The
Pavior
The Occasional Newsletter
of
The High Pavement Society
(Founded 1989)
(Issue date overleaf)
Website Edition
This edition has been prepared from the new upgraded version of the High Pavement Society Newsletter. The format of the circulated edition is now an A5 booklet, with the cover design as above, instead of the A4 sheets used hitherto. It is for this reason that large size type has been selected and it was not convenient to alter this for the website edition.
The editor has also adopted the title “The Pavior” in memory of the former school magazine This was an occasional publication which chronicled the activities of the school community, which of course included some people who are now members of this society. The new title is therefore deemed to be a most appropriate innovation.
THE PAVIOR
NOVEMBER 2008
COMMENT
I am feeling just a little bit at sea after the request of one of our members for a new format for the Newsletter. I am not particularly clever at pressing the right buttons on my computer, but with your help and prayers, I hope things will turn out quite right.
I hope the contents of this little publication will take your minds off the credit squeeze, the demise of most of the banks, the price of gas, not to mention electricity, and the general advance towards the final curtain.
But let’s be cheerful. Your society has just held its AGM and quiz, attended by a record number of members and their wives and guests, and the High Pavement College, represented by the Principal Liz Leek, together with three other representatives. The arguably controversial proposal to increase the subscription to £10 was accepted without question, the Education Fund has received further contributions, and our affairs seem to be in a healthy state.
The Quiz was conducted in excellent fashion by Nat Gubbins. (I still don’t really know whether to call him Nat, or by his Sunday name of Noel). You’ll have to forgive me Noel if I alternate between the two
I believe the so-called hot & cold Buffet was appreciated by most people as an alternative to a formal meal, but surely the members of a prestigious society like that of the High Pavement could afford a pudding? I am a pudding man so perhaps prejudiced in that department.
During the evening I was elected President, - which may be the biggest mistake the members ever made!!!
Thoughts on HP by JOHN WILFORD
Dear Arnold,
I have dug out my old school photos and in doing so have recalled many happy memories of times at High Pavement from 1951/1958. Firstly the photos.
The photo of the prefects contains all the names. Lance Wright features in so many places sent in by members and first made his name as a Rugby Footballer. Ian Macpherson was a great friend of mine and became a Headmaster somewhere. John Worthy’s father taught at HP at the time. Steve Marshall was another great friend and won an All Saints Scholarship in his eleven plus exam, which actually entitled him to attend the Boys High School, but he made the wise decision to come to HP instead. Four of the five recipients of that scholarship in that year made the wise decision to come to HP in Form 1A in 1951. I believe the one boy of the five who chose the High School was Kenneth Clarke MP. Robin Davis also started in 1951 in 1A and John Greenslate came from London and joined in 1952. David Penfold, originally from London and joined HP in 1952. as did Eric Caldwell (Colly), Colin Craib came from Durham, Jack Corbett, Brian Benjamin, Tony Coward and Terry Boington. Dewi Williams and his brother Wynn came up from Newton Abbott and joined the school in 1952. I remember all the others especially Geoff Ling and Phillip Wombwell, and I wonder what happened to them all.
The photograph taken at Berry Hill in Mansfield in 1955 was the cross country team for the County Championships. Note that in those days we actually saw deep snow in March. On that photo is Robin Barber who features on a lot of photos submitted by members, Also Mick Osborne who now lives in Dorset. I have exchanged emails with him and he tells me he now keeps fit with cycling. Brian Page and I both came to HP from Haydn Road School in Nottingham. He lived not far from me in Sherwood and I often wonder what happened to him.
The photo taken in 1956 was of the Junior Cross Country Team. Jim Glennie I remember well. He and I had a real battle in the senior mile race in the 1938 athletic sports. Doug (Ned) Frampton another well remembered mate, John Appleton, another ex-Haydn Road boy, and Brian Dennis who joined the school in the third form and left after GCE ‘O’ levels The photo taken in 1957 includes Bill Maclean and also a lad of whose name I am not sure. Perhaps someone can help me there? There were other runners whom I remember. They include Ray Graves who was about two years older than me, and Barry Johnson who I recall running second in the School senior cross country championships in 1958. I see that he is listed as a member of the HP Society. Brian Lee was another great runner who went on to represent England in the steeplechase, if I remember correctly.
As people no doubt recall, the School produced many outstanding sportsmen as well as those who excelled academically, in many cases in both fields. One example was Colin Bacon who went on to Cambridge and also threw the javelin for England.
My first year at High Pavement at Stanley Road was truly a momentous experience. Everything was on a much larger scale, and there seemed to be so many clever people in my
form. Somehow even if you were a bit overwhelmed you felt lucky to be there. Like everybody else who knew Stanley Road I can remember the old classrooms and the worn staircases.
There were the trips to Palm Street for school lunch – sixpence per day in 1951, the similar journeys to Noel Street Baths on dark winter evenings after school. Later these were followed by athletics and cricket on the Forest. Early sporting greats in first form rugger were the Stansby twins, Brian Page, Lance Wright and Malcolm Pilkington. Pilk, as he was known, was a great Nottingham Forest supporter, and when he found I had a preference for Notts County persuaded me, with dark threats, that my judgment was faulty. As a result of this I changed my allegiance to Forest. I have been watching them for fifty six years, so he must have been right.
