Does anyone know the whereabouts of Mary Adams  (1960 - 1966)

Cynthia Turner (now Cyndy Hill) says:  I lost touch with my friend Mary Adams after school in 1966-1967.  Last I heard she had gone to Australia and I don't know her married name.  I want to find her to clear up a misunderstanding and would be grateful for any information.

Should we all get together as we are all turning 50!?

Julie Hunt (now Julie Patton) says:  I ran into Tony Nolan and James Sallie at Brampton Halt this weekend and it got me thinking that maybe it would be good for our year to get together as we are all turning 50 this or next year - some sooner than others - actually I'm sure I'm last!!  Apparently quite a lot of the lads meet up regularly and even went to Ted Harnett's wedding recently.  Anyone interested?  If, so then e-mail me [mail]

Good times at Technical High School !

Mavis Jones (now Grayum) says:  I would love to hear from some of my old school friends. I left school when I was 15. Could not find my picture on the 1952 photograph but know I must have been still at school when that was taken. I'm still in touch with Audrey Ward and Rose Mitchell but would love to hear from anyone else who remembers me. Sincerely, Mavis Grayum (Jones)

Carol Shaw (now Chamberlain) says:  Hi Mavis Grayum (Jones) - do you remember Betty Wills and me (Nursery Lane/Rosedale Road).  We were right near to your home last year but couldn't stop the coach - would love to hear from you.

Taffy Newton & Richard Burton

Howard Linsley remembered in a piece added to the website some time ago that Taffy Newell was Richard Burton's uncle.  [go]

Carol Shaw (1948 - 1953) believes that Taffy's sister Sybil, was married to Richard Burton, and so he was therefore Richard Burton's brother-in-law until they were divorced.

Now Lorna Eedes (1947 - 1954) has added her voice to the debate:  To my recollection (1947-54) Richard Burton was Mr Newell’s nephew by ‘adoption’. Richard, he explained to us, came from a very hard-up family in the Welsh valleys. Richard’s English teacher at the Grammar School was very impressed by his acting ability.  As his family certainly could not afford to support him for long, the school teacher took him under his wing, even took him in as part of the family, and helped him in his ambition to become an actor.  That English teacher was also a Mr Newell, Taffy’s brother.

By the time we heard about him from Taffy, Richard Burton was married to his Welsh girlfriend Sybil, was attracting rave reviews for his theatre performances in London and Stratford, was being courted by Hollywood and was beginning to behave like the star he was.  Taffy was proud, but anxious about the future of Richard (his ‘nephew’) and Sybil together.  The rest is history.  Or have I got it wrong?

Betty Wills says I agree with Carol Shaw.  To my knowledge we were told that Taffy's sister Sybil was Richard Burton's wife.

Judith Green says:  Sybil Burton could not have been Taffy Newell's sister as her maiden name was Williams.

Fiona Clements says:  He played the role of a Count and was in a radio documentary about the Air training Corps (ATC) of which he was a member.  During this period, Meredith Jones persuaded the Glamorgan Education Committee to readmit Richard to grammar school.  Eighteen months after leaving school, he was back with the new teacher, Philip Burton, to keep an eye on him.  Philip, who was also Richard’s commanding officer in the ATC, saw the energetic promise that Jones had seen.  Richard was a thirsty reader, particularly of poetry.  Throughout his life he would quote and write in his Notebooks chunks of John Donne, Edward Jones, John Betjeman, Gerard Manley Hopkins, William Dunbar, Shakespeare and his greatest read Dylan Thomas. Dylan became his hero.  Sweetly, their paths would later cross and a good friendship would grow.  Burton drilled schooling into Richard: Richard rewarded Burton by gaining his school certificate despite missing 18 months of term time.  Richard was given every chance to act before an audience at school and the local YMCA. Years later, on being interviewed together, Philip Burton was asked: ‘How did you come to adopt him?’ Richard replied: ‘He didn’t adopt me; I adopted him.’ Back 1925-1942 1943-1956.

Terry Smith says:  I was in Taffy Newell's form in 1952/53.  I remember coming back to school after lunch one day to see a very fancy American car in the drive. We were fold that Burton had turned up to see Taffy but I did not actually see him.

