Retford Grammar School - Masters in 1954

Although the webmaster has not seen these men for 50 years, their pictures trigger instant recognition and memory of their characters, habits, peculiarities and strengths, although they have all passed away by now.

	01 JONES Brangwyn (German)		02 SIMPSON Alan "Flash" (Physics)		03 PROTHERO (English)		04 McNEIL Duncan "Dunc" (Physics)
	05 PENROSE Jack (Art)		06 JONES "Poof" (Maths)		07 ILLINGWORTH John D "Tash" (Maths)		08 BARTLEY Howard "Bart" (English)
	09 CHARLTON E.C. "Charlie" (English)		10 McFERRAN Rev.W.P. "Mac" (Geography)		11 GOVER John C.H. "F.J." (Maths)		12 BEASLEY Bernard "Bo" (Physics)
	13 CHISLETT Peter "Chiz" (French)		14 JONES "Taffy" (Chemistry)		15 BROOKE Hedley "Beaky" (Geography)		16 ALCOCK P.J. (French>
	17 McNEIL -WATSON Bernard "Boris" (Latin)		18 GOODER Graham (Music)		19 MILLER Keith F "Snoz" (Chemistry)		20 JAUBERT Henri (French assistant)
	21 FINLAY Keith (Scripture)		22 POLLITT H.J. "Spike" (History)		23 Dr. HEATHCOTE A.W. "Doc" (Philosophy)

NOTES

01 Mr G Brangwyn JONES BA (Oxon) joined the staff 1953, left in 1957, German master.

02 If my memory is correct that is Alan(?) "Flash" Simpson who was our Physics teacher. He was a Mancunian who always carried an umbrella and always walked everywhere at great speed and went up the stairs to the Physics Lab 3 steps at a time - hence "Flash". As I recall he was only at the school for a fairly short period - possibly only 2 years ( 1954 - 1956 ) Peter Ledger

03 Mr R PROTHROUGH English master 1951-57

04 An extract from the Retfordian Dec 1961 Mr and Mrs McNeil were returning from scotland at the end of a holiday, when their stationary car was struck by a lorry loaded with sheep. They were killed instantly, while their daughter, Elizabeth was knocking at a farmhouse to report some straying pigs.

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06 The nickname had nothing to do with its modern connotation, but from him often shouting at a poor maths student "...but where is your poof boy, your poof"

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08 Mr Bartley is mentioned in The Retfordian of Summer 1937

09 Mr Charlton began at RGS in Easter 1930 (recorded in Retfordian)

10 Extracts from the Retfordian Dec 1957 Joined RGS Jan 19 1920... lively, slim young Irishman...Geography master, Edward House master, Form master of IV....became a REVerend in 1927... Helped revive the Scout troop...subsidiary career as a writer and University lecturer on local studies in the villages of North Notts...keen amateur actor, stage manager....became 2nd master in 1926... organised School Sports day and croos-country...told a [never ending] story about 'Troddles', told by one soldier to another in the African Desert to prove his claim to be an old Retfordian... retired in 1957 as Vicar of a country parish in Cardington, Shropshire.

11 Extract from A History, by Grounds, p239: J C H Gover was a scholar of Emmanuel Colege, Cambridge, former senior Maths master at Q E G School, Barnet...Rose to the rank of Lt-Col in WW2... came to Retford from the post of Principal of Bamber Bridge Emergency Training College near Preston...has been a diocesan lay reader...

12 Bernard BEASLEY was Physics master for 37 years from 1925 to his sudden death in 1962 (his arrival is recorded in Retfordian Xmas 1925).

13 Mr CHISLETT began at RGS in summer 1934 (recorded in Retfordian)

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16 Mr P J ALLCOCK, French master 1947-1957

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18 Retfordian July 1951 Mr J G GOODER joined the staff in Jan 1951, left in Jul 1955

19 Mr K MILLER Science master 1952-57

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21 Mr JMK FINLAY BA (Cantab) joined the staff 1953, left in Jul 1955, involved with Scripture, athletics, music and drama.

22 Extracts from Retfordian July 1961 Leaving...Mr H J Pollitt MA (Cantab) who has been Senior History Master since 1945... taking up similar post at Cheadle Hulme G S... gained Ph.D. at Sheffield... ran a school choir and an orchestra... organised camps in Anglesey

23 Dr A W HEATHCOTE MA, MSc, MTh, PhD, Religious Knowledge joined 1955, left 1957

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