Old Boys, Girls and Teachers Guestbook

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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only rules are: real names only, no personal attacks and no unrelated messages (inappropriate messages may be edited/withdrawn without warning).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 171 to 180

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

Good to see Alex back in the Guestbook contributors fold ("We few" springs to mind!)

I seem to recall one of the few remembering the "Grahams" of the year ahead of them, particularly in respect of rugby. It was a curiosity - perhaps Unique ( a word not to be used lightly as it is an absolute adjective)
that there were three boys in the "A" form from 1945 sharing the same surname, two of them (my brother CD and GG) from the Sutton Estate,. It must have been very confusing for the teachers but I think the lads got by with appropriate nicknames base on initials.

I can't understand why the "old" school building isn't listed.

Thu 13-Jan-2022 19:00 - ruskington lincolnshie

Alex Patterson 5UA 1946-1951 | ad1935ap~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hello Mike,
I forgot to mention that the reason our Boxing Day get-together was cancelled, was because my son-in-law host had contracted COVID. However here we are 10 days later and he is back to normal except for a lingering congestion; his latest test today shows him clear of infection
Regards,
Alex.

Thu 6-Jan-2022 01:54 - North York, Ontario, Canada

Alex Patterson, 5UA, 1946-1951 | ad1935ap~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hello Mike,
I was sorry to read about your recent heart episode and hope that everything goes well with treatment and medication. I had my first heart attack over 50 years ago when I was 36 then two more 2 years ago. I didn't know I was having any problems...only a very bad cough. After the third attack I was taken to the emergency ward, still no discomfort and had a pacemaker installed next morning. no problems subsequently. I hope you'll be as lucky and you'll be at the 100th anniversary of the school...see you there. We spent Christmas Day with one of our daughters here in Toronto with two of our grandchildren and were due to spend Boxing Day with the whole family (15 of us) but COVID restrictions prevented that, limiting gatherings to 10 fully vaccinated people. Our middle daughter called to tell us the party was off...her husband had tested positive!! So we had to make do with a nosh up of French Toast and some Turkey that our Christmas Day son-in-law cut up for us.
Our Granddaughter and our two great-grandchildren joined us here last Tuesday so we managed to see the whole family in dribs and drabs over the holidays. I don't know about anyone else, but I find the days fly by...I thought being retired would be lazy days galore, but I'm busy from morning until bedtime and reading in bed is a thing of the past. Speaking of which, it's bedtime as I write...so 'Good Night' everyone and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year filled with good cheer.
Aaaaarrrabest,
Alex

Sun 2-Jan-2022 06:20 - North York, Ontario, Canada

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

Merry Christmas Mike and to all members of the Guestbook fraternity. I was about to say from the Colonies, but the mood here in BC is all about promoting the removal of all vestiges of Colonisation and emphasising efforts at reconciliation with indigenous groups. That said, the latest proposal to overhaul sections of the Provincial Museum, here in Victoria, which highlight the history of early, mostly British, settlers has met with a storm of opposition. Long cherished exhibits are being dismantled in efforts to "soften" the historical record. A sign of the times I suppose.

Fri 24-Dec-2021 19:54 - Victoria BC

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

Mike

"It" - the site - didn't just come into being, YOU created "it". All of us who have enjoyed your handiwork owe you an immense debt of gratitude.

Hang on in there, all oy you.

Sun 19-Dec-2021 13:31 - ruskington lincolnshie

Mike Todd | old~DOT~boys~AT~boyshighschool~DOT~co~DOT~uk

Can I just say a huge thank you to all those who have visited the site since it was created 20 years ago this week, particularly those who have commented here. I don’t often say much, but I read all messages (I think!)

There is so much affection for the old Alma Mater (yes, we do “revere thee, standing guard on northern shore”) and I’m pleased that the original plan to knock down the old school was ditched.

I had a couple of discussions with Ken Gibson at the time and stressed the hope that the old building would be preserved. I like to think these, and some of the content of this site, might have had some influence on the decision to preserve it. We even talked of trying to get it listed, but that didn’t happen.

The old building will be 100 years old in 2036 - I don’t know if I’ll be around then, but who knows.

2021 has been an awful year all round – not just with Covid, but on a personal level I ended up in hospital a couple of times in the early spring, had a burst gallbladder removed then went into severe sepsis. This latter has certainly affected my cognitive abilities, but I'm hanging in there.

Then my car fell apart - so I’m now driving an electric. And then the big storm hit. I was lucky to be less affected than many others here in Rothbury and the rest of Northumberland.

So I wish everyone here a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS, and big hopes that 2022 will be markedly better for all. I also hope that the site continues to attract Old Boys over the coming years.

Sat 18-Dec-2021 22:49 - Rothbury, Northumberland

Robin Leslie | robin~DOT~leslie~AT~yahoo~DOT~com

I just want to say how proud I am to have South Shields High School for Boys as not just a memory but as a living reality in my life that has continued to influence my thoughts and hopes. I was sad when the local Labour Party changed the name of the school to South Shields Grammar Technic School, which sounded and felt clumsy and mediocre. I'm not a snob but we have seen the emphasis on technique and technical destroy the older and slower considerate and more wholesome education that Bruce Graham, Alan Wightman and I were fortunate to receive. However we must build and hope for a better tomorrow and in that vein I wish Mike, Bruce and Alan and anyone else involved with this lovely site A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A BETTER NEW YEAR.

Sat 18-Dec-2021 21:14 - Cobham Surrey

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

I read with alarm the message concerning the "mooted" idea of demolishing the "old" school building. Is it true?

It led me on to look at the officially "Listed" buildings in SS, convinced that our old school would be included. It isn't and therefore has no protected status.

I join with Robin Leslie and Alan Wightman in extending seasonal greetings to anyone reading this site and hope that Rothbury has recovered from its prolonged power outage!!

Sat 18-Dec-2021 20:33 - ruskington lincolnshie

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

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

We are fortunate as a plan had been 'mooted' to demolish the 'old' school and replace with the now 'new' Academy.
The main entrance was the 'back-drop' to many class photos. The 'iconic' pond no longer exists but 'substituted' by a fish-tank for Carp in the then, green, green, 'quadrangle'. Then it was pleasing to the eye and synonymous to 'higher' learning per universities and calming as per 'cloisters'.

However, on occasions used by 'Basher' to perform exercises on the 'Rings' to our unbounded admiration.

The Organ in the hall was paid for by the 'High School Old Boys' Association.' The Acting Headteacher assured it hadn't been played for years. Perhaps this after-school visit be opportune for his rendering of Handel's 'The Cuckoo and the Nightingale'? Instant response of 'Norway'! (Sandancer).

Tue 14-Dec-2021 14:24 - south shields

Robin Leslie | robin~DOT~leslie~AT~yahoo~DOT~com

For Mike and all OBs
Wishing you all a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a GOOD NEW YEAR
Very little snow down here but very cold. Shields is an attractive seaside resort now but sad to see so much of its heritage and history being demolished and much of character being torn out of it. Keep safe and well. Thank you Mike for your dedication. I learned of Ian Murray's death through dementia. Ian was a brilliant sportsman and it was all the more devastating to hear of his sufferings leading to his death. God bless all. Back in the New Year

Mon 13-Dec-2021 15:23 - Cobham Surrey

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