Life Through a Lens
ONA remembers Richard Hanson (79-86)
Also in this issue: The O.T.C. in 1914 | ‘Solid and Valuable as a Brick of Gold’ | Penrith Reunion Issue 93 | Spring 2015
ONA Magazine Issue 93
Spring 2015
Contents
ONA Magazine is the magazine
for the Old Novocastrians’ Association
Editor: Jane Medcalf
All correspondence should be addressed
to: The Development Office,
Royal Grammar School, Eskdale Terrace,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4DX
Telephone Development Office:
0191 212 8909 email:
[email protected]
The Editor reserves the right to edit, alter
or omit all submissions to the magazine.
Copy may be carried over to the next
edition. The Editor’s decision is final.
Contribute!
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We are always looking for articles and
news from Old Novos to include in the
magazine, so send your contributions,
via email (if possible) to:
[email protected]
or to the Development Office at the school.
Please include relevant pictures if
possible. They will be returned as soon
as the magazine has been printed.
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The deadline for acceptance of copy for the
Summer 2015 issue is 9 March 2015.
Copy may be carried over to a future issue.
Special thanks to David Goldwater (5162) for his research and contributions to the
ONA Magazine, particularly on his search
for A History of the RGS in Its People.
The ONA Magazine is
available online
Please note that the magazine is circulated
both in hard copy and by email to many
members of the Association. Each edition
is added to the ONA website shortly after
circulation. By submitting an article or news
for inclusion the contributor is accepting
that it will be available through both formats
and will also be accessible beyond the
Association membership through internet
search engines or any member of the public
viewing the ONA website.
www.ona.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk
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Cover image: Courtesy of Ingrid Hanson
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Please note that the ONA Magazine content does not
neccessarily reflect the views of the school or the ONA
and is based on personal experiences, recollections
and memories of its contributors.
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Design www.infinitedesign.com
President’s Welcome
News and Congratulations
ONA Now and Then
The O.T.C. in 1914
Tour de Force
‘Solid and Valuable as a Brick of Gold’
The Cost of Education
A History of the RGS in Its People
Penrith Reunion 2014: 70 Years On
Obituaries
Welcome
May I firstly say how pleased I am to welcome you to the spring
issue of the magazine in my first official capacity as President. I left
the school in 2002 to study Dentistry at Birmingham University
and returned to the North East in 2008: the same year former
President, David Westwood (95-02), Vice President, Chris Wilson
(97-02) and I joined the ONA committee. We initially hoped to
expand the merchandise range to include rugby shirts and
cufflinks! Not being satisfied with that alone I am delighted the
committee saw fit to let us take the reins at our relatively young
age. We also welcome the promotion of Kate Jarvis (02-04)
alongside Chris as Vice President.
I was delighted to assume the mantle from outgoing President
David and would like to take this opportunity to thank him and
the committee for all their hard work over the last two years
growing the Association from strength to strength. I look forward
to working more closely with development manager, Jane Medcalf
and the Headmaster, Bernard Trafford as well as essential support
and advice from David and the other committee members.
David has been a wonderful representative for us, extremely active
in promoting the Association and has given me a great platform to
start from. His presidency concluded with the oversubscribed
89th ONA Dinner of 160 guests at the school in October. The
dinner saw the 25th, 30th, and 60th reunions in addition to
Bill Elliott’s (52-88) A Level Applied Mechanics group as well as
highly entertaining speeches from the Headmaster and Tony
Boullemier (57-64). As usual, a great night was had by all and the
already high standards of the catering team led by Barrie Bulch
seem to improve year on year. A far cry from the days of queuing
in the rain with your lunch pass!
We now look forward to 2015 starting with the London ONA
Dinner hosted for the first time ever at the The East India Club on
6 March. This event proves more popular each year with people
travelling some distances as well as London-based ONs and is a
great evening to catch up with old friends, and make some new
ones too. I look forward to meeting you there.
Enjoy the magazine!
Chris Rutter (92-02)
ONA President
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
News and
Congratulations
We are delighted to have hosted recently…
Carl Watson (89-94) and son, George
2015 Rugby World Cup preparations
Carl Watson (89-94) We were extremely pleased to see
The Scotland national rugby team who trained on the 1st XV
pitch at Half Term ahead of their Autumn Test, using the
school facilities on a three-day training camp. RGS will host
the team this year when Scotland will use the school for their
2015 World Cup preparations.
Carl Watson returning to the RGS from Hong Kong during
the Summer Holidays with his son, daughter and niece.
Carl and his son, George shared a moment in Carl’s old
Fifth form classroom.
The 89th Annual ONA Dinner in which a record number of
ONs attended with 160 tickets reserved. The dinner was a
great success, particularly for the reunions who attended.
Thank you to reunion organisers Tim Hill (82-89), Martin
Purvis (79-84) and Dr Peter Robinson (54-60) for
organising 25th, 30th and 60th reunions. Special thanks
also to Mr Bill Elliott (52-88), retired teacher who managed
to fill four tables with former students who studied A Level
Applied Mechanics with him in the 70s and 80s and to our
highly entertaining guest speaker, journalist and author,
Tony Boullemier (57-64).
The 70th Reunion, September 2014
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Will Welch (98-08) and Tom Penny (03-13) who recently
trained on the 1st XV pitch with the Newcastle Falcons.
A 70th Reunion inspired by Burland Jacob (44-49) on
15 September 2014, celebrating 70 years since the 1944
starters first entered the school. Incidentally, on 14
September 1944 the whole school returned from Penrith
(see page 16 for a separate report on the Penrith Reunion)
having been evacuated there since 1 September 1939.
Fourteen ONs and their wives and partners returned to
school for the day, which included school lunch, school
tours and an A Level History lesson with Mr Tilbrook,
head of History.
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of staff.
Our congratulations go to…
Nanci Fairless-Nicholson,
Year 13, who won the ONA
Art Prize. Her prize was
presented to her at the
school Christmas Assembly
by Graham Mason (8996), head of Art who said:
Joe Fisher MBE (30-36)
on his MBE in the Queen’s
New Year’s Honours List for
his services to charity. Joe
has dedicated his life to
working tirelessly to help
polio sufferers ever since
contracting the disease
while serving in the Army.
Jason Pearlman (89-91),
political consultant who
has been appointed as
who played in the 133rd
international media advisor
Varsity Rugby Match at
to the new President of
Twickenham in November for Israel, Reuven Rivlin. In a
the winning side; Oxford
Facebook post announcing
beat Cambridge 43-6.
the appointment, Jason
wrote it is a ‘massive honour
Nick Gholkar (98-05) on
and privilege to work for the
his engagement to GP
head of state’.
trainee Sophia Lee.
Duncan Pollock (96-06)
Ami Noble-Newton
who played his first game
(03-05) and Clinton
and his first cap for Hong
McKellar Appleby (95-02) Kong against Russia. Jim
Pollock (67-77) sent in a
on their engagement.
picture of himself with his
Mohit Basudev (01-08)
son, taken at King’s Park,
on his engagement to
Kowloon, Hong Kong on
Isobel Howe.
Saturday 8 November after
the match.
John Hammill (83-93)
and Kate Jarvis (02-04) on
their engagement.
Basil Strang (04-11)
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
“We need to move beyond
thinking of the artist as
someone standing solely
at an easel. Nanci has been
there, but she is an artist of the future. Adept with brushes
and paints, or with film; she also possesses the skills of
an architect, geologist, a public speaker, a politician or
a scientist. What will identify her as an artist is an interest
in art’s true, historic mission: the promotion of a sensory
understanding of what matters most in life. She likes to
create occasions, which might mean a tower of sweets,
a crater of paint powder, a cake party or a space for others
to discuss events that will promote the values to which art
has always been devoted.
We wouldn’t be surprised, or see it as a loss of what art has
always been about, if many of the artists of the coming
decades do not produce traditional objects, and instead
head directly for the underlying mission of art: changing how
we experience the world.
Nanci is on the road to joining them”.
The ONA congratulate Nanci on her achievement.
Above: Nanci Fairless-Nicholson, Year 13
Below: Film still from Sound in Colour
ONA Now
and Then
statistics might appal rather than amuse.
