FROM THE ARCHIVES
ARCHIVES
Our annual delve into the past looks at what was in the magazines 75 , 50 and 25 years ago .
1946 – 1947
During the Michaelmas term , the first full inspection of the School since 1930 , was conducted by the Ministry of Education .
Pupil numbers in School reached a new high of 236 – 160 boarders and 76 day boys – which allowed for two III Forms and two IV Forms .
Lyndhurst was opened as a boarding house in September 1946 , with capacity for 12 boarders initially with a plan to increase numbers in the future . Improvements to the facilities in Dolman House included an additional common room , bathroom , locker accommodation and a new dormitory above the old common room .
Three new members of staff joined the teaching roll , including Mr D Harwood who became Resident House Tutor in School House . He served as a fighter pilot in the RAF , was shot down over Belgium in 1941 and while a prisoner of war , he successfully sat for the London University Intermediate Examination and helped to organise and teach in the “ Barbed Wire University ”. He later obtained a Mathematics degree at Magdalene College , Cambridge .
Both Rugby and Cricket squads had less than fortunate seasons . On paper , the Rugby 1st XV held good promise , but except for two matches , never showed their true potential . The cricket team had a better than average start to the season , winning the first six games , but then their form dissolved , losing three and drawing two of the last games .
Athletics training had to take a back seat to sledging on Chapel Hill during the Lent term , as for the most part , the ground was covered in snow ! Field events favoured better in the summer term when C Jackson ( 40-47 ) won the weight putting with a 35ft 4 ins put in the East Riding Schools ’ Sports .
Enthusiasm for Fives was revived after an increase of equipment that was cut during the war years . In the House Competitions , Gruggen who had held the Cup since 1940 , failed to retain it for the seventh year , losing to Hutton by one point .
There was an attempt to improve the standard of tennis , with several boys receiving coaching to form a team . When the team was considered good enough to challenge the staff , a match was arranged but it had to be cancelled due to harsh weather !
An Arts Club was formed to provide musical and dramatic performances , films and lectures for the School and the town .
The School received several gifts this year , including a flagpole which stood in front of the School quadrangle and a promise of two new flags , and a Seascape , by Edmund Gill , which was hung in the Art Room .
The father of Desmond Boult ( 30-38 ) set up a Trust Fund to endow a cup for the Senior Swimming Champion , in memory of his son who was a talented athlete excelling in rugby , gym , shooting and swimming but was sadly killed on active service .
Commemoration was held on 22 July 1947 , with between 750 and 800 visitors attending for tea in the gardens . After the usual Prizegiving ceremony guests were treated to several school activities including swimming sports , gymnastics display and performance of ‘ Arms and the Man ’ from the Dramatic Society . In his report , the Headmaster , Mr Pitts-Tucker , made comment on the value of good prefects in a school and noted that the School had had a good year because of the fine prefects .
1971 – 1972
There were several new recruits to the staff this year , including Mr C Martin and Mr I McDonald who came to teach English , Mr G Sutton succeeded Mr Herring as Head of Mathematics , the new History teacher was Mr M Young , and Mr M Milne ( 55-62 ) came to teach Geography and Mathematics in Senior and Junior School .
The School appointed Lt Col J Hamilton as the School ’ s first Bursar to relieve the Headmaster of the many tasks connected with the maintenance and improvement of grounds and fabric , the finance and general economy of the School .
Several staff left the School during the academic year including some with long service . Mr S Lewis retired at the end of the Michaelmas term after 28 years ’ service which first began during the middle of the last war . His chief love was French , but he also taught English and Mathematics . Mr J Cox ( Mathematics ) and Mr T Currey ( Biology and Natural Sciences ), both left after 12 years ’ teaching at the School . The School ’ s Chaplain of 11 years and teacher of divinity and English , Reverend J Macnaughton , left . He was noted to have made his mark with his ‘ concise , clear and patently clear sermons .’
The 1st XV rugby team were thought to be an inexperienced side who made substantial progress during the term and were described in the press by a rival school , as “ powerful .” First XV Colours were awarded to C Southwell ( 61-71 ), F G C Smith ( 63-74 ), J R Ward ( 62-72 ) and R F Gray ( 62-72 ).
A surprising number of new records were set in athletics : T Mair ( 65-74 ) in the junior javelin , H Britton ( 64-72 ) in the senior 100metres , J Murgatroyd ( 64-72 ) in the senior discus and P Burton ( 69-77 ) in the colts 100 and 200 metres .
1972 was considered an outstanding year for School cricket generally but particularly for the 1st XI , captained by Alistair Woodhead ( 68-73 ). Eight bowlers took more than ten wickets , four batters made over 350 runs with four others playing vital innings . The end of season scorecard was Played 23 ; Won 12 ; Lost 1 , Drawn 9 ; Abandoned 1 .
Visitors to the School included 20 teachers from countries ranging from Greece and Cyprus to St Vincent Malawi and India , who were studying for a year at the Education Department of Hull University . In the Lent term , the Headmaster announced a proposed purchase by the School , of the railway station and other properties and plots of land , and the Governors ’ plans to convert it into a Sports Hall to make use of the rooms to provide more facilities for day boys
Academically , the School had a successful year . The following students gained study places at Oxbridge : W Benson ( 62-71 ), Open Scholarship in History at St Catherine ’ s College , Oxford ; G Brown ( 66- 72 ), Open ( King Charles I ) Scholarship in General Studies ( to study Law ) at Pembroke College , Oxford ; C Koullis ( 69-72 ), Open Exhibition in Natural Sciences ( Engineering ) at St Catherine ’ s College , Cambridge ; J Beckett ( 64-71 ) Open ( Dowman ) Exhibition in Natural Sciences at St John ’ s College , Cambridge ; C Clague ( 62-72 ), Open Exhibition in Natural Sciences ( to read Medicine ) at Corpus Christi College , Oxford .
The Junior play , ‘ That Scoundrel Scapin ,’ was reviewed as ‘ a vigorous and well-produced production .’
The senior play , ‘ Hamp ,’ was considered a refreshing change from the usual choice of play that often afforded comedy or exuberant performances . It was reported to be a ‘ commendable production ’ in which the ‘ stunned and expectant silence of the audience that followed each performance , suggested that the thought-stimulating message of the play had made the intended impact .’
Mr Davies and Mr Hardaker organised an ambitious school trip taking in the capital cities of Prague , Vienna , Budapest and Istanbul , plus Sarajevo and Venice . The trip did not go without incident , but all returned in one piece and those who travelled enjoyed a holiday ‘ which will be remembered for a long time to come .’
1996 – 1997
The deaths of Miss P Dalgliesh ( Mistress in charge of Junior School , 58-57 ) and Mr J Eggleshaw , ( Senior Master , 39-46 ) were announced . It was noted that Mr J Eggleshaw ‘ personified most of the best qualities which Pocklington School produced in its pupils in that era .’
Retiring in this year were Mr K Robinson , after 29 years ’ service as a Physics teacher , Housemaster and leader of outdoor activities and Mr B Parker who had given many years ’ service teaching brass instruments .
Leaving staff were Miss L Mulholland ( Junior School ) and Mrs L Sefton , who had given invaluable assistance to pupils with dyslexia .
Mrs C Bennett , Miss D Buckley and Mrs S Elford were welcomed as teaching staff to the School . Also new in post were Mr B Gray , IT Assistant and OP
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