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.. SAY CHEESE, PLEASE '        Panoramas listed lower down.

Is it vanity to have a framed photograph showing 600 stalwart lads arranged in order behind their mates, and to be able to point out "little Herbert" to admiring relations?  Few realise how long it takes to obtain this effect.  In our school it took a full hour, and by then smiles were becoming noticeably strained.

We left our form-room to see a precariously-balanced arrangement of chairs, benches and tables forming a series of platforms. The top row was already occupied when we clambered up, feeling the bench sway beneath us.

After half an hour everyone was in position except one small first-former. At last this minor obstacle was overcome. thanks to the tact of the camera-man.

The camera was wound, and the apparatus swung round, covering each of us in turn. Just as it stopped I swayed and clutched the next boy, who in turn caught his neighbour, until a whole row was over-balancing.  However, with a superhuman effort we clambered down safely, hoping that vanity was satisfied for another three years.   P. G. Uprox (3e)  (WGS Magazine Autumn 1962)

The Missing Years....

I was most disappointed to see from the Panoramas that my 'service' between 1943 and 1946 June was not recorded. I was (then) Richard Arthur Cooper and I lived in Irchester . I had been an evacuee to Rushden from London but my mother came down and bought a bungalow in Wollaston Rd. Irchester and I went to Irchester Junior School. I still have my Form Prize of a book from Form IIIb in June '46.  Whether I could be included in Memorable Old Boys I am not sure . I am listed in Debretts People of Today and am happy to post you a copy of my entry if you would let me have an address. I'm the President of the Royal Artillery Assn in Eastbourne and served on the City of London Council inter alia.I retired as Head of Human Resources at Deuutsche Bank Capital Markets. in 1990. I hope to hear from you     Best regards Richard Austin-Cooper.

Panoramas Available:       Keys         %   Named      Form Photos      Unidentified   

1930 Panorama             Actually a normal photograph, I have removed the excess.  A Panoramic Key will be created  if names supplied.

1933 Panorama             1933 Panorama Key                               A Panoramic Key will be created  if names supplied.

1936 Panorama             1936 Panorama Key     51% Named:     A good start

1937   3A Photograph

1938 Panorama             1938 Panorama Key     43% Named:     A good start by two boys from that year.                

1940 Panorama             1940 Panorama Key     11% Named:     It is up to you, as yet, just fifteen  names.

1940  2A Form    An Autumn 1940 photo 

Sadly, there was no panorama between 1940 & 46.  If you have a photo of any of the boys please send a copy.

My years 1941-1945 missed out on photos unless we stayed on for HSC (Higher Certficate).  Even my cousin John Hanger who started in September 1940 and left in July 1946 missed out.  My group, born in 1930 would have been in their second year of HSC in the sixth form in September 1946 and only a few stayed on.  Most of my friends came from state schools in Rushden or were evacuees, (who by then were back in London).  Alan Bonham  (1941-1945)

1946 Panorama             1946 Panoramic Key    98% Named:            2nd    3rd    4th   5th    6th     Unidentified    Staff

1949 Panorama             1949 Panoramic Key    99% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th   5th    6th     Unidentified 

1952 Panorama             1952 Panoramic Key    99% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th&5th    6th     Unidentified 

1955 Panorama             1955 Panoramic Key    98% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th&5th    6th     Unidentified  

1958 Panorama             1958 Panoramic Key    99% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th&5th    6th     Unidentified 

1962 Panorama             1962 Panoramic Key    92% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th   5th    6th     Unidentified    Staff

1965 Panorama             1965 Panoramic Key    77% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th   5th    6th     Unidentified    Staff

1968 Panorama             1968 Panoramic Key    85% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th    5th   6th     Unidentified    Staff

1971 Panorama             1971 Panoramic Key    87% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th    5th   6th     Unidentified     Staff

1974 Panorama             1974 Panoramic Key    87% Named:   1st    2nd    3rd    4th    5th   6th     Unidentified     Staff

Detail including Form Lists

1940 Panorama            Key for 1940 Panorama   

1946 Panorama          Key for 1946 Panorama   

                   Can you identify Johnny Hyde, Richard Knight, Colin McCall and Sid Brown as boys - all future masters?

Keith Gennis told me that when the photo' was taken during the summer term it did not turn out and he with others had to go back to the WGS in the Autumn term, after he had left . This accounts for so many 'boys' being in something other than the usual black jacket.   ... Keith Tompkins repeated this and added that: the large smattering of sports jackets instead of all blazers is because clothes were still rationed at this time and the clothing coupons would not run to both blazer and mufti so we got special dispensation to wear mufti in school.  

1949 Panorama             Key for 1949 Panorama            VIA Science (1949- 1950)

1952 Panorama              Key for 1952 Panorama      see also the  following site:    www.wgs1952.org.uk 

1955 Panorama              Key for 1955 Panorama   Form Lists to be added               

1958 Panorama              Key for 1958 Panorama   

                                     5th and L.VI forms in 1959

1962 Panorama              Key for 1962 Panorama    

1965 Panorama               Key for 1965 Panorama

1968 Panorama               Key for 1968 Panorama

1971 Panorama               Key for 1971 Panorama

1974 Panorama               Key for 1974 Panorama

See: Teachers in Panoramas

See Wellingborough Grammar Nostalgic School site, this contains lots of interesting information, particularly relevant for the later years