Retford Grammar School
"The Retfordian"

The webmaster has been fortunate enough to be given a set of Retfordians - school magazines of his old school, covering 1947-1960. 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 by weird boys. More photos are given below, showing how the school was. If you have any enquiries or photos, contact For full set of Retfordians scanned or held by webmaster, see all Retfordians

Copies of "The Retfordian" Date Vol Number Photos Spring 1935 30 1 None Dec 1950 35 1 School porch; Cricket team July 1951 35 2 School front; Cricket team Dec 1951 35 3 School front July 1952 35 4 Duke of Gloucester's visit (5) Dec 1952 35 5 School front; athletics team July 1953 35 6 School floodlit; Cricket team Dec 1953 36 1 School floodlit; Football team July 1954 36 2 School porch; Cricket team Dec 1954 36 3 Football team; Mikado cast July 1955 36 4 W.A.F.Boulby; Cricket team Dec 1955 36 5 School front; Football team July 1956 36 6 M.J.Jackson; Cricket team Dec 1956 37 1 Twelth Night cast; Football team July 1957 37 2 Athletics team Dec 1957 37 3 Rev.McFerran; Old Boys in Malaya July 1958 37 4 Cricket team Sep 1959 37 6 New Science block; Old Chemistry Lab. July 1960 38 2 Cricket team

Rev W.P.McFerran RGS 1920-1957. "Mac", 2nd Master and teller of Troddles tales.

The School Porch and front gates.

Front of the School with New Block on the left.

School floodlit for the Coronation 1953.

Duke of Gloucester shakes the headmaster's hand (John Gover).

"The Royal Charter" in performance 1952. Note the sight screen, fives court and air-raid shelters in the distance.

The old Chemistry Lab, Keith Miller teaching.

Athletics team 1957.

Football team 1956.

Cricket team 1958.

Cast for The Mikado Finale 1954.

Taken 1920, a Sports Day perhaps?

These photos were taken around 1917

This room had changed in use by the 1950s. The picture of the founder Edward VI had moved to the New Hall.

This room had a dividing screen, was less important in the 1950s after the New Block was built.

The Chemistry Lab in 1917 hardly changed 40 years later. Fume cupboard, bunsens, tripods, bottles, flasks and stools were the same in 1958.

The Workshop had become the Art Room in the 1950's, but had changed very little.

Taken 1925, a fine view of the rear of the school, before it was spoilt by the building of the Hall, the Tin-Tab and the canteen. A cricket match is in full swing. On the extreme right is the old Woodwork room. The Head's house and Master's common room are extreme left.

Taken 1925, another view of the back of the school and the field. In the 1950s, behind the arches on the right was the Gymn, above these was the Physics Lab.

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