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Please click here for the reporting on our 2021 Reunion via Zoom

August 2022

Peter Gipp SG46 was an apprentice carpenter, served in the Royal Air Force and was known as Ely’s first traffic warden, amongst other roles. Adam, one of Peter’s grandchildren, said: “He was always there; you can go to him and rely on him to be there and help out.” Peter died aged 87 on July 14 - see In Memoriam for the article about Peter in the Ely Standard. He took part in our reunion last year.

June/July 2022

Hope you had a happy and memory filled Platinum Jubilee - HM The Queen has been part of our lives for so long.
Patrick Faircliffe SG48 writes: It is with sadness I have to inform you of the recent death of my brother James Faircliffe SG44. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's for the past four years but had managed to be at home with live-in carers until May last year, when he went to Barchester Oaklands home in Bottisham. The level of care was excellent and during last summer he was able to go out on several trips.

However, over time his condition deteriorated and in January needed a short spell in Addenbrookes. It was unfortunate that for well over the last two years he had no recollection of any members of his family. I was able to visit a few days before he passed away on the 2nd June, when the senior nurse felt he was in a declining state of health as he was only able to take small quantities of liquid nourishment.

Having contacted the Rev. Eleanor Williams at Burwell she did manage to visit and anoint him before he passed away. The funeral was held at St Mary's Burwell on Thursday 23rd June at 11am followed by burial at Reach.
For the Eulogy read by his brother Patrick please see James' entry on our In Memoriam page.

James was one of the eight original Boarders.

In 2014 James recorded an interview about his memories for Burwell Stories - please click here
9 June: We contacted emailable Grammarians about arrangements for our Annual Reunion for which we have pencilled in Saturday 1st October. Please contact the editor if you did not get that email.
John Wade SG57 died on Feb 9th 2022 aged 75. He ran the family business of opticians with practices in Ely, Soham and Littleport until 2019 and is survived by his wife Jackie, three sons and 4 grandchildren - for more see In Memoriam.
Lindsay Hancock SG59 reports the death of Peter G Peachey SG54 on 18 June 2022 aged 79, after a short illness. Peter farmed in Burwell all his life.
Stan Harley SG53 notifies the death of John W Saul SG50 on 30 June 2022 aged 83, as reported in the Ely Standard July 7 2022 - see In Memoriam
Another 1950 entry, Jake Coleby died on 11 January 2022 - see more in In Memoriam
Ralph Sparrow SG45 has provided a group photo taken with Mr Jack Symmons just before Jack left SGS in 1948
Richard Vince SG64 has provided four photos which it is hoped will result in a flurry of naming:
Junior Speech Day 1966
Senior Speech Day 1966
School Mock General Election 1966 - one of the crowd and one of the candidates

May 2022

Mike Rouse, Hon SG and former Mayor of Ely, died on 19 May 2022. He was in his early 80s. He was actually at Kings, Ely, but through sport and family connections was close to many Grammarians. He taught at the Village College before and after SGS and SVC merged and was responsible for much of the preservation of SGS's history. He was a prolific author on local history and Fen life. He was made an Honorary Grammarian in 2003 and gave the talk at our 2019 Reunion. For more see In Memoriam.
If you have any Ely High School connections you may like to let them know that their Luncheon Club will, after a two-year break, be now be meeting on 3rd September (the date was changed from in May as a result of the surge in COVID adversely affecting bookings) at St Ives Golf Club. The organiser, Christine Fuller (the widow of John Fuller SG47), can be contacted for more information by clicking here.

March/April 2022

via Dudley Walton SG63, news that Andrew Papworth SG63 died on 18 March 2022, aged 70, after a long battle with cancer. For more see In Memoriam

February 2022

Mervyn Pamment SG53 died suddenly on 11 February, aged 79. His funeral is on Wednesday March 30 at the North East Surrey Crematorium, Morden, London SM4 4NU. Please contact the editor if you think you'll be attending. Mervyn had a long career in journalism notably with the Mirror Group - for more see In Memoriam

Mrs BM Wilkes (1968-72) taught Latin in the latter days of SGS and then at Soham Village College. A daughter, Margaret Sutton, has provided more information about her mother. There is also a link to her father, Professor Sir Maurice Wilkes FRS FREng, who was one of the leading British computer scientists. More recollections of Mrs Wilkes are welcome - please click here or see via In Memoriam.
Many of you may have encountered the late Mrs Molly Bozeat, the wife of Dick. She supported many events at SGS and herself taught locally. The eulogy given at her funeral on 6th December 2021 can be seen on the In Memoriam page of the Ely High School website.

January 2022

Stan Harley SG53 and Terry Rule SG55 have notified the the death on 6th January 2022 of Trevor Carter SG55 at the age of 77. It was reported in the Ely Standard of 27th January. His funeral took place on Wednesday 2nd February - for more see In Memoriam.

December 2021

The funeral of Mrs Molly Bozeat, wife of Dick Bozeat (Woodwork 1959-72) took place in Ely on 6th December. She died suddenly and totally unexpectedly at home on 8th November. Molly was Head Girl at Ely High School 1954-55 and they married in the early 1960s. Please contact me if you wish to write to Dick, who has a son and two grandsons. Donations maybe made to Cancer Research UK.
Dudley Walton SG63 writes: Bruce Butcher SG63 passed away on 23rd November 2021 after a battle with prostate cancer. He leaves a wife Julie and 2 daughters. His funeral is being held at Fenland Crematorium, Knights End Rd, March PE15 0YH on Monday 20th December 2021 at 11:30 - see also In Memoriam.
Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) has provided a photo of John Humphry (Geography 65-72) and Don Riley (English 66-72) at Chur station on a skiing trip to Switzerland - click here
Terry Rule SG55 adds Michael Shaw and Barry Scarborough to the listing of the 1955 entry. Les Weston's name has been corrected. Where are they now?