In a sense, both are right, of course. Smith
rightly takes pride in the achievements of
his period in the school: Cox inevitably
occupies the same territory as I must
nowadays, certainly taking delight in high
academic achievement, including places
won at Oxbridge, while appreciating that
parents and students alike demand a
broader range of what nowadays we too
often term ‘outcomes’ from education.
them achieve those remarkable results
while still pursuing energetically that huge
range of sporting, artistic and cultural
activities that have always characterised
the RGS.
At the heart of it all, though, is that
amazing experience of diverse people
(yet, in a sense, with like minds) who enjoy
great experiences at school and form
lifelong friendships. It’s no surprise (but
a delight) to me that ONs from many years
That breadth differs little from the many
ago still enjoy reunions. How good to see
pictures of the past painted in the following the Penrith group meet again (and vow
pages. There were no glittering prizes to
to continue!)
It is, I suppose, an
be won by the boys who enjoyed O.T.C.
occupational hazard
camps in 1914: but they still took part, and Moreover, in September it was a joy to
made the most of them (as our boys and
welcome the ‘class of 1944’ to celebrate
for school heads to be
girls do to this day).
almost to the day 70 years since they
accused of boasting.
started at the RGS. We heads too swiftly
After all, we’re employed When I was a young teacher, 35 years
assume that the course of the school is
ago
and
more,
the
Times
Educational
ever onward and upward, and that we
to be the figurehead
Supplement used to produce a schools’
must be doing so much better than all
of, and leading advocate
league table of Oxbridge scholarships
those years ago: but one of that group
won: there were no other statistics
(I’m sorry I can’t remember who) reminded
for, the school.
available. As the computer age made
me that some things are timeless.
such information ever easier to obtain the
appetite grew for league tables: I’m never He recalled the advice given to him
We’re expected to communicate our
sure whether that was fuelled by the
as an 11-year-old on his first day by
vision and ambition for the institution: we
the Headmaster, Mr Thomas (22-48).
also have to spread a relentlessly positive media, government or public interest.
The most important thing the school
message, praising the many triumphs and
could teach them, he stated, was
First A Levels, then GCSEs and now
even (dare I admit it?) minimising the
“thoughtfulness for others”.
a host of other measures are used in
shortcomings.
a variety of analyses to create league
The RGS teaches a great many other
tables: initially by newspapers; next for
Nonetheless I’m not being in any way
government; and nowadays newspapers things too, now as then: but if that were the
self-congratulatory when I applaud the
primary lesson that the 11-year-olds who
take the government’s figures in order to
manner in which the ONA Magazine is
joined us last September take away from
manipulate
them
and
create
their
own
currently going from strength to strength.
the school, I think I could be satisfied.
It’s all thanks to you loyal Old Novocastrians different league tables! They create a
particular form of madness that too easily
who seem to be inspiring one another,
Bernard Trafford
drives schools into focussing entirely on
from one edition to the next, to put pen to
those things that can be measured – to the Headmaster
paper (or, at least, to hammer the word
detriment of ‘softer’ skills and activities.
processor) and share your reminiscences
At the RGS we are both unlucky and
of RGS past.
fortunate. Unlucky because an
academically selective school can have
It’s healthy, too, to indulge in robust
debate. On the next page J Harvey Smith no hiding places: we do well in such
league tables because our boys and girls
(44-52) takes my ante-predecessor,
Alister Cox (72-94), to task for suggesting achieve so highly, but the pressure is on
that places won at Oxford and Cambridge to stay ‘up there’. But we are fortunate too
because our students are both talented
are a crude measure of a school’s
and hard-working, so that we can help
success, and that concentration on such
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ONA Now
and Then
Past and Future Learning
I am wondering why I feel
so edgy about Alister
Cox’s (72-94) ONA Now
and Then article in the
autumn ONA Magazine
(see issue 92). And so,
given also the request for
nostalgia on Sammy
Middlebrook (18-58), I
am writing this to find out.
“Fancy a school’s academic reputation
depending on the award of Oxbridge
scholarships,” says the 1972-1994
Headmaster. When I was at the RGS from
1944 to 1952 you went up to Cambridge,
down to Oxford (or vice-versa) and along
to King’s. We had a healthy, politically
incorrect sense of humour in those days.
There were far, far fewer universities then
– so what was so terrible and unnatural
about judging academic reputation on
Oxford and Cambridge scholarships?
How the future denigrates the past, safe
because it isn’t yet the past.
University entry was usually from a Third
Year Sixth, when boys went the rounds of
the college’s own exams searching less for
a Scholarship, or even an Exhibition, than
simply in the hope of being awarded a
place as a commoner and getting a local
government grant. So is the omission of
places or of the other universities the
academic reputation problem?
And what is this about Fliers/Flyers in the
60s? (“The Fliers had to fill out what was
called 2.1”). In 1944 you started in 2.1, 2.2
or 2.3, presumably because it was thought
that the more academically inclined would
learn better together, which is not such a
terrible idea either. There was a system of
promotion and relegation where some
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
pupils (not ‘students’) played the role
of Fulham and hovered between 2.1 and
2.2. But so what? Either you understood
the work or you didn’t. In 1944 there were
also boys who were a year younger than
others in the class, just as with the Fliers
when they skipped the Remove. If ‘maturity’
was later a concern you could always
do your two years’ National Service
before university.
When it came to university there was
no question of feeling “significantly unimpelled” to try for Oxford or Cambridge;
if there was a chance, why would you not
take it? I was saved from an academic
discendo duces plunge in the Sixth when
Higher School Certificate, which needed
two major subjects and two subsidiaries,
changed to a new system of three
equivalent A Levels. But you can only play
the side they put out against you.
It is the same for the past’s grandchildren,
who are still wading through an ebb tide
of coursework (which the future seems to
have thought a good thing). One of them
has had to study al-Qaida Terrorism for
GCSE History (she says because the boys
preferred it to Martin Luther King). This is
history? Another’s second-year A Level
History is called Interpretation and
Investigation, where he has to assess the
views of four historians related to a set
question, and write a formulaic essay.
The presumably excellent example essay
is unreadable, and therefore unmarkable.
His uncle declared it could only put his
own very academic daughter off doing
A Level History, her favourite subject. She
has just emerged from being told by her
school that for GCSE History you can’t use
knowledge from your own wider reading.
So much for the future.
My recollection of Sammy Middlebrook is
that he wrote notes on the blackboard and
you took them down, and if you had any
The Flyers, 1969
sense, learned them. It was unfortunate
for the American History A Level paper,
however, that his tutoring of an older pupil
for university entrance meant we had to
use those lessons to study for ourselves.
The result was that one boy in the exam
room (the gym) asked the invigilator:
“Is this the right paper, Sir?” and walked
out of the exam.
I have a copy of Sammy’s Newcastle upon
Tyne: It’s Growth and Achievement (1950),
with its beautifully balanced sentences,
signed in his graceful, even, rolling hand.
Referring to it just now I discovered two
Newcastle Corporation Transport tickets,
one for 3d, advertising on the back Cowies
For Motor Cycles, and one for 1 1/2d,
advertising Mackay Bros & Co Overseas
Removals – with the injunction: ‘Save this
ticket’. Which, evidently, I did.
Next to Sammy’s book in the shelf is
The Story of The Royal Grammar School
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The forewords,
1924 and 1936, are by that earlier
Headmaster ER Thomas (22-48) (still
a disciplinary figure in 1944). Appendix I
is ‘University Scholarships won by boys
of the school between 1874 and 1936.’
Cambridge and Oxford preponderate
with 96 scholarships, followed by
Newcastle institutions with 17 – Medical
College, the College of Physical Science,
and Armstrong College. Others are
Durham, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh
and Manchester universities, South
Kensington, Toynbee Hall, Royal School
of Mines London, and State Scholarships.
Does this pass the future’s test when
quantifying a school’s academic
reputation? Or will “young readers”,
in Alister Cox’s words, still “be less
amused than appalled by this glimpse
of the past” too? And which future?