Do you know anything different?

Victoria Sly

Jacqueline Johnson (now Williams) came over to Northampton on an exchange programme in 1971 from Stamford Connecticut and stayed with Victoria Sly.  Victoria was in the lower sixth form at that time.  They kept in touch for a number of years, but now Jacqueline would like to get back in touch.  If anyone knows how to contact her, please let us know.  Jacqueline has now sent an article from the local Stamford newspaper about the exchange, which may trigger some people's memory.  [Read the article]

Lorraine Scrivener (now Ellis) says:  Hello Jackie I was part of the exchange program and had Cathy Waymer stay with me.  I ended up staying with Karen Blanchard when I came to America and am still in touch with her.  I now live in Australia and although am not in touch with Vicky any more may be able to find an old address or contact school friends to see if they can help you.  Great to hear from you after all these years.   Lorraine

Bill Harrison

Bill asks:  Does anyone know the whereabouts of Vivien Dutton?  He thinks her name is now Reid or Reed and was last known to be in Coventry.  She is on the 1958 school photo, section 3, near to Bill.

Scott Wilson

Scott asks:  Does anyone know how I can contact John Barker.  John ran the Partial Hearing Unit at Trinity from 1978 until 1980 or perhaps a bit later.  Please click on the Answer Someone's Question button if you know anything about his whereabouts. 

Peter Douglas says:  Scott Wilson has asked if anyone knows the whereabouts of John Barker.  I really wish that could be more up to date with my help, as John and I were friends for many years but we have since lost touch.  You know how it goes, the space between letters widens, and then they stop.  Just inertia and life getting in the way!  John and I were at Leeds University together 1963-66 and we both studied English and attended many of the same lectures and seminars.  After leaving Leeds, we went on a youth hostelling holiday to Switzerland in August 1966, and also took long touring holidays, sleeping in the back of John’s green minivan – to Cornwall and the West Country in 1967, and to Scotland in 1969.  For the latter trip, I met John at his home in Middlesbrough.  We kept in touch for many years, though usually by post as by that time I was in the USA.  Imagine my surprise when I learned that John was actually teaching at my old school!  He was, as Scott says, in charge of the Partially Hearing Unit, and his letters in the 1980s were full of tales of the school, which were naturally of great interest to me.  This was especially so when he told me that he had become particular friends with Ian Meldrum, known to many (though not those in my time) as “Jock,” who taught me French from the autumn term of 1958 until I left school in 1963. Ian and I also corresponded, and I was delighted to hear from him that he had got to know John.  As I said in my piece on Ian Meldrum on this website.  Ian’s letter of February 1978 informed me that a friend from Leeds University had joined the staff of THS. It was quite a strange feeling for me that a friend now worked at my old school, hanging around with my old teachers!  It’s always odd, when worlds collide like that that should be in different compartments of one’s life.  Evidently they got on well, and seem to have shared the same growing dissident attitude towards the school as it progressed (or regressed) through the “comprehensive” stage.  The last address I have for John is quite old and perhaps long out of date, but you never know. I have passed it on to Ian Dow and I regret having let my contact with John lapse, and intend to try to reanimate it, so if Scott or anyone learns anything I hope it can be shared. 

Adrian Bull

Adrian asks:  Does anyone know the whereabouts of John Challen or Gordon Bromage?   Both pupils were in the 1962/63 fifth form - 5A - John in the science section and Gordon in the language section. I would like to contact them.  The fifth form was the last year for me. I believe that Gordon went on to Edinburgh University.  John stayed into the sixth form but beyond that I have no information.

Ian Dow says:  Last time I head from John, which was in 2004, he had retired as a BA airline pilot and was flying planes in Mali.  I will test to see if his e-mail address still works.  Having contacted him again, he is now in Hong Kong and now flying passenger jumbos again.

Martin Verity says:  Gordon Bromage is Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.  You can "Google" his name.  He used to live in Clitheroe, but I haven't heard from him for many years.  I remember Gordon well and I also remember Adrian, who lived opposite him. Adrian used to have a wire tape-recorder - a sound recording was made on a reel of wire, in a similar way to how it is now made on a reel of tape.