November 2021

John Humphry's (Geography 65-72) Service of Thanksgiving took place on Wednesday 27th October, at St Andrew's, Soham. Please click the link in this news item to see the Order of Service, the Tributes given by his three sons and the interview he gave the editor in 2014. If you have photos or memories to add to John's page please contact the editor.
Peter Stearman SG65 has died at the age of 68. Peter suffered an embolism and died peacefully in The Royal Papworth Hospital on 2nd November, just five days after taking over as Captain at Ely City Golf Club. His funeral will take place in December - for more see In Memoriam

October 2021

The extensive report on our 2021 Reunion via Zoom to which is linked Michael Yeomans' fascinating talk From Soham to the Medicine Chest of the World can now be read by clicking here. They are best viewed on something like a laptop or an iPad. If you want to print them it's best done in landscape format.
The death of Peter Handley SG42 at the age of 90 was reported in the Ely Standard on 30 September 2021. His funeral at Holy Trinity, Haddenham, took place on 14 October. Peter got his School Certificate in 1947; Senior Agricultural Scholarship 1949; County Major Scholarship 1949; Prefect; Captain 1st XI Football 1948-9; Football Colours 1947-8; 2nd XI Cricket; Games Committee; Captain of Ridley. He attended Reunions, last in 2009 - see In Memoriam: via Ivor Wright SG43.
Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) on 13 Oct: One of his sons has let me know that John Humphry (Geography 65-72) has died. A later call was to say that John's funeral will be on Wednesday 27th October, at 2.30pm. St Andrew's streams its Sunday services but, with very few exceptions, not funerals.
An extensive obituary for John Humphreys SG'50' who died in 2012 has been found from the Shooting Times. Formerly Deputy Warden at Bottisham Village College he wrote for country publications and authored several books on life in the Fens: see also In Memoriam
We had a good time on Saturday afternoon, 2nd October, reuniting via Zoom. Some of those registered did not make it ... for various reasons ... but as the Irish say the craic was good. All Grammarians were sent a link to the recording of the event, which was available until 6 October. A report on the lines of last year's is being prepared. Thanks to all who took part.

We hope that in 2022 we will be able to return to holding our reunion in the Beechurst Hall (our old Assembly Hall) at Soham Village College. The possibility of that being streamed for those unable to travel will be looked into.

In the meantime please do make a virtual visit to the parts of the Grammar School that remain, by opening this link to see the aerial view of the site and then clicking on a Beechurst label to come down to ground level and wander around inside the building. The link is also on our Scrapbook page
Anyone in touch with ...
John Lester SG65 wonders if anyone is in touch with Peter A Bolton? He does not appear in the Form Lists until Form III 1967-68, which would make him a nominal SG65er.
Frank Haslam SG'59' wonders if anyone is in touch with Sammy Martin (initial P) SG59? He was from Ely and was an expert on all things to do with railways

There are many others we have lost touch with/would like to be in touch with - please see via Contact/In Touch > Out of Touch, or click OOT.
Can you help?: Peter Jeffery SG49 in Norfolk was sorting through some old family films recently and came across one marked Soham Grammar School film on standard 8mm film.
Sixty or so years ago Peter was a member of Newmarket Cine Club. He vaguely remembers making a film in the 1960s of activities at SGS with two or three other members who been at SGS. Mr Riley was still there so it would have been 1967 or before. The film, which runs for about 20 minutes, shows boys and masters taking part in a variety of school activities.
Can anyone help us get this converted to a format that will play on the Internet, like the films that Lionel Hart took (see Scrapbook)? If you are in the UK and can help with conversion, ideally for free, please contact the editor.

September 2021 - OUR 2021 REUNION VIA ZOOM is on Saturday 2nd OCTOBER
Please keep that afternoon free ...

Our 2021 REUNION is via Zoom only: Invitations were emailed on 19 September to all in personal or third party email contact. An email reminder was sent on 26 September to those we had not heard from.
The invitation explains how to register to take part via Zoom.
Grammarians wishing to attend who are contactable via email but have not yet received the invitation email (check in case it has gone into Spam) are asked to contact the editor as soon as possible.
Registration is required in order to take part.

Here are those registered as of 1310 on 2 October - 61 have registered so far ... please join us

David Anderson 59*
Rod Armitage '55'
Peter Beavan '58' *
Richard Berney 68
Don Boud 50
Kevin Brown 63 Germany
Chris Bull 53
Bill Chilcott 50 USA
Kenneth Clift 50
Geoffrey Cross 64
Richard Dean 56
Alan Dench 67
John Dimmock 59
Christopher Dubas (Pearce) 65
Martyn Davies 66
Ralph Dunham 59
Peter Evison '67'
Patrick Faircliffe 48
Geoff Fernie 59 Canada
Richard Formby 68
Alan Frost 54

Peter Gipp 46*
Phil Green 68
Vincent Gudgeon 66
Frank Haslam '59'
Stephen Herod '57'
Ian Hobbs 48
Kenn Hunter 67
Peter Jeffery 49
Bill Kelly 55
Ranjit Kurrie 61
Terry Mackender 59*
Donald Monk 50
Carol Morton (widow of Michael Morton 54)
Tony Nix 65
Andrew Nunn 55*
John O'Toole: English 63-66 Australia

Dr Carin Taylor: Staploe Educational Trust
Sara Coutts: for many years our Reunion Caterer
* first time attenders

Barry Parr 62
Eric Pearson 60 Canada
Stuart Porter 59 USA
Ed Reed 67
Bob Robinson 58
David Scott 66*
Peter Scott: Maths 60-72
Peter Scott 59
David Sculthorpe 65
Bob Sculthorpe 63
Brian Smith 63
Peter Smith 59
Trevor J Smith 62 Thailand
Norman Talbot 60
Simon Thornhill 65
Piet Walton-Knight 52
Denis Wilkins 53
David Woodroffe 60
Ivor Wright 43
Roger Wright 49
Michael Yeomans 60 USA
Steve Yeomans 65*