When I first started Tom Walters was school captain and Spencer was vice captain. I believe the next captain was John Rawson. Certainly he was captain at some stage. We used to watch them looking over us at School Assembly while we listened to Frank Williams playing the piano attempting to drum some culture into us.. He had a preference for Grieg and Debussy as I recall. Still on musical matters the School Song you can hear on the website was recorded in 1956 less than a year after the move to Gainsford Crescent. We actually recorded two songs. The A side was ‘Una Voce’ and the B side was ‘The Peers Chorus’ from Iolanthe. We had sung this at a previous Speech Day, one of the last to be held at the Albert Hall. A record was produced and sold, but unfortunately I lost my copy.
Like everybody else who writes on these pages I have fond and not so fond memories of the Masters. No point in covering them here because they have been well covered before, but I did learn to appreciate later what a good headmaster Harry Davis (Taffy) was, and how he helped me build my confidence. John Bird, when he was heard on Desert Island Discs, paid tribute to Harry Davis. He related that when he wanted to join the school at third form level some of the staff were against this, but Davis insisted on giving him a chance. The rest, as they say, is history. John Bird was Trent House Captain in 1955, the last year we were at Stanley Road. I participated in most sports, but refused to enter the House Boxing Championships much to his annoyance. Nevertheless I always enjoy watching Bremner, Bird and Fortune.
The atmosphere at Gainsford Crescent was entirely different. The place was airier, lighter and more spacious. Obviously there was no history, but I think we all liked the move. The big school photograph which can be seen on the website was taken in September 1955 and is the most senior part of the school. There was another photo taken at the same time of the first three forms. Does Harold Shipman feature on that? For the first time we had all our facilities on one site including the playing fields. Only the cross country course left the school grounds. These, of course, were built over a few years ago.
I spent three enjoyable years at Gainsford Crescent and did not look forward to leaving. The final assembly was a very sad time for me in many ways. I remember the event well, and the final preparations. I spent seven years at High Pavement and, like many others, it changed my life and prepared me for the future. I have never forgotten my time there and remember the school with pride despite what has happened to both Stanley Road and Gainsford Crescent. I have kept many mementos and, stored somewhere in my loft, is my final school blazer.
Some great times, some great people, some great memories.
JOHN WILFORD
Special Notice
At the Annual General Meeting of the Society held in September members unanimously accepted the proposal to increase the Annual Subscription to
Would members who pay by standing order please take action now and ask their bank to make the necessary adjustment to their mandate?
If you do not currently pay by standing order please consider doing so. You can download a form from the Society’s website
www.highpavementsociety.org.uk
or contact the Hon. Treasurer Robin Taylor, 0115 9609483 or for any other information or advice.
Would you like to consider Life Membership?
This is available for a one off payment of £75.00
Just contact Robin Taylor who will make the necessary arrangements
Welcome to the New President!
by Colin Salsbury and Robin Taylor of the HPS Committee
One item of business at the recent AGM of the High Pavement Society was the increase in the subscriptions from £5 to £10 per year and it was thought that this would meet with some debate. Happily this was not the case and the motion was adopted. The other piece of business of significance was not expected to be disputed by anyone. Following the death in April, after a long illness, of our President and founder member Ken Thompson it was felt that an equally distinguished person should be elected in his place. The Society needed a prominent figurehead and during a recent committee meeting it was suggested that our distinguished former treasurer, secretary, pub lunch organiser, master of ceremonies and (in his own words) “Head Bottle Washer” Arnold Brown should be nominated for the office. Naturally there were no other candidates and the proposition (by the Chairman), was followed by a loud acclamation of approval from the whole meeting.
In his response Arnold described this as “the proudest moment of my life” and looked forward to the future when the society had recruited more people of the younger age group. He remarked that we might have to change things to bring this about. He spoke of the new office holders who had lifted the burden of routine administration from his shoulders but declared that he did not wish to relinquish the organisation of the pub lunches or the editing of our newsletters, which was something of a relief to all present.
Arnold has been a driving force throughout the existence of the society and it owes much to his efforts. He embodies the very spirit of the society in all its aims. Among these are commemorating the old school, perpetuating its ideals, traditions and friendships and fostering the educational interests of the young folk who now study at our successor institution. We are surely proud he has become our President.
A Presidential Presentation
At the commencement of the social evening which immediately followed the AGM, There was a surprise presentation to the newly elected President in the form of a new Badge of Office which had been provided by a group of friends. This was a bronze medallion bearing the society’s badge (the old High Pavement School badge designed by Keith Train and Bill Benner in 1933) attached to a green ribbon representing the earlier school colours and those of the society’s tie. The medallion was inscribed on the back with the old school motto: ‘Virtus Sola Nobilitas’ and the office-holder’s title: ‘President’. The presentation was made by the society’s chairman, Ken Kirk.
There was warm applause from the eighty guests and Arnold made a short speech of thanks. In it he thanked everyone for their support and good wishes and declared: “I understand that a President stands at a higher level of seniority than a chairman so at last I’ll be able to boss him about!” which we thought was very Arnold. All strength to the arm of our new President!
From David Bonsall
1st May 2008
Dear Arnold,
Thank you very much for your very prompt reply to my letter, and for sending me a copy of the school song which I have been trying to get hold of for many years, not knowing of the existence of the High Pavement Society.