FirthParkGrammarSchool.co.uk

"Each for All, All for Each"

HomePage

I'm John Ball and I was fortunate enough to attend FPGS from 1942 to 1948. I enjoyed my first browse a few days ago and what memories it brought back.

I have a mass of anecdotes and recollections, but one thing stands out and that to have attended was a privilege not least because the staff not only taught us academic subjects, but also were unique in giving us values and standards which have lasted and which I see in my former pupil friends at recent re-unions. Just a few points at random - I inadvertently set the re-union activities starting by writing to the Sheffield Telegraph about the 50th anniversary of the school 'harvest camp' at Careby in Lincolnshire in 1944. Several people contacted me, including Spike Johnson, and it sort of took off from there. My thanks go to Brian Hall, Norman Marvin and others for their commitment to ensuring continuity in our Beauchief Hotel meetings since then.

This year, of course, it is the 60th anniversary of Careby and those who shared with me the activities of that hot summer, including the unforgettable food, baths at Holywell Hall, our addiction to Monopoly and the charms of the catering staff, will, no doubt, reflect fondly on those days of long ago. Can anyone remember Miss Elsie Foster, our music teacher in 1942, who, doing a solo (the Jewel Song' from Faust as I recollect) during the School Concert, cracked on a top note, and courageously sang it again successfully? Or her successor, a Dr Benoy? And what was the name of our versatile groundsman who coached cricket and football in 1942?

I was fortunate enough to take Italian when in form 2A, and 'Joe' Over instilled in me, against all the odds, a love of that language and a fluency which has served me well when in Italy. And were the dinner tickets (red, I think,) only 2 shillings per week? We had our own war hero, a Mr Bridge, who gave us a talk after winning the George Medal. And can anyone remember Ludwig Koch, the first man to record bird-songs, giving a talk in the lecture room next to the Physics lab? All these memories and many more, are precious to me - perhaps others can add their own to this excellent website ! Regards from John Ball.

A few more thoughts...

In 2002 we had a small re-union group of 1942 'starters' at the Beauchief Hotel. After a pleasant lunch we were reminiscing about School concerts, and I was surprised to find just how clear were our recollections of the concert with the 'Merrie England' (Edward German) theme. We actually sang  some of the songs and others which, no doubt, many former pupils will remember - 'Up with the Jolly Roger boys' was always popular, 'Fisherman of England' and some Italian and Spanish songs, some of which were sung phonetically. The School had an enviable reputation in Sheffield for the quality of singing in its School Concerts. Perhaps others have similar recollections?

Related information:

• FPGS pupils