ARCHIVES
FROM THE MAGAZINE
ARCHIVES
Our annual delve into the past looks at what was
in the magazines 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
1941. . .
Continued paper restrictions led to the publication
of The Pocklingtonian at the end of the Summer term,
incorporating the news of the Lent and Summer
term in one issue for the first time.
Apart from school sports fixtures, most school
activities and events did go ahead and were well
attended by parents, despite concerns about fuel
rationing. Commemoration was limited by war
restrictions to the Prize-giving, and the Swimming
Sports.
During his commemoration speech, the Headmaster
alluded to the growth of the Old Boys’ Club and its
new section in the school magazine. Also mentioned
in the magazine was the increased contribution of
OPs to school life. Squadron Leader Thompson and
Second Lieuts Boyes and Coulson had visited the
school and given lectures to the corps.
Following an address given by the Bishop of Selby,
the Headmaster and Mrs Sands were then ‘at Home’
in the garden, attended by one hundred and fifty
parents and old boys.
Inspection of the school roofs to note awkward
corners which might stop and hold incendiary
bombs, led to an unusual discovery. The small bell
which hangs at the back of the Headmaster’s House,
had become home to nesting starlings. Much to
everyone’s surprise, as many as six large sacks full
of straw and litter were removed from the eaves
around the old school bell.
The Senior Troop Scouts were engaged in a number
of activities, including cooking for a large number of
evacuees who suddenly arrived in the town, assisting
the Home Guard in the defence of Pocklington, the
usual duty at the First Aid Post and the erection of
the District Scout Hut at Givendale.
Following the leaving of almost all the previous
season’s 1st and most of the 2nd XVs it was clear
that the rugby season would be tough and inevitably
an inexperienced side, captained by R Levy, only saw
one win.
The individual and House Five Championships
were hotly contested with Levy winning the Senior
Championship and Wilberforce taking the House
title.
Sports day was a cold and windy occasion but
gathered some outstanding results. The Stewart
Challenge Cup was awarded to Gerald Chatham
(36-42) who won the Steeplechase and the Halfmile and came second place in the Mile. Davidson
was Junior Champion, gaining first place in four
events and one third place.
1966. . .
1991. . .
Mr Guy Willatt was appointed by the Governors to
take up office as Headmaster in September 1966,
following the announcement that Mr Robert St John
Pitts-Tucker had resigned and would leave his post
at the end of the summer term 1966.
The Headmaster, Mr Tony Pickering, announced he
would retire in July 1992 after 11 years of service.
He would be replaced by Mr David Gray, Head of
English at Leeds Grammar School.
The Lodge was converted into a sanatorium, which
was timely following the ten cases of chicken pox
and 40 cases of flu during the Lent term.
The Head of School, D M Hunter (57-66), was
awarded an English-speaking Union Scholarship, for
a year, which was held at Western Reserve Academy,
Ohio, USA.
J S Caley (61-67), whilst still a pupil at the school
was the first from Pocklington School to be awarded
a Royal Naval Scholarship.
A notable visitor to the school was that of the
Spacemobile, a joint project by NASA and the
British Interplanetary Society for the demonstration
of space sciences. The presentation, which was
given by Flt Lt Loveday and Mr Collins, gave a brief
history of rocketry and clarified the American space
programme.
In Rugby, the 1st XV had a poor season, hampered
by team reorganisations and injury. Hutton were
winners of the Senior Division in the Inter-house
Competition. Runners-up, Dolman, also won the
Junior and Under 13 age groups.
Terence Cordery, Pam Lockman and Sue Bosworth
joined the teaching staff.
Jeremy Bird took over as Director of Music. Mr
Tomaszewski became Head of Economics and Philip
Donaldson joined the department.
Wilberforce House closed, ready for conversion into
the new junior school. The Wilberforce boarders
joined School House along with Dr Dyson as House
Tutor.
Margaret Whitlock left Faircote House and was
replaced by Brenda Frank as Faircote Housemistress.
Trevor Loten (current Housemaster Hutton Middle
School and House Tutor of Fenwick-Smith House)
and Claire Swann (neé Rylands, current Head of
Pupil Welfare) got married (not to each other!).
The late Flt Lt Simon Burgess (82-85) returned
home safely after being shot down and taken
prisoner of war during the Gulf crisis.
Ed Sumner (82-92) won two national graphics
competitions sponsored by British Nuclear Fuels
and the British Travel Association.
The Cric