J Harvey Smith (44-52)
The O.T.C.
in 1914
The Novocastrian
extracts
compiled by Mike
Barlow (53-64)
Surprisingly little has changed in the
100 years that have passed since the
First World War. Parades in school
taught the cadets the elements of
Certificate A (very like the Basic and
Advanced Proficiency that is taught
today), which involved drill, map
reading, fieldcraft and shooting.
Unlike today, the papers had to be sent
off to the War Office for marking, and
a pass marked out potential officers.
There were two camps in 1914, one in Race week at
Barnard Castle, and one in the summer on Salisbury Plain
that for obvious reasons was cut short. To show how little has
changed (except the fact that this was the only period when
a Headmaster in uniform took command), excerpts have
been taken from The Novocastian reports of the time: in the
text there is reference to the N.E.C.S. – the North Eastern
County School. In 1924 this became Barnard Castle School.
‘On Saturday 20th June, fifty-five cadets went into camp at
Westholme, Marwood, near Barnard Castle. The
Headmaster was in command. A better place for a camp
could hardly have been chosen, the weather was splendid,
and a very enjoyable and instructive week was spent.’
The next extract refers to The Field-Day during the camp,
and will be very familiar to generations of cadets, as the
scenarios are much the same today. One major difference
in the last 60 years is that fixed bayonets are no longer
issued to cadets! Some of you will remember the picture
(below) dated 1949 previously seen in issue 69.
‘On the top of the cliff behind the camp stands Porter’s
Farm, and here on the morning of the 25th June, we were
marched and halted, what time Major Talbot, Lieut.
Little, Sgt. Douglas reconnoitred with a squad of picked
scouts, who had been sent out before we left camp.
Presently word came in that the enemy (the N.E.C.S.
O.T.C.) were advancing through the fields above the river.
Accordingly our company moved off to take up its position.
A certain hedge was decided upon as our last position and
half way across the field in front of it, Sgt. Simpson
extended his party, while Sgt. Bailes with a flanking party
advanced on his left and Col.-Sgt. Potts took his men
upon the right, both these parties extending along a wall
Left: Major Talbot, Headmaster (12-22)
Below: A typical scene in 1914, cadets using fixed bayonets
(photo dated 1949)
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The next camp, organised centrally on Salisbury Plain, was
not such a happy affair. By this time the Archduke Ferdinand
had been assassinated and Austria-Hungary and Serbia
were making warlike noises.
which gave excellent cover. Barely two hundred yards in
front of them was the enemy, not yet deployed or extended
but in fours, on whom Col.-Sgt. Potts and Sgt. Bailes
opened a heavy and murderous fire.
But the enemy extended smartly and owing to their
superior numbers drove us back from the wall, Col.-Sgt.
Potts retiring to Sgt. Simpson, and Sgt. Bailes retiring to
the next hedge, where his party occupied the left corner,
sheltered by a low ridge planted with hawthorns. These
conditions were also prevalent along the rest of the hedge,
so our last position was quite strong.
Presently, when Major Talbot gave the word, the
remaining sections retired to the hedge and all prepared
to give the enemy a particularly warm reception.
Advancing by short rushes, the enemy were soon very
close but closer they could not get, for on the right they
were held up by our superior fire; on the left they attempted
a flanking movement, but bunching themselves about fifty
yards from the section holding our left wing, were very
promptly annihilated, and the centre owing to lack of
support was unable to move forward.
At this point the “cease fire” went and we were reformed and told to lie down until the second half of the
morning's work was outlined.
The plan on which we were now to work was that the
N.E.C.S. were retreating and we were to harass them as
much as possible. One squad, under Cpl. Hicks, was
detailed off to try and work round the left flank and another
squad, under Cpl. Barnes, who was to cover himself with
glory while so doing, was sent down into the valley to work
round their right flank. The main-body advanced against the
enemy slowly, so as to keep them occupied till the flanking
parties came into action.
Cpl. Barnes came out of a wood on their left (i.e. our
right) and enfiladed their left flank and part of their centre,
so that the umpire decided they were all dead men. The
“dead men,” however, did not realise this and turned round
to punish our daring squad, whereupon our main body
rushed the position they had been holding and our right
flank once more annihilated the “dead men,” who were still
hanging on to life and honour when the “cease fire” put an
end to their post-mortem efforts with the rifle.
Thus ended the great and memorable field-day,
which everybody found most enjoyable as well as
interesting and instructive.’
Vol. XXVIII, No.3, July 1914, pp.85-86 and pp.97-98
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
‘At 8 a.m. on July 28th, thirty-seven officers and cadets of the
corps entrained at Newcastle en route for Tidworth Pennings
Camp, Andover, Salisbury Plain. We reached our destination
at about 7p.m., and were relieved to find ourselves deprived
of the doubtful pleasure of filling paillasses.
The routine of camp proceeded much as usual until
Friday, July 31st, when we heard of Belgium’s refusal to
allow German troops to pass through her territory. From
that moment the whole camp became excited, as was
shown by the crowds of cadets waiting for newspapers
an hour or more before W. H. Smith & Sons’ shop opened.
Saturday brought the effect of “wars, and rumours of
wars” nearer home, for we found that about half the cooks
had been called up, and a call for volunteers to act as cooks
was received.’
Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August, and France
on the 3rd, and invaded Belgium on the 4th. On the same
day Great Britain declared war on Germany.
‘Monday brought the news that we would have to leave the
next day, Tuesday, instead of on Thursday. The cadets made
the best of matters, and on Tuesday morning were up before
reveille (4 a.m.); the one and only time that “Colours” had not
to apply the swagger cane to any great extent. By 5.45 a.m.
we had cleared up the lines, collected the blankets, etc., and
nearly finished striking the tents – a very creditable performance.
After a journey which could only be called “rotten,” we
arrived at Newcastle about 7 a.m., after a camp which I do
not think anyone will forget in a hurry.’
Vol. XXIX, No.1, December 1914, pp.21-22
Life would not be the same again, particularly for those in the
O.T.C. as many were called up to serve as Officers shortly
afterwards, and some lost their lives as a consequence.
Unfortunately, The Novocastrian does not record the
authors of the above reports, but the chances are high that
they were prepared by the Cadet Sergeant Majors of the
time, who were CV Potts and WBC Simpson.
Top left: Inspection, 1913: a scene much like those in 1914
Below: Camp at Westholme, Marwood, near Barnard Castle, June 1914
Tour de Force
By Pete Self (99-09)
I studied Politics and International Relations at the University
of Leeds, graduating with a 2:1. University seemed to go very
quickly for me and was a fantastic three years of my life. I ran
bar and nightclub events during my time at university as a
means to make more money. I joined the military Officers’
Training Corps (O.T.C.) in my first year and then decided to
transfer to Military Intelligence in the Army Reserve.
Pete as a special constable in West Yorkshire
on his last day before full-time police training
with the Metropolitan Police
U
nfortunately no Martinis or Aston
Martins as it is on the grittier side
of the military, as opposed to the
civilian MI6! It was a very
interesting time for me but
unfortunately can’t speak too much about it.
I had two opportunities to deploy full-time – to
the Olympics and frontline in Afghanistan but
I could not due to the fact I was still a student.
I look back at it now with a bit of sadness, as I
did not fully grasp all the opportunities that were
presented to me.
It was during my service in the Army that I met a
number of people who served in the Police and
I was immediately interested. Of course, I was
aware of the cutbacks in the UK and the lack of
recruitment in any force. It was then when I found
out about the Special Constabulary. Special
constables are volunteer police officers who do
exactly the same job as regular police pfficers, but
without pay. You go through a similar training
package and have the same sort of opportunities
offered to you as you progress throughout your
career. Special constables come from all walks
of life – I have met doctors, businessmen,
cleaners, electricians and plumbers who have all
given their free-time to police the streets. As I had
a full-time career with the Police in mind, it was a
fantastic insight into knowing truly what the Police
is about and managing my expectations for when
recruitment finally opens up.
I began training with West Yorkshire Police in July
2011, attesting onto patrol in December. Due to
the fact I was at university I could commit far more
than the minimum 16 hours that were asked of
8
me, often putting in about 60, on average,
a month. Due to this I managed to achieve
Independent Patrol status (something that
usually takes two years) by June 2012. The force
has changed drastically due to the cuts in recent
years with a huge emphasis being placed upon
special constables to offer additional coverage
in service.
