The Old Pocklingtonian 2018-19 | Page 15

ARCHIVES THE PREFECT TEAM 1969-70 N 50 YE A R RE UN IO th June 2020 Save the Date: 27-28 In 2020 it will be 50 years since the pupils on the left and their fellow 1970 leavers (only the prefects are pictured), left Pocklington School. There are already plans afoot for a reunion in Pocklington on the weekend of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June. If you left at the end of the sixth form in 1970 or in the fifth year in 1968 and you would like to come to the reunion or receive more information about it, please contact Rachel in the OP office to register your interest. Back Row L-R: Dennis, Leaf, Rowley (RIP), Clarke, Hainsworth, Watson, Griffiths, Mathieson, Barker, Brunt, Farquhar, Sellers, Shouler, Bumstead (RIP). Middle Row L-R: Lamb, Farrer, Shimmin (RIP), Meredith, Kneeshaw, Marshall, Deas, Thompson, Robinson, Calder, Brookfield, Taylor, Barber, Horner, Townsend, Bradshaw, Richardson. Front Row L-R: Mumby, Pearson, Baines, Woodhead, Guy L Willatt (Headmaster), Price, Wilkinson, Hashagen, Fewson. SETTING THE WAR RECORD STRAIGHT: James H Eggleshaw, Second Master of Pocklington School 1938 – 1976 By David Stather (49-57). It is now more than 20 years since the death of James Eggleshaw, who is still remembered with gratitude and deep respect by many of his surviving former pupils. He was not only the Senior Classics Master, but was very active in coaching in several sports and in promoting the love of music and literature. Several of his pupils were lucky enough to go with him on trips to his beloved Italy, where they saw parts of that country that are unknown to the average tourist, but which gave them a much better appreciation of the culture of that country. He served the school for 38 years, interrupted only by his army service during the Second World War. It is about that War service that I wish to say something, because it seems to be widely believed that James Eggleshaw spent his War years as a car park attendant. This belief is incorrect. It falls to me to correct this misunderstanding because for some time he served with my late uncle, Col. Charles Stather, in the work of securing Arab co-operation with the Eighth Army in North Africa – work which was considered of sufficient importance to get Mr Eggleshaw promoted to the rank of Major. What seems to have occasioned the “car park attendant” myth is the obituary for J H E published in The Pocklington School Magazine of 1996-1997 which stated that, when he was called up to the Those who are already planning to come are: Phil Wilkinson, Stephen Deas, Eric Robinson, David Horner, Michael Taylor, Neil Calder and Nick Bradshaw. See pages 22-24 for details of the reunions that have taken place over the last year to give you a flavour of what it is like – people often feel nervous about meeting up with their old school friends after so many years, but these worries soon disappear and everyone has a great time, so do come along and join in. Armed Forces at the beginning of the Second World War, Mr Eggleshaw was assigned to be a car park attendant. That may have been so (the story could only have come from JHE himself), but the obituary also went on to say: is pleasing to hear that Pocklington has even greater attraction. 1945. Issue 6. July – December, p.6 recorded the return of masters on War service and that Mr. Eggleshaw is literally “in the air”. When the War Office discovered that their car park attendant, apart from having a 1st class degree in “Greats” (Greek and Latin at Oxford University), was also a fluent speaker of Italian, French and German not to mention the few other languages of which he had what he called a “smattering”, they rapidly commissioned him and he became Major Eggleshaw and was heavily involved in rehabilitating displaced persons in Italy after the collapse of Italy. 1946. Issue 8. July – December, p.22: We are pleased to welcome Mr Eggleshaw back… Thanks to Maddie Hourrigan (12-19) for her research which has uncovered these reports from over 70 years ago. War-time school magazines reported his progress: 1941. Issue 3. June - Dec. p.33: J.W (sic) Eggleshaw finds the disciplinary course in the R.A.O.C. more strenuous than teaching classics at Pocklington…. 1942. Issue 2. January – June, p.31: J.H.Eggleshaw is now training at an O.C.T.U. 1943. Issue 1. January – June, p.28: J. Eggleshaw, who is now a lieutenant serving in Africa, tells us that he is busy learning Arabic. He writes from a disused macaroni factory, where he controls an Arab labour corps. 1943. Issue 2. July – December, p.27: J. Eggleshaw has been organizing civilian labour for the Services in North Africa and Sicily. This has taxed his tact to the utmost owing to the variety of temperaments and prejudices he has had to meet. Although Sicily with its many classical associations has special interest for him, it 15