I was very sorry to learn of the death in February 2001 of Freda Horne, the wife of DOUGLAS (1930-34). On behalf of the Association I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to him and to their children, SUSAN COOPER (1964-71), CHARLES (1966-73) and Patricia.

Over the past twelve months I have exchanged several letters with JOYCE SPINKS (DOBBING 1932-42) on a variety of topics, one letter in particular may be of interest to Joyce’s contemporaries – she has found the address of VICTOR JACOBS (1939-41).  Victor’s father gave the address one Sunday Evening Meeting, during the mid 1930s and as a result of this contact Victor came to Ayton from Jamaica. When the war began he was marooned in England and the last his friends heard of him, he was working in a garage in Darlington. (Joyce did her teacher training in Darlington and met Victor from time to time.) Those of Joyce’s year may remember the bandleader Henry Hall who always announced his radio programme with: - “This is Henry Hall speaking and tonight is my guest night.” According to Joyce: - ‘not to be outdone, Ayton had its own band called “Oiseau and his Dischords.” This consisted of ‘Oiseau’ alias JACK BRADLEY (1935-40) drums, MOLLIE THOMPSON (1937-40) – now Mollie Tulip, she married fellow OS TONY TULIP – (1937-42) piano, DAVID HOLDEN (1939- 41), clarinet – sadly he was shot in Cairo while following his work as a journalist) & ALAN LECKIE (1939-40) flute. We had our ‘guest’ nights too – Victor wearing full evening dress and topper bowled everyone over singing “South of the Border Down Mexico Way”, and yours truly sang various popular songs of the time including “Somewhere in France with You” and “When the Poppies bloom again I’ll remember you.” Victor and his wife Millie have three sons, one of whom, ALLAN was at Ayton for a year from (1966-67), like his father, Allan had a wonderful voice and SUZI SCAIFE (CUTHBERT 1963-68 & 1981-95) remembers him bringing the house down in a marquee on Open Day with a DOUGLAS JONES (1961-68) arrangement of the ‘Beatles’ song – ‘Yesterday.’ I wrote to Victor in the summer, as soon as I received his address, but to date, I have not had a reply. I am putting this address in the Annual Report in the hopes that he may be more likely to write to his friends than to a total stranger. It is - 13275 Blue Diamond Place, West Palm Beach, Florida 33414, USA. Could you please let me know if he does get in touch –Ed Joyce always hears from GEORGE SMITH (1935-41) in Zimbabwe on her birthday and he, in turn, is in touch with MAVIS HOLDSWORTH (NELSON 1935-42), NICHOLAS (NICK 1939-41) LAMPLE now LAMB who lives in Switzerland where he is touch with Joyce’s old friend ERNST BRANDT (1940 -41).

DOROTHY NEWBY (DANBY 1934-39) has more than lived up to her reputation as a ‘keeper in touch’, this past year. She and MARGARET RAMSDALE (WAITES 1936-38) had lunch last summer with PHYLIS EVETTS (DOBSON 1938-40) whom they had not seen for 59 years. Phylis was in the same form as Dorothy’s two sisters-in-law OLIVE & MARJORIE NEWBY (1937-40) (Olive married BOB TROTTER –1941-43, brother of one of my contemporaries, LOUIS –1947-52). Phylis is writing a book about her late husband’s work; ‘Among other things he designed stained glass windows for churches, nine of which may be seen in one of the churches in Sunderland.’ In early July, Dorothy, together with Louis and his wife Doris went to Sunderland University to see Bob and Olive’s daughter, Marjorie, receive her Master of Philosophy degree for research on ‘The Religious Society of Friends in Sunderland, 1653-1705’. Marjorie Trotter is an Ackworth Old Scholar. Margaret Ramsdale had, herself, been in contact with Dorothy and with her letter she enclosed a photo taken of her, her parents, an aunt and her grandmother on High Green, when, she, Margaret, was about 18 months old. In the background is the Royal Oak, which in those days – about 1923, still had its coachroad entrance. The photo has been scanned and may now be found in the archive slot on our website. Margaret’s mother DORA (WINWARD 1906-07) and her aunt ALICE BURT (1902-05) were both scholars at the school nearly a century ago! In her card to Dorothy, Margaret said that her mother trained as a nurse at Sunderland Eye Hospital around 1918-20 and she spoke very highly of the place all of her life. Apparently, Dora Waites became President of the Royal College of Nursing (in about 1952) a job which was then voluntary. Margaret accompanied her mother to St. James’ Palace when the college became ‘Royal’ and met and shook hands with the Queen, Princess Margaret, Lady Mountbatten and Mrs. Pandit Nehru. According to Dorothy, Margaret, her daughter and two grandchildren stayed at the Hostel in Osmotherly which ERIC RODHAM (1935-39) mentioned in last year’s Annual Report in the refurbishment of which, Margaret’s brother, Eric, had a major hand. Dorothy, herself, made many happy visits to the hostel during the war years, and has since visited with her own children. Eric (Rodham) and his wife, Kathleen, moved from Middlesbrough to Beverley last summer, to be nearer to their daughters. Eric took our cover photograph while a boy at school. Dorothy had a long phonecall from DOROTHY RUDD (LISTER 1929-34) in July, who is, sadly, now registered blind. She also had a stroke in May and her friend ELEANOR MOORE (RICHARDSON 1930-33) went to nurse her. While at Purley, Eleanor read the whole of the annual report to Dorothy R. GEORGE SANGER (1937-38) and his wife Blossom were unable to attend the Edinburgh Festival as usual last year…-‘ he has been selected for the Grand Jury (Civil) which is an all year watchdog over all county governments (in California, I presume-Ed), schools, special districts, prisons and other agencies. He will be investigating citizens’ complaints and submitting reports at the end of the year. Great lengths are taken to ensure secrecy and he even jokes that Blossom will have to wear earplugs in case he talks in his sleep! Unfortunately, he is only allowed two weeks’ holiday, so their plans to motor around this country after the Festival, calling to see me, and returning home on the QE2 had to be cancelled.’ George had found the new Ayton website, which, he said, filled him with great nostalgia.

Last Page | Next page

All Magazines Contents
Homepage

Go to: Late Teens - 1920s - 1930s - 1940s
1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - 1990s - Staff News
Magazine Contents | All Magazines Contents
Return to Homepage