South Shields Grammar-Technical School for Boys   
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Viewing messages 421 to 430

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com
Having just watched the FA Cup Final on TV and being a GOM (Grumpy Old Man) when it comes to footballers (and Bankers) salaries it occurred to me that the percentage of sportsmen reaching the highest level is miniscule.

Our school, in my day at least, promoted sport very actively and we had some reasonable athletes in my year. Yet we had only one boy who went on to play football for the town and a few who had trials for Westoe RFC.

I have seen little correspondence concerning the excellence in the sporting arena of former pupils. Perhaps some of you know of contempoararies who excelled in one sport or another.

Maybe they're worth £5million a year - or not!!
Sat 11-May-2013 19:38 - Ruskington, Lincolnshire

From Mike T:   There have certainly been a few big sporting names from the school, and I'd be interested in more.
Steve Clothier (1967-73) | stephenclothier~AT~btinternet~DOT~com
Just dipping my toe into this pool, but recall marching down to the Market Square in 1967/68 in my sea scout uniform. We set off from the baptist church next to the Town Hall and duly received an orange on our return.
Hard to believe I left SSGTSfB forty years ago this coming June and after eight years of army service,retired in 2010 after fifteen years as a primary headteacher.
Afraid I've missed all reunions so far but would like a chance to re-visit the old place.
Tue 9-Apr-2013 23:02 - Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England.
Ed, Forster | r2edforster~AT~live~DOT~ca
Re Neale's piece about the old timers game, I watched a game there with Hughie Galacher & Warney Cresswell who who played for the old Shields team & went on to the big league & played seven times for England at full back. I recall playing for the red house team @ school before & during the war oh happy days.
Sat 6-Apr-2013 19:01 - PEI Canada
Alan Whittaker(52-59) | alan~AT~whittaker4000~DOT~fsnet~DOT~co~DOT~uk
Hi Everyone,
Reference the Good Friday March I believe that this year was the 161st event. I remember in the late 40's early 50's as a member of Harton Methodist Church we would form up at the Nook along with the Guides, Scouts,Boy's Brigade etc.we would then get on special buses which took us to Mile End Rd where we formed up and joined the march along King St. For most kids the highlight of the occasion was getting the free orange at the end of Service in the Market Place! I have heard that an additional Service is now being held at 6pm on the Sea Front on Easter Sunday. BRRRRRR!
Thu 4-Apr-2013 14:08 - Somerset
Neale Backhouse '46- '51. | nealebackh~AT~gmail~DOT~com
Hi Mike
Even though this is once again becoming a '46ers party, I'd like to respond to Alex's recollection of Good Friday marches. I had to check with Liz to get her input on this annual ritual. She recalls wearing her new Easter clothes in completely inappropriate weather, white socks and all, marching to the accompanionment of the Boy's Brigade Band, banners held high, along King Street and ending at the Market Place for the Church Service. All the children received a blood orange as reward for their perseverance.
As for the old timers game at Horsley Hill Stadium, I remember a full house watching a team of former pros, including Newcastle Utd pre-war star, Hughie Galacher and Alex James, of Arsenal fame, take on Harton Colliery "All Stars" I apologize to the younger generation to whom these names are meaningless. These games were always a lot of fun, especially on a sunny day, with the old timers showing the young lads from the colliery a few tricks they had never seen before, even though the old boys were, at times, gasping for breath.
Old memories die hard don't they?
Tue 2-Apr-2013 20:51 - Victoria BC, Canada
Eric Moyse | eric~DOT~moyse~AT~sky~DOT~com
How about a UK Chancellor of the Exchequer who refers to a "one pence reduction in income Tax?" Fit for purpose? Hardly!
Mon 1-Apr-2013 10:23 - United Kingdom
Alex Patterson, '46-'51 | alexpatterson~AT~videotron~DOT~ca
Hello Mike and Happy Easter,
I am moved to add to the recent correspondence on expressions currently in use. One of my pet peeves is the use of “in and of itself” Example: “The new regulation is in and of itself onerous enough.....”
It is used frequently on a local radio station here in Montreal and it seems to be popular in the New York Times (week-end edition). I don’t hear it much in everyday conversation, but when I do, I cringe and think, “What a posturing, pompous popinjay.” No I don’t Mike, what I really think is, “What a pillock!”
Another expression that is widely and wildly used here is “going forward” This seems to be a favourite of politicians, financiers and business people. Last week’s worst example was, “Going forward, we have to go back to square one.”
I have no problem with Neale’s “No worries”, although it would be cool if we could like grow the number of contributors to your site, Mike, which in and of itself should be sufficient to attract more clients going forward. I guess that would take a ‘paradigm shift’
Don’t get me started...it’s Backhouse’s fault, Sir.
Did anyone go on the Good Friday March today? Did anyone go to Horsley Hill Stadium for the Oldtimer’s Match?...happy days!
Regards from a sunny and mild (10 C) Montreal
Alex Patterson
Fri 29-Mar-2013 19:43 - Montreal, Canada
Neale | nealebackh~AT~gmail~DOT~com
I've noticed,Michael, that here in Victoria, "No Problem" is getting quite a bit of competition from the Ausie import, "No Worries"
Fri 22-Mar-2013 00:40 - Victoria BC, Canada
Michael Lawrenson 1946 | lawrenson~AT~hollyburn~DOT~plus~DOT~com
That’s an interesting exchange and it only proves that the language I once knew is slipping away from me! ‘Grow’ in its extended forms I hadn’t noticed, but so much has changed. ‘Cool’ used to be the opposite of ‘warm’ and ‘like’ had fairly restricted usage. Nowadays it’s sprinkled, like almost at random, in any sentence. Offer to do a simple task such as opening a door for someone and you’ll find the simple ‘Thanks’ is giving way to ‘No Problem!’ (I never implied there was).
Wed 20-Mar-2013 23:12 - Scotland

From Mike T:   Language has always changed, of course. "Cool", for instance, was used to mean calm and composed in the 16th century, it developed to become an expression meaning assured - then along came jazz and it was used to expressed a relaxed and assured. Through ongoing usage, with an allusion to the jazz scene, it came to describe things that were particularly pleasant.

"Like", unfortunately, has just become a filler word with no real meaning.

As for "Thanks" giving way to "No Problem!", isn't it a response to "Thanks"?

We've always had responses to someone saying "thanks" (it should be "I thank you" of course) - "my pleasure", "you're welcome", "happy to do it" or something similar. "No problem" (or "it's not a problem") is just as valid a response in my view. In my view there's no implication that the other party thought there might have been.

Language changes in the distant past were part of an exceptionally slow and somewhat fragmented feedback loop that it took one or more generations before change (or even constancy) propagated.

With books and the rise of mass media, the changes gathered pace, and changes were seen within lifetimes.

Now, with instant global personal publishing, and the increasing compartmentalisation of society, the feedback loop is way too fast and restricted to too narrow a group. The result is that some changes have come and gone so quickly that the next round of changes are already in place before the wide population gets to see them.

That's why it is more important than ever for schools to pay attention to grammar, spelling and good communication. Sadly, they don't.
Neale | nealebackh~AT~gmail~DOT~com
Interesting (and thanks). I just feel that this is one of those expressions that suddenly caught on with people who make such claims. Once on the airwaves they spread like wildfire. Causing your business to grow, or resulting in a growth in business, don't have the zing effect that the messenger is after.

Maybe as Topsy said "I suppose it just growed" (except she said, I.)
Wed 20-Mar-2013 18:56 - Victoria BC, Canada

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