Three Towns Forum

The Local => Times Past => Topic started by: Jelly Baby on February 18, 2018, 09:38:55 am

Title: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Jelly Baby on February 18, 2018, 09:38:55 am
Please someone help us before we fall out forever!  :laugh: My sister and I are arguing about House names in the old John Bright Grammar School (which we both attended). I say that the houses and their colours were:
Glaslyn - Blue
Peris - White    *Maybe that should be Perys?
Llydaw - Yellow
?(Can't remember this name)? - Green
I was in Glaslyn, which means that any siblings coming after me should have been in the same house, but Sis says she was in the green one, whose name she thinks was Gloddaeth.
I'm pretty sure the houses were named after North Walian lakes.
Can someone please put us out of our misery and tell us which house and colour is which?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on February 18, 2018, 09:49:28 am
They had different names when i was there during the early sixties.

Mostyn, Gogarth, Gloddaeth and Penrhyn come to mind.

At a guess, they were red, yellow, green and blue.

Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 18, 2018, 10:59:07 am
They had different names when i was there during the early sixties.

Mostyn, Gogarth, Gloddaeth and Penrhyn come to mind.

At a guess, they were red, yellow, green and blue.

It was like that when I was there Bri, perhaps it changed when John Brights became a Comprehensive School?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Jelly Baby on February 18, 2018, 12:02:24 pm
Aha! Sis says she wasn't sure if it was Gloddaeth or Gogarth, so that's a help! I remember Penrhyn as well (I think - long time ago!) But I was definitely in Glaslyn, which was blue, my favourite colour!
I was at JBGS from1960-67. I remember my Sis started her O-levels on 06-06-66!!! Now that's a date you'd never forget!
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 18, 2018, 12:33:28 pm
That's a long time to be in JBGS   Jelly Baby,  did you stay on for A levels or something?       I was there from 1958 to 1963 and that was enough for me and I just walked out of the place in late 63
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on February 18, 2018, 02:12:31 pm
Would you believe I was also at JBGS from 1961-67 and I have also never forgotten starting my O levels on the 6-6-66 ?

However, I am pretty sure there were both Gogarth and Gloddaeth as well as Penrhyn which was blue.

I remember being in Mostyn myself and my sister had to declare that fact when she went to JBGS in 1964.

I regret I have never heard of Glaslyn so I guess that must have been introduced later.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 18, 2018, 03:45:52 pm
I was in Mostyn too but a few years ahead of you Bri.     Were you ever in the Mostyn football team prior to 1964?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on February 18, 2018, 06:02:44 pm
I regularly represented the school, Hugo, in chess and cross country but I don’t remember being picked for Mostyn House in anything.

I have never really got over it.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 18, 2018, 10:27:21 pm
At least you were successful in chess particularly, Llandudno Youth Centre champion if my memory is correct.     I played football for Mostyn  and the Llandudno Youth  Centre also but when I refused to play for JBGS  football team I got the cane off the headmaster  S O Rees
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Jelly Baby on February 19, 2018, 02:45:19 am
Yes, Hugo, I did 2 A levels, French and German. Sadly they were never much use to me as, being a Grammar school, JBGS left the teaching of secretarial skills to the Secondary Mod ('Central' school); and languages without typing and shorthand (in those days, long before pooters were invented!) were never going to be much use on their own! And coming to Oz later, where the predominant (European) languages are Greek and Italian, well, what can I say!! Might as well have left earlier myself really!

Bri, if you were at JBGS 61-67, and believe Penrhyn was blue, then Glaslyn must have been the blue house in 1960, because I was definitely in Glaslyn and it was definitely blue! It can't possibly be anything else because I have a fabulous memory and would never forget a thing like that.

Now where was I, and who was I talking to....??? Er, ahem!!  ???

You must have been in the same year as my sister then, Bri, to have started your O levels on that same date!
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 19, 2018, 09:46:23 am
JBGS  1965 but I don't think that Bri and Jelly Baby are in the photo but they may recognise some faces.     The school went comprehensive in 1969 so I'm surprised that the house names changed before then but new teachers were coming in and bringing in new ideas too



https://www.flickr.com/photos/allan_harris/5509233197 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allan_harris/5509233197)
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on February 19, 2018, 10:10:31 am
Yes, Hugo, is correct.

I am not in any of the photos but I can certainly recognise quite a few faces and can even remember a few names as well.

I am also younger than those pupils in those nostalgic photos.

I was in an Alpha stream.

There is no doubt I was in the same year as Jelly Baby’s sister if we can both remember 6/6/66.

I must add again that I do not remember Glaslyn ever being a House at JBGS.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Jelly Baby on February 20, 2018, 06:34:26 am
That was certainly my class in '65 and I recognise most of the faces but I'm a shocker at names! I'm not 100% sure but I think that's me at the back with half my face obscured? It would be like me to skulk at the back! Pretty poor show when you can't even recognise yourself! My apologies to whoever that gorgeous-looking bird is if it's not me anyway!
Bri, I was in the Alpha stream too, as was my sister! Only the As got to do Latin after the first form, so I missed out on even an O-level, which would have given me the option to try to get into one of the Oxbridge Unis - ooh, they do like their Latin!
I'm still hanging out for Glaslyn though...............
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Jelly Baby on February 20, 2018, 06:39:30 am
Oh dear, as the fog of time lifts and clears, I dread to think, could it be possible that Glaslyn was one of the houses at BODAFON, rather than JBGS??
C'mon, guys, give me a break, we're talking over 58 years ago now! And to think I'm still only 25 years old!!
I wonder what house I was in at JBGS then?!!
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Meleri on February 20, 2018, 03:27:19 pm
In the second photograph of just the ladies, is the pretty blonde second from back desk, on the far wall Annette ?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 20, 2018, 04:29:20 pm
The present day houses in Ysgol John Bright,   Mostyn is missing but where is Glaslyn?