Allan Page

Allan asks if anyone remembers the name of the boy who accidentally hung himself at home.  He says:  While reading the "in memory" page I remembered the boy in my English group.  Although his name eludes me, but I think it may have happened in my third year which would make it 1963.  I believe he had red hair if that jogs anyone's memory.

Dick Trasler

Dick says:  Hi, I was in 3A 1n 1959/60 and wondered where some of the 'old boys' of that class might be...? Rod McGowan, Bill Duff, Trev Turner, Dave Denny, Nick Craddock, Les Pomeroy, and the rest of the gang.  Also any update on Pauline Malin..?

Colin Skears has been kind enough to keep me up to date with news.  Thanks Colin.

Chris Hoddle Says:   Dick Pomeroy!  He was one of my college lecturers in 1977-78.  He took us on a summer sailing course and discovered there that we were both ex of Trinity.  Needless to say that was it for the week.  His contacts at college got me my first teaching job.  Have not seen him since 1978 at West Midlands College, Walsall

May Lynn Woo 

May Lynn was at Trinity from 1964 to 1968.  She and her sister Lily, who was also at Trinity emigrated to Canada.  May Lynn is planning to come over to the UK on a visit in September, and she would like to contact old classmates and possibly come to the reunion.  Please contact her direct via this special e-mail address.  [e-mail]

Mr Barker

Suzi B asks:  Does anyone know what happened to Mr Barker, not sure which year he started but he is on the 1978 staff picture, and i know he was still there in 1992.  Any information appreciated.

Pupil Who Died

Dave Littlewood asks:  I was just reading Mike Haggett's memory of Graham Smith, but I also remember another lad who died tragically during my time at Trinity.  It would have been about 1965 when a lad in the second year called Ashby (I did not know his first name) was electrocuted while playing around near a railway line by the overhead cables.  I remember Gunner giving out the announcement with great solemnity and sincerity.

Does anyone remember any more details, so he could be added to the In Memory Section?

James Sorrie has provided the answer, and the details now appear in the In-Memory section

School Photographs

Maureen Tarlton (now Kirby) asks about the 1963 School Photo:  I can't remember having a copy of this although I am certainly on it. Has anyone tried downloading it from the web site and reproducing it successfully?

School Uniform in the Early Days

Peter Douglas:  Looking at the school photo in 1952, I note that the girls all seem to have a proper (matching) uniform, whereas the boys are wearing a variety of jackets.  It's not connected with their year, as this is true for both the lower and upper forms.  Some of the boys seem to be wearing the familiar dark jackets with the school badge, but a great many are wearing assorted sports coats of lighter colours and they clearly do not match.  Moreover, not everyone is wearing the striped school tie.  I am wondering if anyone from that era can explain this.

Was the school uniform only starting to be enforced, or was there some sort of relaxed attitude towards conformity at that time, possibly because of the shortage of clothing following the war?

Mike Haggett, who started at THS in 1949 says:  In 1949 most pupils wore a green blazer in summer with the badge as shown on your home page.  However older pupils were wearing a navy blue (or black) style with gold (or yellow) details, but I think, the same badge. I judge this to mean that the uniform had been changed within the previous three years. The current wisdom was that the badge was designed by E.G.‘Bimbo’ Bennett.

Derick Cooper says:  In the early days it was acceptable to have the school badge on a black or grey coat or blazer not only only on the official green one.

Terry Smith says:  Re the various jackets worn by boys in he 1952 photo it is true that boys were allowed to wear a plain jacket rather than a blazer.  School ties and caps were obligatory.

Who is This?

Colin Skears had some old photos from school.  In this one, he has no idea who this is.  Do you know?  Click on the small image to see a bigger version.

Sally Wrigley thinks:  that it could be Sandy Shaw and it is definitely Ed Winkworth in the background.

Colin Responds:  OK! So Ed Winkworth is in the background - so is half of Kingsthorpe! Not Sandie Shore - she is wearing shoes.

Keith Howlett says:  It is Sandy Shaw.  I remember her because we had a bit of a fling and I remember her beautiful feet she let me rub them and worship them.