West Yorkshire Police is currently aiming to
recruit 1,500 special constables by the end
of next year, which is going to increase the
establishment from 500 to 2,000. With this the
opportunities for specials have grown and grown,
such as Operation Viper in West Yorkshire.
Operation Viper is a specialist operation that
targets criminals who commit serious acquisitive
crime. It has been a resounding success for the
Police, reducing crimes such as burglary by 30%.
Where I policed (the student areas of Hyde Park
and Headingly) we saw a drastic reduction in
crime. Only a few years ago burglaries and thefts
in this area were more common than rare so it
was a great result. With Viper, the opportunity
to work with specialist policing teams arrived.
I worked with the Road Crime Team who target
those involved in serious crime on the road
networks, and also dealing with those who
commit burglaries and robberies.
I was also attached to a very busy 999 Response
team for my divisional duties. As well as above I
have policed the Olympic Torch parade in Leeds,
numerous public events including the rugby at
Headingly Stadium and my final shift was policing
the Tour De France’s first stage in Yorkshire,
which drew a crowd of over one million. Other
opportunities just to sum up have included:
Dogs, Traffic, OSU (Riot Squad), CID, Robbery
Squad, Burglary Squad, Police Paramedic, Plain
Clothes and Crime Scene Investigation. A truly
fantastic experience.
“It was during my service in the
Army that I met a number of
people who served in the Police
and I was immediately interested.
Of course, I was aware of the
cutbacks in the UK and the lack
of recruitment in any force. It was
then when I found out about the
Special Constabulary.”
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
Custodian helmet worn by Pete on his last day as a special when
policing the Tour de France in Yorkshire, May 2014
I was accepted after a gruelling assessment
for the Metropolitan Police as a full-time police
constable and I commenced my training in
September, having been based in a West London
borough. Although a completely different sort of
policing, I hope the experience I have gained as
a special will pay dividends.
Of course while I have worked in a number of
voluntary jobs I have had to find a career that also
pays! I worked with Michael Page International as
a consultant straight after leaving university. Then
from there I joined a leading international security
and CCTV company as a sales executive selling
bespoke security systems to governments and
private corporations across the globe. Both
interesting experiences, but did not catch my
interest in the way that the military and Police did.
Unfortunately the Police Service is still suffering
from cutbacks currently, and this is why I wrote
the article. If you are aspiring to join (and this
could be the case for some years) joining as a
special constable in your own home force is your
best bet. Of course you can even make a career
from being a special as it has its own rank system.
Some police forces are recruiting externally but
the vast majority are recruiting from current
specials and police community support officers.
It is a very competitive process with tens of
thousands of applicants for very few jobs. I have
helped numerous people with their applications
to both the Police and Army Reserve, so if this is
of interest please ask for my contact by emailing
ona@ rgs.newcastle.sch.uk
‘Solid and
Valuable
as a Brick
of Gold’
By Alan Castree (53-61)
B
orn within two months of Charles Dickens, in
April 1812, John Forster has not figured much
in the public’s imagination, even amid the many
celebrations of the bicentenary of Dickens’ birth
two years ago. At the time of Forster’s death, in
1876, there was much grief among those who knew him
well, but little public recognition and yet it was he who had
written an outstanding biography of Dickens, after the
latter’s death in 1870. Margaret Drabble refers to the three
volume work as establishing Forster as the first professional
biographer of the nineteenth century.
The Forster family were Northumbrians and their faith was
Unitarian. John’s father, Robert and his uncle, John, were
both cattle dealers and butchers in Newcastle. Robert
married Mary, daughter of a Gallowgate cow keeper and
described as “a gem of a woman”; they had four children,
John junior being the second. The family were not well off
but Uncle John, “Gentleman John”, remained single and
became prosperous; he paid for his nephew to go to the
RGS, from 1820 to 1828 (where he was Head Boy) and
also for much of his later education.
Forster excelled in both the classics and the newly
introduced subject of Mathematics. He loved the theatre
and must have cultivated good contacts as in 1828 the
Theatre Royal, Newcastle, staged one of his plays. In the
same year he left RGS to enter Jesus College, Cambridge,
but after only a month he moved to London to enrol at Inner
Temple for the Bar and begin his Law studies at University
College (UCL). This was a new university, with a strong
Unitarian element in its founding. UCL was innovative in
higher education in seeking to link practice to theory. Forster
felt comfortable both in his studies and his religious beliefs
in these surroundings.
In 1832, having shown outstanding legal talent, he
dismayed his tutor, Thomas Chitty, a prominent special
pleader, by abandoning pursuit of a career in law in order
to follow his literary inclinations. We do not know what
Uncle John thought of this but Forster’s biographer, JA
Davies, opines that ‘…his family must have thought him
mad or close to it.’
John Forster (1820-28) was
a Northumbrian of note.
He made a unique contribution
to the work and life of Charles
Dickens and recorded that from
1837 onwards, ‘…there was
nothing written by him which I
did not see before the world did,
either in manuscript or proofs.’
10
It was a bold step to leave a promising calling as a lawyer;
the literary world in 1830s London had little to commend it.
However, seen now from afar, the literary world was on the
cusp of a revolution, of which John Forster became an
integral part.
Literature was the beneficiary of the rapid expansion of
literacy among the British population and of the acceleration
in the improvement in printing technology. Writers could
sense the potential for wider readership and the greater
likelihood of recognition as professionals in their chosen
field. Forster was to play a major role in these
advancements. He became a frequent contributor to
trenchant periodicals as a drama and literary critic and his
contributions to The Examiner (of which he later became
editor) led to him being noticed among the literati.
Dickens was already an
accomplished journalist
and author when the
two men met.
He saw in Forster a
friend upon whom he
could rely not only for
the oversight of the
layout and shape of his
scripts but also for his
ideas on literary style
and what appealed to
the public. We shall see,
however, that they did
not always agree on
moral tone, which, in Forster’s case, was unbending, leading
to Dickens lampooning him in his novels.
Dickens also looked to Forster to fight his battles with
publishers; Forster drew upon his formidable legal skills
and powers of persuasion to get the best deals for Dickens
and for the literary world in general. He became Dickens’
guide and adviser in all aspects of his literary and personal
life. He helped Dickens in the painful arrangements
regarding separation from his wife, Catherine, and was
an executor to his will.
He wrote for Dickens’ Daily News, becoming its editor and
for the writer’s Household Words. He established himself
in a wide literary circle. Elizabeth Gaskell, whose father was
from the North East and who married a prominent Unitarian
minister, became a close friend. Dickens invited him to
frequent family gatherings in his own home to ease his
isolation from his distant relatives; when Forster’s brother
died unexpectedly, Dickens offered himself as a surrogate,
“…you do have a brother left, one bound by ties as strong
as ever nature forged”, which must have given Forster
considerable comfort.
Forster had a short love affair with the poet, Letitia Landon
in 1833, but it ended unhappily and it was not until 1856
that he married. This was to Eliza Ann Colburn, wealthy
widow of a publisher. It was a childless yet happy marriage
and they lived in some style, in a house which they had built
for themselves in Kensington. Before marriage he had been
a very hospitable bachelor and convivial host; Dickens used
Forster’s early accommodation at 58 Lincoln’s Inn Fields,
in the legal heart of London, as the model for Tulkinghorn’s
chambers in Bleak House.
Forster gave practical assistance to many writers, actors
and stagers of plays. Thomas Hood, Elizabeth Gaskell,
Tennyson, Longfellow and Robert Browning were all
beneficiaries of his advice on literary style, praise in his
literary reviews and introductions to publishers. Thomas
Carlyle valued his fine combination of business nous and
social skills. He supported Forster in his unremitting drive
to earn writers the dignity and social acceptability which
they both agreed were deserved. Bulwer Lytton described
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
him as ‘…a most sterling man…he may be irritable,
sometimes bluff to rudeness but these are trifling
irregularities in a nature solid and valuable as a brick of gold.’
