1958 Reunion: Photographs OGs at Wellingborough Grammar School 

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The Reunion was held on the weekend of November 03rd  2007  information below

1958 Reunion Report

On 4^th October, 2008, a month or so more than 50 years since they came together on their first day at Wellingborough Grammar School in September 1958 a group of Old Boys assembled at the Old Grammarians for the start of a Golden Jubilee reunion.

Out of the original intake of  97 boys the organisers, Neil Sinclair, Paul Coleman, Kerry Lewis and David Bayes managed to trace a total of 50 over a period of 18 months - some still local, some residing across the UK and others having settled in France, Spain, Canada, USA and Australia.

Some had an introductory drink and having come to terms with what the ravages of time had done to the faces of the fresh-faced boys staring out of the 1958 panoramic school photograph adorning one of the walls, the group set off for a trip around the present day school, where others were waiting.

Behind the familiar façade (looking like it needed a lick of paint) and through the main door they entered a new world. Some of the original features like the ceramic bricks in the corridors, oak hand rails on the staircases and the wooden block flooring remained and provoked many memories: “That was Spike’s room.” [You could almost hear the sound of the tocsin] “There was the music room.” “Remember the smells of the Chemistry Labs and the formaldehyde in the Biology lab?” “That was Jake’s geography room.” The staff room was still there, but now smoke-free, and the spartan changing rooms and cold showers, usually with only one nozzle working, had mercifully been replaced.

But where was the hallowed turf of the inner sanctum which was the Quad, where we all crammed in for Speech Days in the sweltering hot summers we used to have? What happened to the rain gauge, which was frequently filled with mysterious liquids on prefects, party evenings.

Where was the wood panelled entrance hall, Nora Bavin’s office and Mr Wrenn’s Study?

The Memorial Book was still there and is still turned weekly, which indicates that some important values are very much adhered to still. Most reassuring. Also reassuring is the smiling face of Mr Wrenn which beams down near the old library room alongside pictures of the previous headmasters

Although the first new wing was built during their time at the school and the old hall had then been converted to the library, the room now seemed so small and many questioned how it had been possible that they used to fit 600 boys in there every day for Assembly, stage the School and House Plays and play the infamous game of Pirates during PE.

So many new and different things offsetting originals such as the outside toilet block, the bike sheds and the Tuck Shop where some of the best selling products were the frozen Mars or Milky Way bars and frozen Jubblies. The words “Tuck Shop” could still be seen over the window.

The trip down Memory Lane continued after a couple of hours when the group reconvened for an informal buffet meal back at the OGs in the evening. It was as if it was just another day at school, just catching up on what everybody had been doing since they last met, almost forgetting that, in most cases, that would have been 45 years ago rather than simply the day before.

Neil Sinclair talked of the search process, thanked everyone for attending and brought news and greetings from those who could not be there and listed a number who, sadly, have passed on.

Paul Coleman and Kerry Lewis entertained the group with some personal reminiscences of their exploits during their life and time at the school and some of the great characters among the teaching and admin staff who had had such a great influence on us all

David Bayes updated everyone on the Old Grammarians Club House and the sports facilities on the outskirts of town.

As everyone went their separate ways at the end of the evening, all agreed that it had been a great success and well worth the efforts of the organisers.

It was also agreed that it would be a good idea to arrange a similar event in a couple of years’ time, when hopefully some of those who couldn’t attend this time may be able to and maybe more old faces could be traced.