We have made contact with Peter Gipp SG46 following an article in the Ely Standard about the 70th Anniversary of Peter and Christine's wedding.
Reg Stokes SG53 died at the age of 79 on 22nd August. His funeral was at St James Church, Stretham at 1pm on 21st September: via Stan Harley SG53 - see In Memoriam
Alan Mason died on 27 August after a long period of illness. He was on the SG staff as Lab Technician 1966-72. His funeral was on Friday 17th September at 12.30 at Soham Methodist Church. If you have recollections of Alan, please contact the editor - see also In Memoriam
We have learned that Ray Thurston SG39 died at home in Newmarket in February 2021, aged 92. If you knew of Ray's life please help to add to his entry on our In Memoriam page.
The family of Ed Kisby SG67 whose funeral took place last year would like his Soham Grammarian friends to know that a Memorial Service will take place in November in Hitchin. If you would like to attend, please contact the editor.
Steve Yeomans SG65 makes contact and plans to join in our Reunion via Zoom on Saturday 2nd October. His brother Michael Yeomans SG60 will be our speaker, online from New Jersey USA .... go figure!

August 2021

OUR 2021 REUNION IS ON SATURDAY 2ND OCTOBER - Please keep the date free
After careful thought and consultation with Soham Village College, conscious that many of us are in a high risk group, and with the complications of assessing the catering requirement, we have reluctantly decided that we will not be able to meet together in Beechurst Hall for our Annual Reunion Luncheon this year.

But we are still going to have a reunion, again using Zoom. We hope that we can build on last year's very enjoyable event. All SGs who are in touch by email have been asked to keep the afternoon of Saturday 2nd October free in their diary/calendar. We will be in touch with them nearer the time with how to book to join us via Zoom on the day. 'Doors' will open after 2pm and we will begin at 2.30pm. We were still going over 2 hours later last year. All times are UK time by the way. The event is free but BYO refreshments!

Those who have not told us they have email are receiving a letter asking them to get in touch if they now have email but forgot to tell us. Or if they remain without email we have suggested that friends or family who are online and might enable them to take part should contact us.

As usual there will be an illustrated talk, this time by Michael Yeomans SG60 (who will be joining us from New Jersey, USA) with stories from his early years in Soham and Ely, the dilemma of having to choose between a career in science or in music, and his almost 50-year journey in the global pharmaceutical industry. Dr Carin Taylor from the Staploe Educational Trust will again be joining us.

If you are ex-SGS but not in touch and would like to know more about this event, please contact us.
The death of George Porter Russell SG43 in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge on Monday, 23rd November 2020, aged 88, has been reported by one of his daughters, Anne Blake. A Haddenham boy, George was the youngest of seven children. He did his National Service in the RAF, where he trained as an electrician. After the RAF he worked for Setchells in Ely and then as an electrical contractor in Haddenham. He married Mary Handley in 1954 and they had three daughters. He was a member of the Royal Observer Corps for many years and was very involved in village events and in Haddenham Baptist Chapel. He can be seen in the photos of SG Reunions in 2005 and 2007 - for more see In Memoriam.
Michael Hawes SG69 adds some names to part 8 of the 1972 School Photo
Alan Bray SG60 reports the death of his cousin's son Graham V Place SG69 at the age of 63 on 1st July 2021 at Addenbrokes Hospital. His funeral was at West Suffolk Crematorium on 29 July - see In Memoriam

July 2021

Alan Barber SG59 died at the age of 73 on 12 July 2021. His funeral service at 1pm on Monday 26 July was streamed from St Paul's, Whitley Bay. A full In Memoriam entry is being prepared.
Paul Delanoy adds a tribute to his uncle Don Delanoy SG40? who died in 2016. He has provided a link to Don's page on the Pye Story website, which may be of interest to others who worked there - see via In Memoriam
Research following the publication of an article in the Ely Standard adds to the story they had about Harry Kane SG44, an evacuee from the East End of London who was happily billeted in Stretham, thrived at SGS, and went on to represent GB at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. Thanks to Fred Eden SG44 Harry's ID on the 1946 School Photo has been sorted out. And no, apparently he was no relation to the other Harry Kane ... For this story linking the coming Olympic Games and SGS, but not UEFA Euro 2020, which includes an interview with Harry, please see Scrapbook, 1940s or click here.

June 2021

The British Normandy Memorial was officially opened on 6 June 2021, the 77th Anniversary of D-Day. It records the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy in the summer of 1944. Among them, from SGS are Staff Sjt Duncan Frank Wright, Glider Pilot Regiment (1932-35, uncle of Ralph Dunham SG59), murdered whilst a POW on 6 June 1944; and from EHS, one of the two women commemorated on the Memorial, Lt Sister Mollie Evershed QAIMNS, who was from Soham.

May 2021

Alan Frost SG54 is back home after giving himself and his friends a scare in February when he disappeared from our radar. He'd been seriously ill and now recognises that he should have responded to the signs his body was giving him. He now has to take it easy and gets tired very quickly. He's fortunate that he has family nearby and many friends who were concerned about him.