All who read Dickens know that he had a sharp eye for
amusing characteristics in the folk around him and was not
slow to introduce them to his novels. Forster did suffer some
indignity in portrayals of himself, without, perhaps, being fully
aware of the depth of the parody. Dickens noted that many
of Forster’s early friends were much older than he was –
Bulwer Lytton, Charles Macready (tragedian), Leigh Hunt
and Charles Lamb. Each of these took the lonely young man
from the north into their homes. Forster did project the
solemn air of an older man and his fierce retention of his
northern accent prompted some amusement among the
sophisticates of the capital.
Dowler was Dickens’ first caricature of Forster, in
Pickwick Papers: forbidding, intense, quick to anger but
also quick to accord; grave and reflective but also swift to
notice a friend in need and ready to offer personal comfort.
It was a close likeness.
The second, more complex character was Podsnap, in
Our Mutual Friend. Forster’s claim to possess a greater
understanding of mid-Victorian readers than Dickens did
and his attempts to impose a strict, moral tone upon the
writer’s work inspired the idea.
Dickens bridled at some of Forster’s extreme views and
found them stifling. Exasperated on such occasions, Dickens
would seek the alternative company of unconventional and
bohemian types, such as Wilkie Collins.
Top left: Charles Dickens , 1861
Below: Dowler, Dickens’ caricature of Forster in Pickwick Papers, 1836
Dicken’s Our Mutual
Friend, October 1864.
Character, Mr John
He did not receive much recognition for his many histories:
critics saw little objectivity in them, ‘an advocate, not a judge’
was the opinion of Samuel Rawson Gardiner in 1876.
Podsnap portrays certain
striking characteristics
of Forster.
In Podsnap’s society he alluded to Forster’s circle of
older companions in the phrase, ‘…there was no youth
(the young person always excepted) in the articles of
Podsnappery’. To Podsnap there was no Europe beyond
England, and so with Forster; England was Europe.
Podsnap’s rigorously ordered daily schedule, from
arising in the morning to retiring at night, and his
disapproving view of anything in speech or literature
which ‘…would bring a blush into the cheek of a young
person…’ were clear references to Forster.
It was not all fair comment; Podsnap could not see his
own faults, whereas Forster would indulge in selfmockery, regularly relating the tale of a cab driver calling
him “a harbitrary cove”, a description which his friends
acknowledged as a good description of him. Thomas
Carlyle, who liked him very much and was later one of
the executors of his estate, considered Forster to be the
“ultimate in harbitrary coves”.
The critic Edmund Wilson saw in Podsnap Dickens’ fear
of the character and what he represented; Podsnap
does not reflect Forster’s decisiveness and his unfailing
support for others, whatever their station in life. The
supercilious in the world of the arts referred to him as
“the butcher’s boy”, but venom among academics is a
constant and although this may have hurt him it did not
affect his dedication to his work and his goals.
What Forster’s critics could not deny was that he was
a very sincere man and had the brain of a shrewd lawyer;
in a drawing by Clarkson Frederick Stanfield of Dickens
and friends on a tour of Cornwall, entitled The Logan
Rock it is Forster who is atop of the rock, waving to the
others below; quite a “jolly cove”, in fact.
His distinction as a classical scholar at RGS was evident
in a series of essays on ancient philosophy, which he
published in the learned and influential Foreign Quarterly
Review, receiving commendation for their perspicacity.
12
His greatest literary impact was in his biography of Dickens,
soon after the writer’s death. The three volumes were
sensational at the time in revealing so much of Dickens’
harrowing childhood, to which Dickens had only alluded to
in David Copperfield, without acknowledging his misery as
a boy. The public were fascinated and amazed. Reviews were
not all complimentary: Trollope, a mocker of Forster’s
background, wrote to George Eliot that Forster was ‘too
coarse grained’ to be a reliable commentator.
There was a significant omission in the life; Forster did not
mention the relationship of Dickens with the young Ellen
Ternan (having now gained notoriety in the film, The Invisible
Woman). It was for later writers to reveal more of this affair,
still a hot topic today. Forster would have been very much
aware of the affair but he was disinclined to cause upset to
the memory of his friend or to Dickens’ estranged wife,
Catherine, and his large family.
Forster suffered long bouts of poor health, which no doubt
contributed to some noted irascibility. He endured long
periods of bronchitis and rheumatism and from 1871
onwards these debilities kept him housebound. The
ailments also interfered with his role as member and
ultimately secretary of the government’s Lunacy
Commission, which played a vital role in the nineteenth
century and for which he travelled far and wide. This
appointment shows the high regard in which he was held
by the government for his legal ability and probity.
It is sad that the memory of him and his legacy are not
greater. Obituaries were brief in the national press but the
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle (5.2.1876) described a man
of the north who had ‘…a kind of talent which only just fell
short of genius’. W Lockey Harle, one time Sheriff of
Newcastle, wrote glowingly in the Newcastle Daily
Chronicle of Forster’s youth and upbringing in the North
East and was later to write in the Monthly Chronicle of
North Country Lore and Legend (1888) that Forster owed
everything as regards formation of his character to the town
of Newcastle.
Many of his personal papers were lost as one of his
executors, the Reverend Whitwell Elwin, chose not to rise
to the challenge and allowed much to be destroyed. This
has presented a problem to biographers and Thomas
Carlyle would have dearly liked to have composed a fitting
tribute to his friend.
There was thus an obscure ending to the inestimably
valuable literary life of this Northumbrian who did so much
to establish and perpetuate the life and works of Dickens.
He deserves to be better remembered, if only as the
butcher’s son from Newcastle who established himself at
the heart of the rapidly growing London literary world,
displaying prodigious talent and earning the love and
respect of so many around him in that exclusive milieu.
The Cost
of Education
By Mark Bowling (83-90)
In 1982 my mother was faced with a daunting
issue on behalf of her son – accept the offer of
a full scholarship for seven years to the King’s
School Tynemouth, or accept a (paid) place at
the prestigious Royal Grammar School in
Newcastle upon Tyne.
Times were tough – my parents had recently
separated and money was a bane of (court)
contention. But fortunately I have a mother who
believes in what is right, and sees the bigger
picture regardless of how tempting the daily
snapshot may be.
And so, knowing she had a son who (clearly!)
had his wits about him, she left the decision to
me. I chose the RGS. I knew it was the ‘better
school’, not because of its standing in the top
independent schools list, but because it would
expose me to a life that I had not yet experienced.
A part of me knew that I would have my eyes
widened and my brain challenged, although at the
time I had not imagined a life different to the one
I had. I also did not think of the cost my education
would bear.
My father did not support my decision, sadly,
nor did he contribute to my education from
thereon in. But with support from the courts,
and a new central government Assisted Places
scheme, I was able to enjoy an education as good
as anyone could get in the UK. I know my mother
fought tooth and nail to keep me at the RGS.
And the RGS supported me all the way through,
providing support above and beyond what would
be expected of any school, unbeknownst to my
fellow pupils at the time.
And 30 years since that pivotal decision, I find
myself in Singapore, where I first moved to in
2004, very happily married to my husband of
seven years, having enjoyed a long career in ad
agencies as a global strategist for the likes of
Samsung and Unilever, and now with my own
global marketing consultancy, Remarkability.
I have circled the globe 100 times over, and had
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
“
A part of me knew that I would have
my eyes widened and my brain
challenged, although at the time I
had not imagined a life different to
the one I had.
”
my eyes widened much further than they were
ever intended, I’m sure! Life has been
extraordinary and never dull.
So please believe me when I say my life would not
have been the same without financial assistance
to take my place at the RGS. Programmes like
the RGS Bursaries Campaign change lives. And
attending the RGS changed mine.
Mark received financial assistance to pay
for his education at the RGS through the
government’s Assisted Places scheme.
Schemes like this no longer exist. Only
fundraising for bursaries can now support
young people to come to the RGS. To
discuss the various ways that you can make
a donation to the RGS Bursaries Campaign,
contact Jane Medcalf, development manager
at [email protected] or
by telephone on 0191 212 8909. Today,
79 children’s lives are being changed
because of their bursary help. Let’s help
even more this year.
