Confession - nay, boasting - of wrong-doing by the Vice- President necessitates his photo ID. For those not his contemporaries, he''s the cheeky one second from the right, back row. No doubt incubating at that time your nefarious scheme with the keys., were you, Jackie? This photo also features several more listers not on the previous one from ''62. 1962 and 1963 were socio-cultural hinge-points, allegedly - as Philip Larkin wrote:
'"Sexual intercourse began
In nineteen sixty-three
(which was rather late for me) -
Between the end of the ""Chatterley"" ban
And the Beatles"'' first LP.""
More sombrely, Nigel Illger, second from left front row, has passed away. He and I played together as kids on Ordsall road. He lived beside the girls'' high school playing field, quite a scenic delight for 7 and 8 year olds. I recall being at their house in 1952 and Nigel's father telling me excitedly that Britain''s first (and only) gold medal at Helsinki had just been won by Foxhunter. I felt ashamed as I didn''t know who that was, until informed it was a horse. [Steve Tanner 2022-10-24 23:30:00]
PS Taking up Jonty Connor on "not living life in as fast a lane" as Merv Platford., I do recall Jonty, Johnnie Brooke and myself frequently driving off to the bright lights of Sheffield on a night, to play chess. I recall Jonty played the Sicilian Dragon defence, which is pretty fast pace, surely? [Steve Tanner 2022-10-24 23:30:01]
Many thanks for the interesting Prefects 1963 pic.
Do I see Mick Hedley on the back row, centre, tallest boy?
He died about 10 years ago.
He once came to a KEGS reunion during his visit to Worksop from New Zealand. I had a good chat with him. He took his A levels in 1962, but did badly or failed them, due to lack of work on his part. He stayed on and re-took them and did well the second time.
I think he went to the University of Newcastle-upon=Tyne and studied a biological subject (Botany?). Stayed on for a PhD, which he got. Was then offered a job at the New Zealand wood preservation institute (not sure of correct name), where he stayed for the rest of his career. It is in Rotorua, a very stinky place, but I suppose you get used to it.
I think he is famous for discovering a new wood preservative for an important NZ tree, when the previous preservative was banned.
His career shows the importance of having a flexible educational system as
many people have fluctuations in the interests, how hard they work, etc.
[Jonathon 2022-11-03 10:48:00]
Jonathan is spot on. I [received] an .. email communication .. after we re-established contact, and just before his untimely demise.
Pete Hulme and Mick both stayed on for a third year in the VIth form, hence why we were made prefects. The three of us regularly slipped out for a beer at lunch time to the pub across the road (McFerran’s old local), and I think we were just lucky not to get caught.
We were also invited to a wine tasting evening with Ken Birch and Harry Brammar; Pete may remember. Harry left KEGS that summer and took a posting as music master at Kings School, Worcester, and was also Assistant Organist at the Cathedral, while I went off to B’ham Uni. We met up again in the early 70’s at the Mug House in Claines where Harry had an old cottage.
Happy days. [Steve Barton 2022-11-03 11:38:00]
Hi everybody.
Annie and I were lucky enough to stay with Mick Hedley for a couple of nights in Rotorua in 2004. We met him at his state of the art forestry laboratories where he was a very big wheel.
Mick was in great spirits back then, and was a very gracious and generous host. In fact we hadn’t met since the 60s, but it didn’t make any difference. We still had history and memories, just like at the Reunions.
I have photos somewhere which I’ll share if and when I find them.
Incidentally, for those of you who haven’t been to Rotorua, Jonty is absolutely right in saying it’s stinky. It smells very strongly of hydrogen sulphide, rotten eggs, but of course Mick couldn’t smell it! We got used to it, sort of, in the two days we were there, and went to the guysers for a very enjoyable warm and smelly mud bath.
On the other hand, Rotorua is very picturesque with its lakeside setting. Lake Rotorua is the second largest lake in North Island, second to Lake Taupo, which is about an hour to the South.
Cheers,
Peter
[Peter Holdsworth 2022-11-04 06:38:28]