April 2021

The Delanoy family have updated John Delanoy SG42's entry on our In Memoriam page.
Peter Smith SG59 writes: The Cambridge nostalgia FB website (Cambridge in the good old days from the 1960s, before and now) has many messages of condolence for the passing on 24 April of John Gentle, aged 73, who was an SG59er. One lady remembers him in the Guild coffee bar with other Cambridge-based Soham lads: Philip 'Sid' Cullum, Terry Impey and Mervyn Hardwick. [We never did establish contact with Johnny - see also In Memoriam.]
Do you have any EHS connections? The EHS Luncheon Club has announced that their Annual Luncheon will now not take place this year but look forward to holding it in May 2022, all being well.
Pauline Ogden (née Ward), ex-EHS, corrects two IDs on the 1965 School Photo - Glyn Taylor and Phillip Wright. Glyn Taylor SG61 has just also made contact!
John Dimmock SG59 writes: Sara Coutts, ex-SVC, who has been responsible for organising, preparing and serving the food for our reunions for the last ten years has decided to move on to pastures new. At a farewell event held appropriately in Beechurst Hall, Dr Carin Taylor, Executive Headteacher of the Staploe Trust, who many of you will know, praised Sara for her loyal service as well as her willingness to go well over and beyond her job description.

As the local SGS 'boy' Dr Taylor had invited me to attend. On behalf of the Grammarians I offered Sara our sincere thanks and knowing her love of gardening gave her an appropriate voucher. It comes as no great surprise that she will not be working in the catering trade but has secured a position at Simpson's Nursery in Fordham.

March 2021

Dannie Nicholas SG59's funeral took place on 17 March at Greenacres, Colney, Norwich: a number of us were able to watch it online. Dannie had exactly set out the music and words. We hope to add material from his funeral and from the family to a page being prepared on remembering Dannie.
John Gammon SG63's death in 2015 was reported at the time. Thanks to Peter Smith SG59 and further research a full obituary is now available on our In Memoriam page. It makes for interesting reading especially if you were into the music scene, in which John was a respected observer and operator. He was the subject of a BBC Heir Hunters programme in 2016 but it is currently not available via iPlayer.
Ian Hobbs SG48 and Brian Knott SG57 have heard that Fred W Thurling SG48, a Littleport boy, has died. No further details at present but please contact the editor if you know more.
This photo of SG Old Boys was found by Brian Knott SG57. He had it from Robin McLaren, who died in 2009 aged 93 and was at SGS in the 1920s.
John Dimmock SG59 reports it has appeared in Ely Old Photos on Facebook. John recalls that Robin ran a garage in Haddenham and that John Chapman was the father of Peter Chapman SG57.
When and where was it taken and what names can you add? A 1937-40, 1948 list of OBs may jog your memory.

standing: John Chapman - Walter Sparrow - 3 - Robin McLaren - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16
seated: Les Read - 2 - 3 - John G Unwin - 5 - 6 - Gothard - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11

February 2021

Daniel Woodroffe in Norfolk is a grandson of the late Barry Woodroffe SG50. "He sadly passed on 23rd February 2013 after a short illness. During the times we spent together whilst I was growing up he spent lots of time speaking of his time at Soham Grammar school, growing up in Ely and moving to Norfolk at the age of 15. After watching a program recently, I have been spurred on to find out more about his time in Ely and at Soham Grammar School."

Daniel hopes that someone reading this may be able to provide memories of Barry, including photos. He has no photos of his grandfather about the time he was at SGS and so has not been able to spot him on the 1952 or 1954 School Photos. For more information to jog memories about Barry please see In Memoriam and if you can help Daniel please contact the editor.
John Fordham SG47 died on 27 January 2021 aged 84, writes Ian Hobbs SG48: John was a gifted mathematician and sportsman - SGS's first Soccer Blue (Oxford) and continued to play with Soham United for several years. He was also in the school cross-country team and continued to run long distance for many years in this country and abroad as a veteran. Diploma in Education, Oxford University; taught at Newmarket Grammar School (his wife Pauline taught at Ely High School): more information when available - also see In Memoriam.

Chris Wain (Maths 66-70) writes: I played with John a couple of times, at left-back for Soham United including in 1966 against Soham Town Rangers, a keenly anticipated local derby! The last time I saw him was at the funeral of Bob Chapman, father of Colin Chapman whom I taught at SGS.
Dannie Nicholas SG59's daughter Wendy writes: It is with the greatest sadness that I inform you of the death of my father Dannie John Nicholas. Following a long battle with [severe non-alcoholic] cirrhosis and COPD, he unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19 mid-January. He passed away peacefully on the evening of Sunday 31st January 2021.

Funeral arrangements are uncertain at present and in current circumstances will be required to be small and private. It saddens me that we can't necessarily honour all of my father's wishes regarding his funeral but for anyone who would like to make a donation to charity in his memory, he expressed a wish that donations be directed to Bipolar UK [click here to make a donation]

If you have memories, photos etc of Dannie to share with us and his family please contact the editor.
Darren Tebbitt updates our In Memoriam page with an entry on Desmond Gutteridge (1934 entry, believed died 1999): "Des was a gentleman's hairdresser with a barber's shop in St Mary's Street Ely, known for his eclectic taste in bow ties - he never cut without one ....."

January 2021

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all - keep well
Lorna Delanoy (ex-EHS), widow of Michael SG48 informs me that the last of the Delanoy boys, John SG42, died on 4 January 2021. Don SG40? died in 1988 and Michael last year. It is hoped to have a full obituary in due course - for now see In Memoriam
Norman South SG46, born and raised in Littleport, died on Christmas Day 2020 at the age of 85. As reported in the Ely Standard, 5 January 2021, he was a well known figure on the local sporting scene: via Chris Bent SG53 - see more in In Memoriam
Darren Tebbitt's grandfather Les Tebbitt worked with a cousin Douglas Joe Heaps and Douglas's father Joe Heaps on the family farm in Haddenham. Darren has identified Douglas on the 1935 School Photo. Douglas was taken ill during the 1942 Harvest and diagnosed with Leukaemia, dying six weeks later aged 22.

Darren has this photo of Douglas (right) with his friend Maurice Waddelow (left, d 1976), also from Haddenham, at Hunstanton in 1936. Maurice served in the Royal Artillery in WW2. Is it Maurice standing next to Douglas in the 1935 School Photo? Haddenhamites please report.

