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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only rules are: real names only, no personal attacks and no unrelated messages (inappropriate messages may be edited/withdrawn without warning).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 101 to 110

Mike Todd

There's no doubt that HC won't come cheap for tomorrow's event. But, like many of these speakers who do the rounds, the fee will depend on a lot of factors - including whether an event is corporate/commercial, local/social or free/paid entry, as well as the number attending.

I've seen reports for corporate events in the upper 5-figures, but I would GUESS a gig like Shields would be in the upper 4-figures.

I worked with her Secret Service protection many years ago, and spent time with her and the agents when she was at the BBC for three days. She was doing radio interviews all over the country to promote her book and it was felt safer and logistically sensible to stay in the one place.

Security in these situations where it's a closed and controlled environment is still fairly tight - but an open event like Shields will be much tighter, and photo ID and an invitation is required to get in.

Thu 26-May-2022 09:26

Alex Patterson VUA 1946-1951 | ad1935ap~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hello Mike et al,
With regard to Bruce's query about the sponsorship of Hillary Clinton's forthcoming visit to our school, here are some words from Sir Ken Gibson.
"The free event has been made possible with sponsorship from Colman’s Seafood Temple (formerly known as "Gandhi's Temple") and Colman’s of Ocean Road, ( formerly known as "Colman's Fish and Chips"} Education Mutual and Durham University."
The words in parentheses are mine.
No idea what the donation would be to sponsor such an event, but it's a lot of haddock and chips IMHO.
Best Wishes from a warm and pleasant North York,
Alex

Thu 26-May-2022 02:20 - North York, Ontario, Canada

alan wightman | aconlan111~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Good Morning, Mike & Everyone,

`Black Cats´ promoted to `Championship´.

Sandancer-Geordieland.

Sun 22-May-2022 09:25 - south Shields

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

I wonder who sponsors the event?

Clinton (H) and Milliband (D) don't come cheap and neither of them would think of turning right when they board their flights from the USA.

Sat 21-May-2022 17:09 - ruskington lincolnshie

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

Kudos to Alex and Mike for keeping us informed about happenings at our former school. The only similar event I can remember is when the right honourable Chuter Ede, our district MP ( I believe he was a Cabinet Minister) was guest of honour at Speech Day in 1951 and impressed us all with his Parliamentary eloquence.

Well done Alex, 87 years old and still displaying your youthful enthusiasm for charging the batteries in the Guestbook.

Sun 15-May-2022 16:56 - Victoria BC

Mike Todd

I found out about Clinton last week, and dropped the Exec Head an email to see if there might be a ticket. Not heard anything, but the lectures are often very heavily subscribed.

I only went to one of the early lectures (Patrick Stewart), but there've been some big names ever since (John Major, Sting, Bill Bryson, Gary Lineker etc).

In my job at the BBC I worked with Clinton and her Secret Service team for 3 days (even got a Secret Service medal "For Outstanding Support") and she came over as very sincere - but she's a politician, so is paid to be of course.

The relationship between Ken Gibson and David Miliband has been a strong one, and very good for the school.

Sat 14-May-2022 09:28

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

Wow!! What a coup for the school.

Fri 13-May-2022 19:05 - ruskington lincolnshie

Alex Patterson 1946-1951 VUA | ad1935ap~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hello Mike et al,
While reading my digital copy of the South Shields Gazette, I came across the following item regarding Hillary Clinton’s upcoming visit to South Shields and our school (Formerly SSGTSFB and now Harton Academy}
“David Miliband has announced that the 2022 South Shields Lecture will be delivered by former US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Lecture will take the form of a conversation on ‘Politics and Beyond’, with discussion between David Miliband and Hillary Clinton with questions from the audience. This will be the 18th lecture in a series which started in 2001, and the 12th to be held at Harton School”
And Hillary added ‘‘I know how proud David is of South Shields, so I was delighted to accept his invitation to deliver the 2022 South Shields Lecture. My Great Grandfather lived just down the road from South Shields in Durham, so in some ways I feel I will be coming home! The world is facing so many challenges and we need more discussion about how to build a more secure world for our children and grandchildren. I look forward to my discussion with David and the people of South Shields.”
I would love to be there, but all of the free tickets have been over-applied for and there is a huge waiting list for any cancellations. Maybe next time !!
Best wishes to all from a warm and sunny North York,
Alex Patterson

Wed 11-May-2022 18:19 - North York, Ontario, Canada

alan wightman | aconlan11~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Good Morning, Mike & Everyone,

Don´t Panic! RAF!

`Ready to Rumble´ brilliant `Army´ tactic to provoke `TANK´ responses.
Worthy of King Henry V at `Battle of Agincourt´.

Compliments to `Dark Horse´. In token I have placed a bet on `Enjoy D´Alan´ in today´s `Grand National´. `RAF´ horse named `Lost in Translation´.

`Sandancer´- `Geordieland´.

`

Sat 9-Apr-2022 11:40 - south Shields

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

I'm getting lost in this conversation.

Didn't study German at school and despite a 2 week German language course at Rheindahlen in the mid 70's

"Ich nicht spreche Deutsche so gut"

But what was RTR?

Fri 8-Apr-2022 19:31 - ruskington lincolnshie

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