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Welcome to the Guestbook
Feel free to add messages relating to the site and the school. The only rules are: real names only, no personal attacks and no unrelated messages (inappropriate messages may be edited/withdrawn without warning).

It would be appreciated if you gave an email address, where you now live and said when you were at the school, but you don't have to.

Plase note that if you click on an email address below you will need to replace ~DOT~ with . and ~AT~ with @ in your email program. The Guestbook presents these this way to avoid email address harvesters collecting your email addresses from the page. I know it's a pain, but it's very much better than the alternative.

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There are 500 messages in the guestbook
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Viewing messages 391 to 400

Alex Patterson, '46-'51, VUA | alexpatterson~AT~videotron~DOT~ca

David Callund.
I was saddened by the news of David’s passing and thank Eric for informing us and Neale for his heartfelt words. During one of my ‘googling’ sessions a couple of years ago, I tried David’s name to see what, if anything, would emerge. Not surprisingly, a synopsis of his professional life was displayed as well as a company profile showing his rise through local, national and international successes. There was also a photograph that showed him as an older but not much different version of the David I knew. I was not surprised at his accomplishments, given his personality and abilities when I knew him as a classmate from 1946 to 1951.
He didn’t appear to be a ‘swot’ although his performance in class and exam results would suggest otherwise. He was bright, humorous, articulate and had an air of maturity that I’m sure would have been a great asset in later life. What came to mind when I read Eric’s letter, was Wordsworth’s poem which contains the line, “the child is father of the man” for I am certain that the boy that I was privileged to know, grew to be a good husband and father, a good friend and colleague...in short a good man who lived a good life.
Requiescat in pace.
Alex Patterson,
Montreal.

Tue 10-Dec-2013 01:25 - Montreal, Canada

Neale Backhouse | nealebackh~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hi Mike
Sad new indeed from Eric on the death of David Callund. As Eric reminds us, David was a debonair and colourful presence in the 1951 edition of 5UA, a clever and talented boy, always one of the first to raise his hand and become involved in whatever discussion a teacher may have introduced. And he could speak English too! David had a ready laugh and a personality to suit.
The fact that he did so well in later life will come as no surprise to those of us who knew him and shared our formative years with him, from 1946 to 1951 (1953 in Eric's case)
Hail and farewell, David.

Mon 9-Dec-2013 19:14 - Victoria BC Canada

Eric Moyse | eric~DOT~moyse~AT~sky~DOT~com

David Callund
It is only recently that I have heard that my old school friend died at the age of 77 on 4 June this year. I am sure that his former classmates, Neale and Alex will be equally saddened by this news.
David and I were friends in the sixth form together and although afterwards we almost lost touch, he sought me out when I moved south in 1981 and we met occasionally after that. It was then that I discovered that he had become a world-renowned expert on occupational pensions with appointments including Chief Technical Adviser to the International Labour Office, Adviser to the European Commission on cross-border pensions and Special Adviser to the Chilean government. The firm he founded, Callund Consulting remains a leader in this field.
Throughout this distinguished career David remained his debonair generous self and it was a pleasure to be in his company. My thoughts are with his wife Christine and their family.

Sat 7-Dec-2013 11:02 - United Kingdom

Eric Moyse | eric~DOT~moyse~AT~sky~DOT~com

Fred Grey
Alumni who were taught by or knew Fred should look up an item currently included in the Cookson Country column of the South Tyneside Today website www.shieldsgazette.com. Fred's life is being celebrated mainly by former birdwatching friends with an exhibition at the Customs House.

Fri 15-Nov-2013 11:22 - Reading, United Kingdom

Bryan Cooper | brayncc~AT~gmail~DOT~com

The match George referred to took place in 1956 and is referred to in this link http://www.southtyneside.info/article/2054/Match-Ma
rks-100-Years-Of-Successful-School-Football-In-Sou
th-Tyneside.
John Talbut & Ronnie Fenton also have their own entries on Wikipedia.

Wed 9-Oct-2013 18:48 - North Wales

Robin Leslie | rbn_leslie~AT~yahoo~DOT~co~DOT~uk

I remember both Ronnie fenton and John Talbut, both were in the same year as me and John Talbut was in the same form under Mr Halling. John Talbut and I and Victor Muncaster formed the successful under 14 relay team that won the relay at the Durham County Championships at Darlington Rolling Mills ground in 1954. Jack had entered the High School after coming up to Tyneside from Wandsworth in London. I'm sure Jack Talbut was an England schoolboy international! Not only was Jack full of fun in class and elsewhere he was a pleasure to know. Ronnie Fenton I knew less well but for his size he could hit a ball with force and was a very nippy dribbler. God rest Ronnie I have never forgotten either him or Jack. In 1954 I sadly left my very happy years at the High School and went on to Barnard Castle School, but I will always treasure those two years at the High School.

Thu 3-Oct-2013 20:04 - United Kingdom

George Connett | georgejamesconnett~AT~googlemail~DOT~com

Just a liitle more on hearing about the death of Ronnie Fenton. Ronnie played in the very successful South Shields Schoolboys which reached the national semi final but only to lose to Manchester Schoolboys. I remember going with my father to watch them at Simonside Hall , must have been in the 1956- 58 time zone.Also in this team was another ex old boy, John Talbut,who is not listed amongst famous old boys but who played for West Bromwich Albion and was regarded as a none compromising and commanding centre half. Not sure if John and Ronnie ever played in the same West Brom side ,John was born in the same year as Ronnie and I'm sure he would be chuffed to see his name being included and recognised along with other famous ex old boys.

Sun 29-Sep-2013 19:20 - Central Gardens South Shields

Eric Moyse | eric~DOT~moyse~AT~sky~DOT~com

Today's Shields Gazette on line today reports the sad death at the age of 73 of former football star player and manager Ron Fenton, a Shieldsman who I am pretty sure attended the School. Perhaps another alumnus who visits this website can add more.

Sat 28-Sep-2013 09:53 - Reading, England

From Mike T: Thanks for that, Eric. Yes, I can confirm that Ronald Fenton was at the school from September, 1952. There's a mini-biography on the "famous Old Boys" page.

Neale Backhouse | nealebackh~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hi Mike
I couldn't resist just one more of these. From the Editorial page of the Victoria Times Colonist this morning, "Family farms can grow jobs."
I promise that's the last. Neale.

Sun 22-Sep-2013 21:18 - Victoria BC Canada

Bryan Cooper | brayncc~AT~gmail~DOT~com

I'm currently on holiday in France and idly looking at previous posts. One that caught my attention was in regard to the 'Remove' form. When first introduced it appeared to be called 6 something but, certainly, in 1960 and 61 it was called 5R (I know, 'cos I was there!). If you look at the relevant pics you can see that the members of the Remove look a lot older than their putative contemporaries. In 1960/61 one of the members was about 18, as I remember.
How old was the oldest boy to attend? I suggest Malcolm Stoker who must have been 21 when he left.

Sun 8-Sep-2013 20:49 - Airvault, France

From Mike T: It's difficult to give a meaningful "oldest boy", because a number of boys joined at age 18 or 19 in the 60s and 70s to sit or resit exams, and some of these left at 20 and 21.

But Malcolm Stoker was one of several boys who left aged 20.

The youngest leaving age? That was Wilfred Hutchings, who left at the age of 5y 4m. But that was in 1919 when the school was taking boys of 5 and 6 years of age.

Sadly, not all the school's records include leaving dates, so my database has nearly 300 boys whose leaving ages are unknown.

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