Darren's former neighbour Geoffrey JA Newell SG51 b 1940 d March 2015 is in the 1952 and 1954 School photos.

December 2020

Mr Leon Kitchen (History 1951-57) died on 2nd December 2020, aged 93. His funeral was on Thursday 17 December at 2.15pm at the West Road Crematorium in Newcastle.

His daughter Rachel writes: As you know he was a very special man and I’m privileged to have had him as a father for so long. My mother Barbara and I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Through his son Mark, Leon held The National Autistic Society particularly close to his heart and donations in Leon's name are welcomed by the family.

Leon attended many of our reunions, the last in 2009 and thereafter sent his apologies. He kept in touch via our website and contact with some of those he taught. In due course we will add his order of service and tributes celebrating his life to his page. If you have messages to be passed to the family/recollections of Leon to add to his page please contact the editor: with thanks to Ian Hobbs SG48.

November 2020

The death of novelist John Harding SG62 in 2017 has been noted by Peter Smith SG'59'. John, who was from Prickwillow, was Head Boy in 1968 and read English Literature at Oxford - see In Memoriam and Pages by/on SGs
David Bryan SG66 regains contact from New Zealand
Lees Donaldson SG'59' has provided news of the death of Jeremy David (Wayne) Fisk SG58 - see In Memoriam

Lees also writes: Although I have lived in Newmarket since the mid seventies, my visits to Ely diminished after my father died and my mother moved to Shelford. She died last year on Christmas Day at the age of 99 so another link with Ely and the Scotch Home Bakery which my parents ran has gone. I remember sometimes travelling to school on the bus with a box of freshly baked rolls which Mrs Jarrett had ordered. I never did find out what they were for.
It has taken ten years for us to be reasonably confident that this is 'our' Andrew K Bailey SG60: Ely Standard, 16th Dec 2010 - BAILEY Andrew, sadly passed away on December 7th, 2010. Much loved and loving son of Joan and the late Don, brother to Debbie and Dave, loving uncle to James and Ben. Thanks are due to Lees Donaldson SG'59', Pete Smith SG59 and Nick Cave SG60 - see In Memoriam for the full story.

October 2020

24 Oct: The reporting on our 2020 Reunion via Zoom two weeks ago is now available. As it was recorded we all shared the many stories that were being told. There are three sections linked to each other:
1. Reunion Report (including Roll Call)
2. The talk Some Funny Goings On at Soham Grammar School
3. A collection of anecdotes.

It'll take you a while.
Either go to it via the Annual Reunions link or click here for the reporting on our 2020 Reunion via Zoom.
11 Oct: Our 2020 Reunion via Zoom took place yesterday and a report is being prepared. A third of those who registered had not attended before in this century (that's called historical perspective) for various reasons - distance, health, event clashes etc. We had many long distance faces on our screen - among them Australia, Thailand, New Jersey.

We were delighted to be joined by Mrs June Lawrance and her daughter Gaye and by Mrs Carol Morton, widow of Michael Morton SG'54'. JROT (as we were reminded of John O'Toole (English 63-66)'s nickname) and Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) joined us. Not all who registered were able to turn up, the most dramatic being Eric Pearson SG60 in Kuujjuaq, Canada whose internet connection was knocked out by a blizzard.

As Dr Carin Taylor of the Staploe Educational Trust said to us, let's hope that she will be warmly welcoming us back in October 2021 (date to be arranged) to our usual Beechurst Hall to be fed by Sara and her team and served by the senior students.
It's 18 years since this website was launched. We have had getting on for 104,500 visits. Thank you to all who have contributed material. The editor looks forward to hearing from those who may have more - stories, memories, photos, Soham Grammarian magazines etc that we do not already have.
In response to the 2020 Reunion letter sent to those for whom we had no email address, more have now provided one. If you'd like to be in touch with any of them please let me know: Kevin Brown SG63, Geoff Double SG68, John Drake SG52, Terry Jordan SG48, Bruce King SG64, Ranjit Kurrie SG61, Terry McHugh SG65, Chris Dubas-Pearce SG'65', Bill Peters SG48, Chris Wain (Maths 66-70), Michael Whymer SG52.
Ted Bullman BEM SG48 writes that he was sorry not to attend this year. After long service in Comms in the RAF and MoD dealing with sophisticated technology, followed by a long stint in electrics, he's left that all behind and is telephone only these days. He enjoyed 5 years supervising the Sandringham Flower Show. If you wish to contact him, let me know.
Bernard White has written to inform us of the death of his brother Terence William Wright MBE SG37 at the age of 91 on 29 September 2015 - see an interesting account of his life and involvement in sail training for schools in In Memoriam.
John Woodward SG58 has made contact, thanks to his old friend Denis Wilkins SG53. He has enabled us to provide a more accurate Form 1T listing for the 1958 entry - see via School Lists > Entry Year Guide

John's family moved to Hertfordshire in July 1960, the same time as Mr Rex Waller (Latin 49-60) departed SGS for Somerset. John completed his education at St Alban's Grammar School for Boys, which he compares unfavourably to SGS. He went to sea and became a Ship's Master.

Rex Waller was a churchwarden at St Mary's Bruton where John's wife's uncle was the Vicar - John's wife and family were friends of the Wallers. John had planned to drive Rex up to Soham for our 2008 Reunion but Joan Waller had been admitted to hospital and not long afterwards, Rex died. For John's recollections of SGS see the 1950s section of our Scrapbook page.

This year's Reunion - how to join in this invitation only online event

On 1st October all Soham Grammarians in email contact were sent an invitation to this year's Reunion. This is being held via Zoom on Saturday 10th October, 2.15 for 2.30pm London time. If you can't find that invitation email (and have checked that it was not routed to your spam or junk email folders) please let us know by clicking here.

