The Old Pocklingtonian Old Pocklingtonian 2017-18 | Page 15

ARCHIVES
FROM THE ARCHIVES
FROM THE MAGAZINE
ARCHIVES
Our annual delve into the past looks at what was
in the magazines 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
1942 – 1943
The school reported that pupil numbers were at a
record high of 212.
In December 1942, the last remnant of Hymers
College students and staff returned to Hull, following
their evacuation in September 1939. During this
time, the school timetable had been compressed
into six morning periods of thirty-five minutes,
instead of the usual forty-five, so the facilities could
be used by Hymers College in the afternoons.
The 1st and 2nd rugby teams suffered from a lack
of players having lost many at the end of summer,
but out of six matches played, won four, drew one
and lost one which was considered to be a ‘seal of
success on the season.’
The cricket season was also hampered by lack of
senior players. A lack of experienced players resulted
in fairly heavy defeats but with a team with a low
average age, there were high hopes for development
in the future.
The cadets encountered a number of ‘firsts’. They
made their first attempt at gaining some First Aid
Certificates (part i and part ii) and attended a
battalion camp for a week.
designed by students, based on Quarmby’s desire
to see ‘structures which can be erected and then
dismantled when no longer required.’ Inside the
dome, was an exhibition of student design structures,
linking design to mathematical polyhedrals and
biological structures. The project attracted plenty
of publicity, with photographs appearing in several
newspapers, including The Guardian.
For the first time, the female lead in the school play
was taken by a girl – Stephanie Danby of Woldgate
School.
Three new clubs started at school – a Film Club,
a Bridge Club and a Sixth Form Discussion Group.
The rugby fixture list included a tie with St Peter’s
School, for the first time in about forty years, but with
only four victories from thirteen games, this was not
a good season for the 1st XV. Circuit training in the
gym with Mr Watt proved of great value, improving
stamina and strength but this was no substitute for
speed to the ball after the set piece!
The school held a Cricket Week at the end of term
which allowed the 1st XI to measure performance
against other eminent cricket schools. The U13 XI
were undefeated for a second season, which gave
rise to the belief that the school’s cricket was in very
safe hands under Mr Nuttall.
After its first year of operation at the school, the
first four boys to gain the Duke of Edinburgh Award
at Bronze level received their awards. They were
SRE Sarraff (65-69), J Middleditch (59-69), RH
Simpson (66-68) and WE Henderson (64-71).
1967 – 1968 There was a theatre trip to see OP Tom
Stoppard’s (51-54) ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
are Dead’ at the Grand Theatre in Leeds. Following
the performance, there was reportedly a feeling of
great pride that the author had been a pupil at the
school, and that Stoppard, the producer and cast had
worked well together to create splendid theatre.
Goodbyes were said to Mr Howe, Mr Maltby, Mr
Norman, Mr Midgely and Mr Willis. 1992 – 1993
Sports Day was held on Saturday 3 April under
favourable conditions. Hutton just managed to win
the shield, beating Gruggen by a narrow margin.
New staff to the school were Mr Solomon and Mr
Rumbelow as senior history master and teacher of
history respectively, Mr Brown joined the modern
languages department, Mr Tydeman (mathematics)
and Mr Robinson (physics).
It was confirmed that plans for a new Design and
Construction Centre were well underway and the
fundraising appeal was launched. Mr Derbyshire, Mr
Billington and Mr Herring were to take a key role in
the planning of the new building.
The development of a Sixth Form Unit was also
confirmed, which would house twelve senior boys
and allow them to live a similar lifestyle to that of a
university student, which they would soon become.
Following an inspiring visit from distinguished
architect, OP Arthur Quarmby (47-51), Mr
Billington orchestrated the erection of a stately
exhibition dome in St Nicholas Court in May 1968.
The pneumatically supported polythene dome was
A thanksgiving for the life of Robert St John Pitts-
Tucker, Headmaster of the school from 1945-1966,
was incorporated into the Commemoration of
Benefactors following his death.
Mr Julian Berry and Miss Ellinor Soloman left the
school for new teaching roles and Mr Tom Pollock
retired after five years at the school.
Mr Solomon retired as Housemaster at Dolman
and was succeeded by Mr Richard Bond, teacher of
Geography and PE.
Mrs Peacock, Mr Bird, Mr Watton and Mr Orr were
congratulated upon their marriages.
The main school theatrical production was ‘Macbeth’
with leading performances from Adam Martin (83-
93) (Macbeth) and Emma Wardell (91-95) (Lady
Macbeth). ‘Peer Gynt’ by Henrik Ibsen was a very
successful Junior Play and the Student Production
was Peter Shaffer’s ‘Black Comedy’.
Mr D’Arcy won the York and District Chefs’ and
Cooks’ Association Gold medal.
The 1st XV had an up and down season. The Captain
Terry Dixon (86-93) played in the Yorkshire U18
XV v Leinster, Diccon Edwards (81-91) played for
England U21 XV on the Australian Tour.
The outstanding team sporting achievement was
that of the U15 cricket XI which shared the Lord’s
Taverners’ Trophy with Millfield School when the
Trent Bridge final was washed out.
The 1st XI had mixed fortunes but Scott Boswell
(86-93) went on to play for England Schools v West
Indies, Scotland, and Wales and for MCC Schools
and Young England against Combined Universities
at Lords. Matthew Atkinson (85-93), the Captain,
scored three fine centuries at Ampleforth, Sedbergh
and Newcastle.
Jonathan Haines (83-93) played for the NE
Schools’ Hockey XI as well as for Welton HC in the
Poundstretcher First Division. Matthew Truman
(86-95) and Ben Bryden (91-96) played at U16
level for Yorkshire.
This was an exceptional year for the girls’ hockey
teams, becoming the East Riding Champions at U14
U15 and U16 age groups.
The U14 Tennis team, captained by Amy Bean (90-
97), were the overall winners of the U14 York and
District League.
Stuart Storey (85-93), Nick Kealey (83-93),
Matthew Waudby (86-93), David Ashby (87-93)
and Stuart Sykes (87-94) ran cross-country for
Humberside. The school team were Humberside
Champions.
Stephen Gwilliam (87-94) had another successful
season, placing fourth in The English Schools’ 200
metres. Gwilliam, Henry Ogram (86-93) and
Jonathan Haines (83-93) won the Humberside
Senior 100 and 200 metres, discuss and 400 metres
hurdles respectively.
The Golf team reached the northern final of the
HMC Schools’ National Foursomes.
In Pocklington School’s first show jumping
competition, the girls’ ‘B’ team won the Bishop
Burton College Schools’ Championship.
Through the course of the year, there were trips,
camps and exchanges in Burgundy, Lyon, Leipzig,
Cultybraggan, the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Peak
District and Morzine.
The CCF Adventure Training took place at a new
venue, Keswick Convention Centre, where twenty
students and staff enjoyed a great week walking and
abseiling as part of the activities. At the end of the
week, awards went to the best group leader – Tim
Woods (85-94); best 2 i/c – Stephen Wharton
(88-95); and to the best fourth year cadets – Hannah
Turlington (91-96) and Janette Glassby (89-96).
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