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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only rules are: real names only, no personal attacks and no unrelated messages (inappropriate messages may be edited/withdrawn without warning).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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Viewing messages 211 to 220

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

(1951-58) Reference to David Phillips. By checking the 1955-56 photos we were in same 5th. Form but different classes.

There was a lot of talent amongst the lads in those "vintage" years! We shall not forget including the pain for the gain!

Mon 15-Nov-2021 19:00 - south shields

Alan Whittaker(53-59) | alan~DOT~diwhittaker~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Adding to the comments from Bruce about Mining being a lifetime career I retrieved a GTSFB Sports Day programme from June 1958.On the back page is an NCB recruitment advert headed "Would you like to help spend 1,000,000,000 Pounds'
It then goes on to state the intention to spend that amount on reconstruction of the British Coalmining Industry over the next 10 years and to highlight the " "unrivalled career prospects" in the South Shields/Sunderland area!!

I would imagine most High School pupils accepted the wording without question!

Tue 9-Nov-2021 17:20 - Langford Budville, Somerset

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

Good to see a "new" contributor. Alan Wightman's reminiscences of the coal industry in the North East reminded me of several things. First of all was the fact that mining was then regarded as a "job for life" as was the ship building industry. I also reflected in my autobiographical reminiscences that at that time you couldn't travel anywhere in County Durham and be out of sight of the coal industry.

Who knows, in our declining years we might still get more new contributors It occurs to me that as Alan Wightman was 1951 - 1957 he was a contemporary of my old friend David Phillips (see famous old boys).

Hang on to that perch!

Thu 4-Nov-2021 19:57

Alan Whittaker(53-59) | alan~DOT~diwhittaker~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Can anyone remember the name of the pupil who played the organ at the Odeon cinema during the intermissions in the 1950s?

Thu 4-Nov-2021 10:28 - Langford Budville, Somerset

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

Stewart Hamilton: Charlie Constable once said at the time of 'Visual Aids' that
"Aall ya need is a piece of chalk and a blackboard".
Well, during 2 years 6th. that statement might be classified as generous on his part! He would dictate his class lesson at non-stop speed. We 'invented' our own form of "Pitman Shorthand' to take notes in preparation for an essay on the subject. Not a speck of chalk dust!

Bill, 'Pop' Lucas was my Headmaster ably assisted by esteemed Charlie Constable and equally Alf 'Pan' Hedley with Fred'
'Basher' Grey for the 6th. Form.

First day at school "Pop' came into the classroom & gave a pat on the shoulder with words of encouragement when he spotted the look of consternation on my face as I fell victim to a page of algebra. Then we were a few hundred, now about one thousand six hundred & fifty.
ALMA MATER
Some have left us Alma Mater,
Labours ended, tasks all done;
Gone aloft to their Creator,
Heard the Master's, "Welcome, son".
Though their deeds are not engraven
In the storied halls of fame,
Yet to their desired haven,
Have they borne an honoured name!

They are remembered by photographs on the wall of the main corridor.

Wed 27-Oct-2021 13:29 - south shields

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

Black Dust' many, 'Black Gold' the few.

'In 1936, George Orwell spent one day down a coal-mine described in his 'Road to Wigan Pier'. It was vivid as he struggled
to describe the heat, noise, darkness, foul air and above all, unbearably cramped space. Just the walk from shaft to coalface, much of it spent stooping, crouching or crawling, reduced him as a fit 32 year-old, to agony. He noted that many of the miners had 'buttons down their vertebrae': life-time scabs stained with coal dust.
Coal was central to the war effort. It not only kept people warm but powered industry, railways and shipping.
Many coal mines used explosives to loosen the rock and coal for removal by using shovels and trucks. Pneumoconiosis
known as 'Black Lung Disease' was caused by long-term exposure to coal dust. The disease subjected miners to a shortened and debilitating existence until they ultimately succumbed to the ravages of the illness / 'Black Death'.

(I hope it will be agreed that we 'Old Boys' present a copy of 'Black Gold' for the school library which I shall be happy to purchase.)

Tue 19-Oct-2021 13:38

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

'The History of how coal made Britain'.
Literary review: J. Paxman approaches his topic with characteristic panache. His book covers almost every aspect of British history in the last couple of hundred years. It is punctuated by accounts of those moments - usually a result of pit accidents - when miners attracted national attention'.

(I sent the request to his Publisher's to be forwarded at their discretion.
Let's hope he continues as Presenter of 'University Challenge')

Sun 17-Oct-2021 09:04 - South Shields

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

Bruce Graham wrote: 'Some time ago,
I suggested that it would be good to know that today's students were being taught something of the heritage of their town'.

Jeremy Paxman has just published his book, BLACK GOLD, based on our local heritage. In this context I have written suggesting he might consider signing a copy. We 'Old Boys' will in turn present it to the present Headteacher for the school library.

Tue 12-Oct-2021 13:16 - South Shields

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

NIL DESPERANDUM

Hi! Robin and 'Old Boys'. Hope you are all well as I found our school on my visit yesterday guided by most-helpful acting Headteacher.
The 'old' school of 1951-58 is mainly recognisable as per the Headteacher's /
Secretary's offices. However, Prefects' room now used by Staff. I walked the same corridors and we are remembered by photos displayed on the walls.
Teaching facilities are excellent due to a huge financial investment.
Maybe we can request a group visit with Mike as much to compare and admire as per the 20 metre length swimming-pool!
I'm sure all staff, teaching and support share a pride and passion for the school which has been a light burning bright throughout its impressive history.

>

Maybe one day we can organise a group visit with Mike?

Wed 6-Oct-2021 10:25 - south shields

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

It is good to hear that Alan Wightman is still around because I was at the High School for a brief two years from 1952 to 1954. I remember Billy Edgar, Ronnie Kemp, Jack Talbot( the England schoolboy international) Geoffrey Hilcoat, Ian Murray and many more. I enjoyed the High School but left for Barnard Castle School in Summer 1954. The masters I remember were Jimmy Emerson, Pan Hedley,Dickinson, Pablo Dunstan, Ellis, Halling and the Head. Happy days. Keep in touch and thank you Mike for a wonderful website.

Tue 5-Oct-2021 10:53 - Cobham Surrey

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