If you wish to join in please carefully follow the guide points in the invitation email and then click the registration link provided to register for our reunion (even if you have already told us you'd like to attend). You will then receive a confirmation email which has the link and passcode you will use to join us on the day.

If you have any queries then as usual please contact John Dimmock at box-office@sohamgrammar.org.uk

If you are unable to join us but wish to present your apologies please click here and send us a message.

A letter to those Grammarians not in email contact was posted on 1 October informing them about the Reunion, asking if they are now using email or if someone in their 'bubble' who is on the internet could facilitate their joining in.

We already know a number of Grammarians who for reasons of age or health, or living in foreign parts (i.e. even further away than Cambridgeshire, including beyond these shores) are looking forward, on this occasion, to being able to join us.

We're giving it our best go. Dr Carin Taylor will again be attending to bring us up to date on the past year at Soham Village College and the challenges they are now facing. There will be a short illustrated presentation on Some Funny Goings on at SGS. We hope you will join us. Bring your own food and drink!

Registrations as of 12:45 on 10th October - name and year of entry.
Plan to attend but not yet listed? Please register NOW
* one of 20 new attenders

David Beale 62*
Richard Berney 68*
Kevin Brown 63* Germany
Martin Brunt 66
Chris Bull 53
Bill Chilcott 50* USA
Michael Clark 55* Australia
Kenneth 'Sam' Clift 50
Malcolm Coe 57
Martyn Davies 66*
Richard Dean 56
Alan Dench 67
John Dimmock 59
Susan Dimmock
Alan Diver 40*
Keith Diver 70
Geoff Double 68
Ralph Dunham 59
Keith Essex 69* Canada
Patrick Faircliffe 48
Geoff Fernie 59 Canada
Richard Formby 68*
Alan Frost 54

James Gilbert 65
Phil Green 68*
Frank Haslam '59'
John Hill 48
Ian Hobbs 48
Roger Human 46
Ken Hunter 67
Peter Jeffrey 49
Douglas Jones 71*
Terry Jordan 48
Bill Kelly 55*
Ranjit Kurrie 61*
Mrs June Lawrance f (AEL)
Brian Lythell 56
Vaughan Moll 59
Donald Monk 50
Mrs Carol Morton (Michael 54)
John O'Toole (English 63-66)*
Australia
Barry Parr 62
Christopher Dubas (Pearce) 65*
Saudi Arabia

Eric Pearson 60* Canada
Stuart Porter 59 USA
Terry (Eric) Scannell 66*
Peter Scott (Maths 60-72)
Brian Smith 63*
Peter Smith 59
Roger Smith 56 South Africa
Trevor Smith 62* Thailand
Carin Taylor SET
Brian Thorby 49
Simon Thornhill 65
Piet Walton-Knight 52
Michael Whymer 52*
Denis Wilkins 53
Tony Willenbruch 62
Michael Yeomans 60 USA

You can do a different kind of zooming - in and out and all about - the SVC website has a fascinating 360 degree aerial view of the Soham Village College campus and the surrounding town and countryside. See how much it has grown since SGS days - we have a direct link to the aerial view in Scrapbook > Other
Back in contact or making contact: Nigel Haslop SG66 in Cambridgeshire, Brian Smith SG63 in Kent.

September 2020 - This year's Reunion - see August - keep the afternoon of Saturday 10th October free!

We have heard from his daughter Diana that John Butcher SG47 died on 12th September 2020. Further information is awaited.
Bob Sculthorpe SG63 and his brother David SG65 have been in touch with the news that Charlie Maschke SG64 died on 12th September in Addenbrookes Hospital after a short illness. He was a boarder during his time at SGS. The funeral is on 29th September 2020 at Cam Valley Crematorium, Saffron Walden - family only mourners due to COVID restrictions. More information on Charlie's life in due course
Michael Smith has been in touch to say his father Trevor William Smith SG61 died on 30th August 2020, a month short of his 71st birthday. The notice in the Ely Standard on 10 September called him 'the Rock of the family'. His funeral was at St Mary's Ely on 24th September and it was planned that family all over the world would be able to view it. For much more see In Memoriam.
Geoffrey Glover's father Albert Glover SG22's best friend was Professor Leslie Audus who left SGS in 1929. He has identified his father, next to Leslie on the Late 20s School Photo (see via School Lists/Photos), of which he has a copy, alas undated. His father has been added to our In Memoriam page (he was the first Little Downham boy to go to Cambridge University) and recollections of Leslie have been added to Leslie's page.
Mike Yeomans and Eric Pearson, both SG60 musicians, add memories of Greg Holt SG60 - see via In Memoriam
Charles Peacock SG44 has informed us of the death earlier this year of Chris Strawson SG44 from Ely. He was in both the Football and Cricket 1st XIs. He became a Squadron Leader in the RAF, retiring to the Isle of Wight. For much more see In Memoriam
Simon Curtis SG67 had a new book published in August. The Farrier is a photo-book: Dr Curtis says "Wherever there are horses there are farriers. My photo-book celebrates the farrier's role, the environment they work in, and the variety of horses they care for. It is the culmination of a 10-year project with one purpose: to share joy and pride for the craft of farriery.": thanks to Ivan Whymer SG56, who provided a cutting from the Newmarket Journal, 13 August 2020 - see also Pages on/by SGs
A letter sent to friends by Edward Armitage advising of their move from The Moat to Cambridge Road, Ely reveals some of his early thoughts about the new Sixth Form Centre in Ely - see via Annual Reunions > 2012 > Report (end of) > Talk (end of)
Brian Jackson SG50 has made contact from Australia and put us in touch with his brother Gordon Jackson SG52. They were Fordham boys - Gordon has not moved as far as Brian, who has had a career in aviation. Brian says he was sad to hear of the death of Clive Bray SG50 who lived at the top of his street and did quite a lot together.

