The Retfordian School Magazines

For decades, until the 1970s, the everyday lives of staff and pupils were chronicled in the school magazine known as The Retfordian.

John Palmer was fortunate enough to be given a set of 21 Retfordians - school magazines .. covering the time .. 1951-1958. They are crammed full of detail about exam results, oddball school societies, trips abroad, masters leaving and arriving, teams for cricket, football, athletics, Founder's Day, Speech Day, Old Retfordians at university, House notes, and weird poems. Another 7 copies of the Retfordian, Jul 1947 to Jul 1950, have been added to the collection .., making a total of 928 pages scanned. My thanks to Roy Cordall (1942-1950) for the loan of his magazines. After contacting the Bassetlaw Museum, they most kindly scanned and provided 1,200 pages of Retfordians in their possession from 1914 to 1937. These were added to John Palmer's collection, previously only available on a CD. John Olsen has sent 2 copies of the Retfordian (to John Palmer) from 1961, thanks John.

Andy Wright uncovered 4 more editions whilst going through some family possessions and these were donated and scanned as recently as November 2021.

We've, in turn, tried to share as many of John's scans right here, online, and many more will hopefully follow.

STOP PRESS: We're very excited to confirm that due to some very hard work, and generosity, by Tom Oxley, visiting Inspire Nottingham Archives several times, that some 1970s magazines will shortly be coming online!

Please note that we continue to attempt to establish the full copyright for these magazines, contacting the current Retford Oaks School and the King Edward VI Grammar School Trust, and no copyright ownership should be assumed by their presence on this website.