A
HISTORY
OF THE
RGS
IN ITS
PEOPLE
By David Goldwater (51-62)
Sydney Middlebrook MA
J Harvey Smith (44-52) (see page 5) still has
his copy (as do many of us) of Newcastle upon
Tyne: Its Growth and Achievement, ‘signed in his
graceful, even, rolling hand’.
Donald R Buchanan (48-56) recalls with some
humour: ‘Sam used to draw fairly detailed maps
for us on his blackboard. The trouble was that we
could copy them into our notebooks faster than
he could proceed, so not a few of our maps
included a back view of Sam’s head as he sought
to finish his. One of his finest moments was one
morning at Assembly, he had the answer to the
problem of congestion on the stairs, and told us
it was really very simple: boys going up the stairs
should do so on the right, while those coming
down should do so on the left! I’m not sure that
he understood why we all fell about laughing.’
David Mitchell (42-51) remembers a sleepy
After the sudden death of Hubert
Napier Smith (16-50)(known as
“Boiler Smith”) at the Central Station
in August 1950, following a career
of 34 years, head of History Sydney
Middlebrook (18-58), who had
himself taught since 1918, was
appointed deputy to Oliver Mitchell
(48-60). “Sammy”, as he was known,
was a noted historian, who is widely
remembered for his comprehensive
work, Newcastle upon Tyne: Its
Growth and Achievement, published
in 1950 by the Newcastle
Chronicle and Journal.
14
moment: ‘One hot summer afternoon I dozed off
during one of Sammy’s lessons, which was on
the subject of the Wars of the Roses, and just
dimly heard him asking me to name the colour
of the rose of the House of York. Barely awake,
I heard a whisper of help from my ‘friend’ in the
desk behind, so with great relief I answered
“Blue”! Sammy just smiled gently and passed
on amid the embarrassing mirth.’
Sydney ‘Sammy’ Middlebrook (18-58), senior History
master and second master (from 1950) on his
retirement in 1958
Brian Beeley (46-53) raises the complex
subject of ‘causal over-simplification’: ‘Sammy
was an outstanding teacher and a very caring
individual. His meticulous ‘wiring diagrams’
on the blackboard outlining world history left
me convinced that all major events have three
causes and three outcomes. When I was
recovering from a substantial operation at
Shotley Bridge Hospital, Sammy wrote me a
delightful letter which I still treasure. In it, he
encouraged me to stop worrying that my history
essay would be late…’
‘Sammy’ Middlebrook at Housesteads Fort, 1951. Our thanks to
Alan J Robinson (54-61) for submitting this photo to the ONA
Colin Woodward (50-60), writing from Durham,
was ‘inspired to contribute 57-year-old memories
of Sammy Middlebrook. He was a delightful
gentleman and I remember covering in particular
the American War of Independence…he also
looked after the Stamp Club (Philatelic Society)’.
Dennis Corn (50-58): ‘Sammy was the most
significant influence on my life at the RGS, and
beyond. His enthusiasm for the subject he taught,
reinforced by his skillful teaching, enthused me
with a life long interest in History.’ Dennis relates
how, after faultering in his initial attempts to
succeed at Oxbridge entry, Sammy telephoned
him in the Christmas holidays, asking him to visit
his home in Jesmond. ‘Two dry sherries were
poured. He stared at me over his glass, and
simply said “I have in mind for you an award from
Jesus.” To this day I can only speculate at the
networking Sammy must have activated to
pinpoint the College with such confidence. It
was a life-enhancing experience due to Sammy’s
gentle, self-effacing, but comprehensive
knowledge of his pupils, and his preparedness
to go the extra mile for any of them.’
Alan J Robinson (54-61): ‘My association with
RGS began one glorious day in the summer of
1951. I went, with my Mum, on an outing to
Housesteads Fort arranged, I think, by the
Townswomens’ Guild, (or something similar).
Our guide was Sammy Middlebrook, who held
me completely enthralled with his descriptions of
life in the camp. Mr Middlebrook had a wonderful
ability to make history come alive.’ Alan won a Free
Place to RGS, leading to a very happy seven
years at ‘The Finest School in the North’.
Simon Chester (57-67) noted the Dictionary
of National Biography’s reference to the
influence of Sammy on the eminent historian
Marcus Cunliffe (32-40).
Robert Thompson (32-39): ‘To be guided round
the Galleries of London by Sammy was a truly
educational experience. Architecture was one
of his interests and his guiding around iconic
buildings such as BBC Broadcasting House
was another delight for his Sixth form expeditions.
After the war he became a good friend. He was
a mentor of a great generation: the Edwardians.’
Geoffrey Redfern (36-43) remembers Sammy
Middlebrook as his inspiration throughout his
school career, particularly in his choice of books
from Penrith Library. This is why he was able to
suggest which Cambridge college was most
likely to appreciate ‘my style’. With Sammy’s
dedicated help he was awarded a scholarship
at Corpus Christi.
Martin L Bell (50-61) is one of many ONs who
were inspired to acquire a copy of Northumbria
(1987) by David Bell and Brian Redhead
(40-48) in which Redhead recalls a tour of
Newcastle he made with Sammy. He taught me
about Newcastle in one day on a walk through
the City…it was a day I was never to forget.
These reminiscences are an extraordinary tribute
to a brilliant teacher. Due to pressure on space
in this issue, a fuller version of this piece will
appear on the ONA website at www.ona.rgs.
newcastle.sch.uk. Also, the article on George
‘Dixie’ Dean (24-67) will be held over until the
next issue.
I was privileged to participate in the visit of
Walter Wood (37-44) to the school in June 2014
Frank Simm (36-43) was able to benefit from
a touch of Middlebrook guile: ‘he had an uncanny
ability to forecast questions to be set in future
exam papers. It helped me to get a credit in one
of my weaker subjects: History!’
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
and very sad to learn of his recent passing (see
page 18). It was gratifying to read of the great
admiration he had for his mentors at the RGS,
Michael Roberts (25-31 and 34-41) and
‘Sammy’ Middlebrook.
Evacuated to Penrith 1 September 1939,
Penrith evacuees reunited at The George
Hotel, Penrith, September 2014
From L-R: John Coxon (41-47), Ian Alexander
(36-45), Peter Burnett (39-49), Douglas
Peacock (38-45), Peter Dickinson (39-48),
Bryan Stevens (44-49), Brian Jones (42-48),
Gordon Pringle (37-46), Jim Coulson (42-49),
Graham Little (40-45), Howard Temperley
(41-51), David Boll (48-49), Effie Smith
(41-46), Chris Emmerson (36-47), Stanley
Ashman (41-52), Derek Williams (39-48),
Allan Jeffery (39-49), John Harrison (40-47),
Penrith
Reunion 2014
70 Years On
By Bryan Stevens (44-49)
Brian Phillips (37-47), Eddie Dahlin (38-47),
Bernard McStay (39-49)
So the ‘Final Penrith Reunion’ of 2009 turned out
not to be so final after all.Thanks mainly to the
endeavours of Allan Jeffery (39-49) 21 of us, plus
sundry camp followers, gathered at The George
Hotel, that fine old hostelry, which reassuringly
changes so little over the years, except that some
find the stairs steeper than they need to be.
16
“Rather like 1939 all over again:
no one knew what was going to
happen next.”
Peter Burnett (39-49)
Allan Jeffery (39-49)
There was only one ON from around this time:
Dr Eddie Dahlin (38-47), whose first contact
this was since leaving the school. Some of us
carried on the Friday evening, and some the
next morning. Rather like 1939 all over again:
no one knew what was going to happen next,
but after much collaboration we went our
separate ways on Saturday, some to revisit old
haunts or old contacts, some to take a cruise
on Ullswater or Derwentwater, others apparently
just to moon around. The weather couldn’t have
been more idyllic and the inmemorial hills were
just as we always picture them in memory,
perfectly mirrored in the lake.
Later we returned to ‘The George’ for group
photographs (acknowledgments here to
Howard Temperley (41-51)) dinner, and brief
reminiscenses from Allan Jeffery and Peter
Burnett (39-49). Allan, presumably under the
influence of wine, nobly offered his services for
yet another reunion, should there be a demand.