"One SGS memory that is indelibly embossed on my brain" says Brian "is that trackway with tractor ruts and freezing cold muddy water that I 'accidentally tripped' Mr Foster into during a cross country run. BOY did I pay - he picked a long whippy stick and I copped it across the back of my legs until we made the road. We had a love/hate relationship." Another teacher taught Geography and was a Chelsea F.C fan and loved twisting your ear and in his words 'I'll give you a bit of ginger'. Who could that be?

August 2020

This year's Reunion: Following discussions with Dr. Carin Taylor at the Staploe Educational Trust about our Annual Reunion Lunch, scheduled for Saturday 10th October 2020, we have decided that it will have to be cancelled:

many of us are in the 'at risk' age group
the catering team for the Village College have been furloughed and no meal planning has been possible
the Village College is very unlikely to be accepting bookings for the Beechurst Hall for our kind of event

However, we are looking into holding an online reunion on Saturday 10th October at 2.15pm via the widely used Zoom service. If you have not already used it yourself you will almost certainly have seen it used by tv News and other programmes such as the BBC One Show:

You won't have to travel and it'll be free (well, not quite - you provide your own food and drink).

We can do quite a lot of the usual things, though perhaps not (as someone once said) necessarily in the same order:-

- Welcome
- Toast to the Queen
- Roll Call
- Toast to Absent Friends
- News from the Village College (Dr Carin Taylor)
- A short illustrated talk
- Question and Answer time

"But I really like being able to chat even if they were not in my year" One idea is to list those registering to attend here on our website so you can let us know who you might like to talk to. After the event we can email those who wish to be in touch and are happy to share contact details. We'd leave it up to you whether you phone each other or set up your own Zoom meetings. See Trevor Smith's report below on a Zoom chat with four SGs recently, mainly to celebrate joint 70th birthdays.

How to join the 10th October Reunion will only be provided to those who register for it.

So that's how our thinking goes at the moment. Please let us know if you'd like to give it a go (or not) and if you have any ideas to help make it work.

We will do all we can beforehand to help those who have not yet Zoomed to get up to speed if there are no friends or family able to help.

We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible on our ideas.

If the feedback is broadly positive we'll be in touch with registration information in due course. We will then also contact those who have not provided an email address, to check if they now have one or have someone who can help them join in.

This information was sent on 5 August to all SGs in email contact.

The 75th Anniversary of V-J Day is also a reminder of the anniversary of the cruel death of Fred Hockley SG34. We remember him and all who did not return from WW2 or, particularly in the case of the Far East, returned from terrible captivity. For the application of learning in that kind of adversity perhaps also look at Leslie Audus, who left SGS in 1929.
Philip Bobby SG44 adds his Kodak 120 photo of the 1947-48 Football 1st XI. RAT had departed for Canada. Mr CJ Ford reported "So far the 1st XI has not lost a match and has defeated some strong school sides. Fortunately, most of last year's team, so ably coached by Mr RA Taylor, was still available at the beginning of the season, and with the increased experience has welded into a very strong side." - see via Sport > Football
News from his partner that Greg Holt SG60 has died. He was the son of Ken Holt SG (left in 1938) who had distinguished wartime service in Bomber Command before entering the teaching profession. He is warmly remembered by those (including Mike Rouse) who were at Silver Street school in Ely. For more about Greg see In Memoriam
We have also heard from Alan Dench SG67 that Ed Kisby SG67 died of complications from the flu. His funeral, close family only, was on Friday 27th at St Mary’s Hitchin, the church with which Ed was closely involved. The family are planning to hold a memorial service when the situation improves. Ed was a speaker at our 2012 Reunion as part of the 40 Years On talk. We hope to have more from the family in due course

July 2020

From the Ely Standard 23 July 2020
DELANOY Michael Ewart MBE. [SG48] Beloved husband to Lorna, father to Kevin, Craig and James and grandfather to Jordan, Joshua, Carlotta, Scarlet and Zak, died suddenly on July 9th 2020. Private family funeral. Donations in Michael's memory if desired to The Farmland Museum or British Heart Foundation c/o A.G. Carter Funeral Director, 6 Froize End, Haddenham, Cambs CB6 3UQ - see In Memoriam for a family tribute.

Mike's contributions to local life (and those of his wife Lorna) will be well known to many of you, notably The Farmland Museum. His funeral took place on 31 July. With thanks to Lorna Delanoy, to whom our condolences; Ian Hobbs SG48 and Brian Knott SG57.
Trevor Smith SG62 writes: I trust this finds you happy, healthy and free from all 'outside threats'. Here in Thailand we seem to have gotten off very lightly when compared to the UK.

I thought I'd drop you a quick line to let you know that thanks to your prompt efforts in putting us back in contact, 5 former SGS pupils enjoyed a 2-hour 'reunion' Zoom chat a few days ago. It was mainly to celebrate joint 70th birthdays, but all 5 of us thoroughly enjoyed this 'international' chinwag: myself (SGS62) Thailand, and former classmates of SGS61 (or at least of that age group): Tim Ewer New Zealand, Nick Grainger Australia, Ranjit Kurrie Cambridge UK, and Doug (Fred) Neate in Leicester UK. Among other things we talked about the occasion of Tim, Fred, Nick and myself performing at the 6th Form dance (not sure what year!)
For those of you with EHS connections Ely High School Luncheon Club have postponed their Annual Reunion to Saturday 22 May 2021, in the hope that it will be safe to go ahead by then.

