maybe it was just pure rumour put about by we 4th formers, I don't know !

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There were 4 email additions in 2013 (12 in 2012, 18 in 2011, 18 in 2010, 18 in 2009, 53 in 2008, 37 in 2007, 34 in 2006, 28 in 2005, 40 in 2004).