There were murmers of appreciation, and a
suggestion that 2015 might be a more realistic
aim than 2019. When we dispersed on the
Sunday it was with a palpable sense that it might
not after all be for the last time. Nor will it be. Allan
has already made a booking for Saturday 12
September 2015. “Bring it on”, as they say.
Meanwhile, the thanks of all of us to Allan for his
initiative and his patience.
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
Obituaries
Walter Scott Wood (37-44)
Born 17 March 1926, died 15 December 2014, aged 88
Fine Art, derived from being surround by
the pictures painted by his relatives and
many of their friends, never left him. He had
a good eye and became an avid collector
to the point that wall space simply ran out
even though his own notes for an obituary,
discovered after his death, but not in
publishable form, laments the fact that his
voluntary activities occupied his time ‘at the
cost of collecting pictures’!
There are some other interesting quotes:
The Wood family in June 2014 when Walter and Simon
returned to school with youngest grandson, Edwin in
Year 13
If there was a single defining event in his
life, it was the decision by his parents,
modest for their own ambitions but huge
for his, to send Walter to the Royal
Grammar School aged 11 in 1937. In
a stroke, the system that afforded children
the opportunity for top quality education
and, thereafter, social mobility put him on
a path that led to Oxford, qualification as
a solicitor and the practice of the law until
his retirement in 1991.
Walter came from a North Shields family
of artisans. His grandfather and uncle were
plumbers although, being good with
numbers, his father worked his way up the
ladder in the Borough Treasurer’s office
in Hebburn. It was there, as a condition of
residence for his father’s employment, that
Walter spent most of his childhood, when
at home. The Woods were, however,
talented artisans, many of them being
musicians, painters or both from which
Walter’s talent as a violinist sprang, a talent
that was, of course, nurtured and given
every opportunity for expression at school
and then university. He would have been
the first to admit that his skills as an artist
were limited but his lifelong interest in
18
‘His education started at an early Victorian
Wesleyan primary school, occupying one
room for all pupils from the age of five to 14
years, which was already a relic in the 30s.’
There were few, if any, boys from Hebburn
who went to the RGS in 1937. He recalled
being teased as “the Grammar school boy”
or “the blue b******” and having to fight to
hold on to his cap, but he simply loved
school. He was, of course, one of that very
special generation that spent the greater
part of their schooldays at Penrith and he
continued to regale the family with stories,
the older and most repeated the better, for
the rest of his life. Despite the war there were
truly inspirational teachers whose names
were so familiar to the family that we felt we
knew them. It is difficult to single out names
but Tucker Anderson (24-60), Michael
Roberts (25-31 and 34-41) and ‘Sammy’
Middlebrook (18-58) were held particularly
dear. He threw himself into school life –
music, drama, debating, rugby (a fractured
leg put that to an end) – and discovered the
joy of walking on the nearby fells and golf.
He remained with one family for the duration
and kept in touch with them until the end of
their lives. If he was homesick he never
admitted it and, despite the deprivations
that undoubtedly existed, these were always
described as halcyon days.
He was fortunate to win a place to read
Law at Pembroke College, Oxford in 1944
whereby he was able to go up for two
terms before National Service. The Navy
followed and he returned to Oxford and,
in between much music and serving as
President of the college Blackstone
Society, completed his degree on the two
year accelerated programme that existed
after the war. He returned to Tyneside and,
having found the necessary £150, Articles
of Clerkship with TAB Forster of Keenlyside
and Forster, thereafter briefly working in
Sunderland as a newly qualified solicitor.
His meeting Shirley Bittermann thereafter
determined the course of his personal and
professional life. Her father, a well known
practitioner in North Shields since 1920
who was also Clerk to the Tynemouth
Justices, offered Walter a place in the firm
which, by the time Shirley and he married
in 1957, had become known as ELF
Bittermann and Wood. Together, uneasily
it has to be said, they practised until
Eddie’s death in 1972 and, resisting all
blandishments from his immediate
neighbours to join them, he continued the
practice with a partner until his retirement.
An old fashioned high street solicitor of the
type that is now a dying – if not dead –
breed he turned his hand to anything and
was truly, in the memorable definition of one
distinguished judge, ‘a universal spider’, the
sort of person who got things done and
knew where and how to achieve whatever
it was that was required. More than once he
served on the committee of the Newcastle
Incorporated Law Society, serving as its
President in 1985/6. As already alluded to,
over the years he was heavily involved in a
bewildering range of charitable activities,
including the setting up of two Abbeyfield
Society homes which influenced the
decision that resulted in his moving to the
Society’s home in The Grove, Gosforth.
But when all is said and done, Walter was
a family man. His marriage to Shirley was
Ronald CM Cooper CB (38-41 and 44-48)
Born 8 May 1931, died 2 August 2014, aged 83
European Launching Development
Project in Paris. He made many
French friends, spent many holidays in
Burgundy and was made an honorary
member of the Confrererie of the
Chevaliers de Tastevin, devoted to
the tasting of Burgundy wines, an
occupation he found most congenial.
a good and sustaining one. Of it,
touchingly but perceptively, he said this:
“He married Shirley in 1957 and they
celebrated 57 years together before he
died thanks to her good care and
cooking, hard work and common sense.”
He took pride in the achievements of his
two children and was always there when
things did not go according to plan. He
brought his children up with a strong
public service ethic consonant with his
belief that to practise was to serve. His
pride extended to his four grandsons and
he was particularly pleased that three of
them followed Simon to the RGS, an
institution that held an abiding fascination
for him right to the end. He was thrilled to
go to school for what turned out to be the
last time in June and when the last
photograph of him was taken with Simon
and his youngest grandson, Edwin, now
a Sixth former and a prefect like him.
The last two years were not easy. First
deafness and then blindness left him
increasingly isolated and, following an
acute illness followed by progressive
frailty, it became too difficult to care for
him at home. He lived in Abbeyfield for
18 months and, after a short spell in
hospital, he died on 15 December, in
his 89th year, having by then moved to
Wordsworth House, Jesmond, where
he received superb nursing care. His
anticipated failure to achieve his ambition
of reaching the age of 90 was an
enduring source of frustration!
As a postscript the news of Edwin’s
gaining a place at Oxford came
through just three weeks after father
died. He’d have been so pleased at one
of his successors enjoying that
particular success.
By Simon Wood (72-77)
19
ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
Ron Cooper (38-41 and 44-48)
was at the RGS from 1938 to 1948
and went on to a distinguished career
in the Civil Service, and awarded a CB
(Companion of the Order of the Bath)
in 1981.
Ron was a highly intelligent but not
an obtrusive person. He came into
his own in the Fifth and Sixth forms,
where his unusually grown up
composure and politesse, enlivened
by a lively eye and a sense of humour,
won the respect and affection of his
contemporaries. The value of these
quieter qualities doubtless dawned on
them as they themselves grew older.
It was our loss when his parents moved
to Edinburgh just as he was about to
enter the Upper Sixth, and transferred
him to Edinburgh Academy.
After National Service in the Education
Corps he went on to read History at
St Edmund Hall, Oxford, where he
was one of a group of us at Oxford
from the RGS who kept in touch. He
joined the Ministry of Supply in 1954
at a starting salary of £375 a year.
He made friends there who lasted a
lifetime – he organised monthly
lunches for them until the last year or so.
One of the most enjoyable times in his
working career came in 1962 when he
was seconded for five years to the
Later, as Deputy Secretary, he
became Principal Personal and
Finance Officer of the Department
of Trade and Industry. Among other
responsibilities he was acted as
personnel officer for a very large
number of staff. A colleague
remembers him as unfailingly polite,
positive and helpful in the role, and as
someone who won the confidence
of Permanent Secretaries and
Ministers, a vital attribute. Another
colleague speaks of him as a deeply
sympathetic man with great
understanding of people.
Ron always valued his links with the
RGS. He played an active part in the
London ONA during his middle years.
After his retirement he was one of a
number of us who met from time to
time for lunch in London, a warm,
intelligent and thoughtful companion.
Though looking back on those lunches
I wish we had done more by way of
drawing him out – obviously at least
as interesting as the rest of us and with
a wide and interesting experience of life,
he was also less voluble and the last
man to be full of himself.