Malcolm Brooks SG51 is one of four St Andrew's School Burwell boys who gained County Scholarships to come to SGS in 1951. His daughter found a photo of them, one of whom was Michael Goodchild - see via Scrapbook/Burwell
Ivan Whymer SG56 has provided Clive Bray SG 50's obituary published in a recent Newmarket Journal - see via In Memoriam
Shirley Fuller writes of Colin Fuller SG51: "Sorry to hear about Michael Goodchild. A good friend of Colin’s. I am sorry to have to let you know that Colin passed away on the 17th June 2020. His funeral is on 9th July, West Chapel, Cambridge Crematorium."
Another Burwellian 51er. He will be added to our In Memoriam page.
Brian Thorby SG49 writes: Sorry to report that Michael Colin Goodchild SG51 died on 12 June 2020. He was originally from Burwell, later Exning. He was 79 and had wife Gwen and a son and daughter. His funeral was on 23 June at West Suffolk Crematorium - for more see In Memoriam
Brian Knott SG57 writes: Rodney Fretwell's death was in the Ely Standard - died 31 May in Kettering aged 89.
Born in Ely, educated at Soham Grammar School [entry year 1942], lived in Witchford, Little Thetford and Ely. Only child of Florence and Jack Fretwell of Stuntney - see In Memoriam
Mike Hallam SG51 perhaps resolves the mystery of the girl in his photo from the 1957 outdoor production of The Taming of the Shrew by observing that such photos were posed specially as a record of the actors rather than being of the play as performed - see via History > History 2 > Productions

Mike Hallam SG51 provides a photo from the outdoor production of The Taming of the Shrew by the Sixth Form and EHS in July 1957.
Is anyone in touch with Jeremy Franklin? - see via History > History 2 > Productions

On 29 April Martin Kyte SG'69' wrote: Sadly I have to tell you of the sudden passing of Chris Sangster SG63 of Burwell last week after a major stroke. Chris was at the last reunion and can be seen in the photo report. I knew Chris from way back although in recent years we became much closer though our shared interest in model engineering and clockmaking. Along with another of our friends we met every Monday night to talk of workshops and eat cheese. Soham Grammar School often cropped up in conversation.
Further information will be added when available - for now see In Memoriam
Jon Evans SG'61' has provided a photo of the coach that lost its windscreen on the joint trip to Europe with EHS in Summer 1964. He wasn't on the trip but his future wife Jean (née Williams) was one of the EHS girls who took part. We asked 'Who is the boy in the photo?' He has now been identified - see via History > History2 > School Visits ... 1964
Ralph Dunham SG59 has provided a warm recollection of the late Bill Jethro Rennison, History 61-67, which will also interest the SG Scouts of that time - see via In Memoriam.
Phil Green SG68 is in contact: He says he was one of the unfortunate ones to lose the good teachers because of going comprehensive between the Fourth and Fifth Forms leading up to O Levels. In 1975 Phil joined Spillers Milling in Cambridge and followed a laboratory career across the industry, culminating in Quality Management roles before retiring early in 2017.

He has added a few names to the 1972 School photo and added a colour photo of some of his friends walking in the procession to Soham Parish Church on 28 July 1972 for the service commemorating the end of SGS - see via History (at the bottom of that page).
16/4/20 Frank Haslam writes: Earlier today I heard from Alan Bray SG60 of the death of his brother Clive Bray SG50, on Tuesday 14th April, in West Suffolk Hospital. Clive had been there for 17 days suffering from pneumonia and another infection before being additionally diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. Clive and Alan have been great supporters of the Soham Grammarians. They can be seen sitting together, as usual, at the 2019 Reunion. Our thoughts are with Alan, and Clive's family and friends.
If you have recollections of Clive or condolences to pass on, please send them to me via email - for more on Clive see In Memoriam
In these troubling times, you will understand when I ask you to let me know if you learn of a Grammarian's passing.
Keep well, you and yours.
Chris Bent SG53 has informed us of the death of Terry Day MBE SG57: "Terence Robert Day - Terry passed away Thursday 16th April 2020, aged 73. Much loved husband of Julie, father to Sarah, Stuart and Joanne. A celebration of Terry's life will be held later in the year." - Ely Standard, April 23, 2020 - see In Memoriam.
Stephen Martin SG62 was browsing the Staff pages, including Bill Rennison, History 61-67. He followed the link to the Tewkesbury History Society (THS), of which Bill had been Treasurer and found that Bill had died in 2017. Our recent Reunion letters to Bill's residential home in Reading were not returned so we were not aware of this. The editor last saw Bill at Gordon Hemmings' funeral in 2011 and had been in letter and phone contact thereafter.

Bill's page on this website has been updated with the THS tribute. If you have memories or photos to add to those coming in please contact the editor -
see Bill's page via In Memoriam
Peter Nicholls SG39 adds Mr Turner (39-40) to those who taught English - "He was a graduate of Magdelene College, Cambridge, and was called up" - see Staff Timeline via School Lists > Staff

We believe the original source to be old cine films of SGS activities found when the late Mr Lionel Hart's bungalow was being cleared. For some time we have had what looks to be the same material on DVDs but for technical reasons had been unable to do anything about publishing it. Hence the YouTube link is very welcome. Some of the content relates to other pages in the 1960s section in Scrapbook.

The nearly half an hour long compilation will probably take some of you longer to watch as you freeze frames and rewind to check faces and scenes from long ago. In an age of the amazing image quality delivered by camera technology in mobile phones the compilation is a reminder of how far things have advanced.

The editor welcomes any publishable 'commentary' or images of your own to add to our knowledge of what is shown, including name spotting.

The compilation can be viewed via this link or via the 1960s section in Scrapbook. There is no sound track.

HELPFUL POINTS

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PHOTOS: Our growing collection of whole school photos is frequently updated, see School Lists & please add names if you can.

For most of the Football & Cricket 1st XI photos going back to the late 1940s, see Sport.
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website editor Frank Haslam SG'59'