Colin Skears adds:  Some people have all the luck - all she let me do was take her dam picture - and it is not Sandy Shore! If anyone has a copy of the 1963 / 64 sixth form pupils I might eventually work it out.

Christine Kent says:  Her surname was Hamp.  Her sister Kathy Hamp was my good friend at school (we lost touch once she got engaged).  Sorry I cannot remember her first name.  She joined in the sixth form. her brother, who I think was called Steve, also went to Trinity!

Anonymous:  Her name is Elizabeth Hamp

Who Wrote This and What Does it Mean

Ian Elvey brought his Gideon Bible to the 2005 reunion, and like most people's it has signatures on the front and back pages.  Right in the middle of the back page if Ian's is a signature and some strange markings made by the same pen.  Ian cannot remember who the person was and certainly has no idea what the markings were supposed to mean.  Did you write it, and what does it mean? Click on the image to see a much larger version.

Iain Atkinson says:  The signature is that of Ann Cameron, joined us in 1975, if i remember, her dad was a headmaster.  As to the cipher....she did it in mine as well, its a calculation but I can't remember how it works!

The School Motto

Dave Solomon was wondering about the School Motto.

On a recent trip into his loft Dave found a booklet about a school trip (see Pupil Memories), but he also found his old school cap with its cap badge and the school motto "Parate".  Dave wonders whether this was always the school motto, and what did it really mean.  Was it "With Preparation" or was it "Ready". 

Do you know what the Motto was when you were at school - was it "Parate"?  Were there any other School Mottos?  Do you know what the original meaning of the Parate was when it was chosen as the school motto?

Susan Jones Adds:

Parate means "Prepare" rather than "With Preparation".  So presumably it means "Prepare for......" (later life, what comes next, etc).

Paul Stuart Adds:

Gunner Wright told us in a Latin lesson that Parate meant "Be Prepared" just like the boy scouts!

Dave Cocks Adds:

Have to agree with Paul Stuart re school motto Parate. I was always lead to believe it meant "Be Prepared".

Anonymous Classicist Adds:  I am surprised (if not staggered) that Gunner should be attributed with saying that 'Parate' means 'Be prepared'.  It was not the kind of mistake that he was ever likely to make, and certainly not tolerate from a pupil.  It is the imperative and as Susan correctly states is the order 'Prepare!'

Old Boys' Dinners

Peter Douglas has some memories of the "Old Boys' Dinners", but also has a number of questions about them.

Do you know how many Old Boys' Dinners were held?

Who was invited to these dinners and what format did they take?

Where were the Old Boys' Dinners held?

Do you have memories of these dinners that will provide a better picture of these events?

Peter comments:-

I wonder if there are any other ex-THS folks who remember what I noted as "Old Boys' Dinners." I have a note from April 2, 1964 that I went to the THS Old Boys' Dinner at The Angel, the pub/hotel on Bridge Street.  Then on April 8, 1965, I have this note: "At around 6:30 I went to the annual school reunion dinner-dance.  

Although I said that this was an "annual" event, though I don't think I ever attended more than these two. Did they stop, or did I stop attending? I have no idea. This is another of those cases where a little more detail would be a blessing!

Peter also remembers, now that he has been reminded by a recent newspaper cutting that was added of the Leeds University/Trinity Old Boys Dinners that he also went to one of these.  Again, he does not know why he only went to one.

He has given quite a bit of detail to jog people's memories.  To read much more about Peter's memories of these events click here.

Peter would like more detail from anyone of who organised these events and were there more of them that the three he remembers.

Ian Dow Adds:

I left school in 1965, two years after Peter and I never heard of the old boys dinners.  Had they stopped, or was I not in the right place at the right time to get an invitation?

Derick Cooper says:  This reminded me that I attended a dinner at the Angel Bridge street but that was organised by Trinity Old Boys Rugby Club, maybe that is what Peter is thinking of?  I remember that following that dinner there was a problem with a so called antique chair that went missing rumour had it that it was it was broken up and deposited in the sewers of Northampton.  Does anyone know the actual truth?

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The Tower Revisited  - The website for former Pupils of the Technical High School, Trinity High School & Trinity Grammar School, Northampton