He suffered from diabetes for all of
his career, and showed great fortitude
in dealing with it. He lived in the
Chilterns for most of his married life,
and leaves his wife Christine, a son
and two daughters.
By David Boll (38-49)
Obituaries
Derek Gibson (36-42)
Brian D Davidson (71-78)
Born 4 March 1925, died 6 October 2014, aged 89
Born 2 March 1935, died 4 October 2014, aged 79
I am writing to let you know of
the death of my beloved father
Derek Gibson (36-42). I have just
finished reading his term reports
from whilst he was at your school:
he threw very little out! He and
my mother Joy visited the school
several times over during many
trips back to the UK from Australia.
It was a highlight for my Mum to
have a meal in your wonderful
Dining Hall. Dad’s life was an
amazing one, he was a first mate in the Merchant Navy, a
trainer, educator, development officer, antique book seller,
vintage car owner, pantomime instigator in every club that he
joined. He had a full life and left a legacy with everyone who
knew him. It was not the destination for Dad, it was the journey
that mattered. He died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by
his family on the 6 October 2014, aged 89 years.
Brian came to the RGS as head
of Modern Languages in 1971
and acted as a new broom. He
will be well remembered by a
succession of ONs who were
enthused by his love of literature,
in particular German literature.
In the days of Oxford and
Cambridge entry scholarships
there was a regular stream of
scholars heading from the RGS
to read Modern Languages,
mostly at Oxford. Several of these have remained in contact
with their former mentor, and he continued to take an active
interest in their careers, very proud that a number became
academics. Brian energized our teaching not only in the
Sixth form but throughout the curriculum. Text books
were changed – and in the case of German beginners,
dispensed with altogether. He was delighted to have been
able to initiate a regular exchange with the Max Planck
Gymnasium in Newcastle’s twin town of Gelsenkirchen,
an arrangement which continued for several decades.
By Rosemary Sharpe
Douglas ‘Douggy’ Norman
Allan (28-37) born 1919, died
14 December 2014, aged 95.
Ian Johnston (57-65) born
1946, died 11 September
2014, aged 67.
David Anderson (31-38)
born 1919, died 30 December
2014, aged 95.
Thomas John Muckle
(44-49) born 1931, died
7 November 2014, aged 83.
Charles Eric Aylen (45-47)
born1929, died 14 November
2014, aged 85.
Frank Derek Patterson
CBE (32-39) born 1923, died
19 December 2014, aged 91.
Alistair Brewis (46-55)
born 1937, died 25 July 2014,
aged 76.
John Purdy (40-44) born
1927, died 31 October 2014,
aged 87.
Clive Russell F Hogben
(52-61) born 1943, died 3
November 2014, aged 71.
John Maxwell Sisterton
(47-54) born 1935, died
30 August 2014, aged 79.
20
Brian’s energies out of school were directed to his large
family, and to walking and climbing in the Lake District, to
listening to music, to growing alpine plants. He was for a few
years secretary of the Robert Taylor Society, a society made
up of Modern Language teachers in schools and at Oxford
University. In this post he was responsible for organizing an
annual conference in one of the Oxford colleges.
After nearly nine years at the RGS, Brian left with his Danish
wife Ilse and their four children for the Hague where he was
appointed deputy head and then Head of the British School
in the Netherlands. He eventually retired to a house
overlooking the estuary at Gatehouse of Fleet from which
he could watch Osprey diving for fish and where he was
fortunate enough to be able to pursue his interest in alpine
plants while working on what was effectively a natural rock
garden. His many enthusiasms and his happy memories of
the years at the RGS were in no way diminished. He and
Ilse were delighted when one of their daughters moved with
her family to Gatehouse of Fleet.
By Mike Oswald (66-03)
Modern Languages teacher
Life Through a Lens
Richard Hanson (79-86)
Born 18 August 1968, died 14 August 2014, aged 45
Alan Wheldon Bell (25-33)
Born 9 October 1917, died 12 July 2014, aged 96
I regret to inform you of the death on 12 July 2014
of Alan Wheldon Bell (25-33) at the age of 96
years. I am one of three surviving nephews of Alan
and an executor of his estate.
Alan was at the RGS from 1925 to 1933 from
where he proceeded to Armstrong College to
gain a BSc in Marine and Mechanical Engineering
in 1937. All Alan’s working life was spent at
Hawthorne Leslie (Engineers) Ltd. St. Peters
Works, rising from an engineering apprentice to
be director and production manager before being
made redundant in 1975.
He was a member and then Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the North East Coast
Engineering Employers Association between 1957
and 1975 and also a member of the Management
Board of the Engineering Employers Federation. He
was also a member of the Council of the North East
Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders and
Chairman and member of the Committee of the
Tyneside branch of the Welding Institute.
Following redundancy Alan served as a member
of National Insurance and Industrial Tribunals.
Alan was widowed some 15 years ago and had
no children.
By Dr Chris D Day
21
ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Spring 2015
Richard at work, Ethiopia 2013
Richard Hanson (79-86)
countries in the course of his
career, covering news stories
such as the aftermath of the
Rwanda genocide in 1994 and
the Haiti earthquake of 2011,
as well as reporting on relief
After leaving school, Richard
and development projects for
took a year out to work and travel NGOs. He also worked for all
in the Middle East and the United the major UK broadsheets and
States. He then studied
a range of UK charities,
Mechanical Engineering at the
universities and corporate
University of Leeds (1987-90),
clients. He is remembered by
and went on to work for a year
colleagues as a person of great
as an assistant at an engineering generosity, integrity, vision and
training college near Dodoma,
thoughtfulness.
Tanzania, as part of a volunteer
programme with the charity
Richard married Ingrid in
Tearfund. While in Tanzania he
1993. He and his wife were
developed the interest in
actively involved in their church
photography that had begun
and community life, first in
when he was a Leeds student,
London and then in Sheffield.
and built a portfolio of pictures.
Richard volunteered as a youth
worker and on projects to
In 1991 Richard returned to the
support asylum seekers. He
UK and was offered a job as
is survived by his wife and their
photographic assistant at
two children, Jessica (1998)
Tearfund. From then onwards he and Isaac (2000), as well as
worked as a photographer,
his parents and sisters, and
leaving Tearfund in 2000 to work is greatly missed by his family
briefly for a Bradford-based news and many friends.
agency, Guzelian, and then as a
freelance. He travelled to over 40 By Ingrid Hanson
reknowned editorial and press
photographer died this summer
of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia,
aged 45.
ONA
Diary dates
London ONA
Annual Dinner
‘Far they went forth from the school in the North’
Friday 6 March 2015
The East India Club
Guest Speaker:
David Goldwater
(51-62)
RGS and After: a Life in the North East
Please see details on the ONA website at
http://ona.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/news-and-events.aspx or telephone
the Development Office on 0191 212 8909 for further details.
Deadline for reservations is Friday 27 February 2015. Price
£55/£45 (£45 if aged 30 or younger, or 80 or over).
Collingwood Lecture
Tuesday 10 March 2015 at 7.30pm
The Miller Theatre
Professor Andrew Lambert will speak on Making an
Admiral; Cuthbert Collingwood and the naval profession.
Andrew Lambert is Laughton Professor of Naval History at King’s
College, London and an expert on Napoleonic naval warfare. He is
a lively and learned speaker with an excellent reputation for bringing
the unsung gem of naval history to a wider audience, through
lecturing across the globe and regular media appearances (he even
has his own page on IMDb) as well as through his writing, which
won the 2014 Anderson Medal of the Society of Nautical Research.
No charge to students of the RGS; otherwise £2 admission.
Art Private View
and Choral and
Orchestral Concert
Friday 1 May 2015 at 7pm
Main Hall
The Music Department would like to invite you to
a concert that will feature the school’s Symphony
Orchestra and, for the first time, the combined Senior
and Community Choirs.
They will be performing Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance
Op.72 No.2, the 3rd movement from Haydn’s Trumpet
Concerto in E flat (with Will Wathey Year 13 as the
soloist), Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Karl Jenkins’
choral suite The Armed Man.
This concert will follow the Art Department’s annual
Private View, an exhibition of students’ artwork, starting
at 4.15pm.
Admission is free.