http://johnbright.uk/houses-2/ (http://johnbright.uk/houses-2/)
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Quiggs on February 20, 2018, 05:14:47 pm
I was in Goddaeth ( Green ) from 1952 / 1955. The other houses were Mostyn, Penrhyn and Gogarth, if that adds to the confusion, oh, and I did Latin in the second year, for all the good it did  ;D
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Quiggs on February 20, 2018, 05:21:27 pm
PS. I left at 15 and did a 5 year apprenticeship as a Tool Maker, so Latin wasn’t of much use
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Jelly Baby on February 21, 2018, 02:36:49 am
Meleri, I thought Annette was the one in the middle on the front row! I'm getting very annoyed with myself for not being sure of the names because she and I were in the 6th form together. Maybe she was Angela? I think she lived at Craig-y-Don, a street called Avoca Terrace/Street/ or something, but I can't find it on Google maps - there are an awful lot of 'unnamed roads' in C-y-D though!
I hate this growing old lark, you see things you remember so well, but then you can't quite put your finger on the names, places, dates, etc!
Glaslyn rules, woteva!!!
PS: I am pretty sure the girl (in the other pic where there are only 4 girls!) second from the right at the back (with the longish hair flicked upwards and outwards!) was called Phillipa. I remember that because I loved that name and wished I'd been called that! In fact, nice name, nice girl!
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Meleri on February 21, 2018, 10:15:38 am
Just got some old photos out and the girl I pointed out looks very much like Annette, she went out with my brother for a few years.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 21, 2018, 10:47:11 am
You are correct about Phillipa  and according to Frank who has a great memory!   these are some of the others in the class.   There were 5 photos in total of the class in the link I posted

 Robert Lynton-Jones, Tony Elliott, Robin Roberts, FWH, John Geler Williams, David Pritchard (back corner), Peter Palmer (chin on hand), Brian Moses, Ian Kay, Beryl Pierce, Phillippa Lewis, Susan Roberts (front) and Judith Barker-Ball.
He says the class was 5A, you took the class photo in 1965 just before O Levels
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: squigglev2 on February 21, 2018, 12:14:49 pm
It was a comp when I attended. I’m afraid the only house I remember is Penrhyn.

I don’t know who was taught Latin in those early 70s days. It’s a bit of a mystery to me. I believe Mr Evans (who’s wife taught me French) was a Latin teacher and he could sometimes be seen in the junior block but neither I who went 1C, 1B, 2A or my brother who was in 1A (we moved to Kent after that – brother rejoined JYB in the 6th form but I didn’t return after my 2nd year) encountered the subject.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on February 21, 2018, 02:36:43 pm
It was a comp when I attended. I’m afraid the only house I remember is Penrhyn.

I don’t know who was taught Latin in those early 70s days. It’s a bit of a mystery to me. I believe Mr Evans (who’s wife taught me French) was a Latin teacher and he could sometimes be seen in the junior block but neither I who went 1C, 1B, 2A or my brother who was in 1A (we moved to Kent after that – brother rejoined JYB in the 6th form but I didn’t return after my 2nd year) encountered the subject.

Mr Evans was our Latin teacher when I was in JBGS,   he was always called Happy on account of his facial expression and one day when he did  manage to crack a smile the whole class cheered in unison
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: George on May 19, 2018, 10:39:14 am
Hi everyone.  I was in the Gamma class of JBGS during the period 1957 - 1963 (and like Hugo I walked out one day!).  Anyway I've managed to contact a few old classmates from that period, so far 3 of the boys and 5 of the girls and sadly found out that another 10 of our classmates have passed away.  Does anyone out there know the whereabouts of any of the Gamma class during this period.  If you do could you please let me know.  We've set up a Facebook Group "John Bright Grammar School Gamma Gramarians 1957 - 1963" so if you were in the Gammas during this period of time please feel free to join, it would be great to meet up with you again.  Finally the class mates that we have found so far are: Howie Lloyd Jones, John Haydn Powell, Richie Jones, George Williams, Nerys Barratt (now Nerys George) Linda Holt (Now Linda Blacwell Holt), Marylyn Moore (Now Marilyn Griffiths), Janet Jones (Now Janet Leighton), Robina (Robbie) Jones
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 19, 2018, 03:19:08 pm
Hi George,  I'm sorry but I can't help you on this one.    I was also in the Gamma stream in 1963 but can't remember any of those names that you have mentioned.
I walked out of JBGS in the Autumn of 1963.     Good luck with your search
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 19, 2018, 04:04:44 pm
George,   I've just been reading my JBGS magazines for 1959 and 1960 and can see by the names that you were one form ahead of me in school. 
The 1960 article on 3 Gamma was written by Robina Jones and in the 1959 magazine in 2 Gamma is a mention of " George who shines in woodwork"     Would that be you by any chance?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: DVT on May 19, 2018, 08:22:24 pm
Just noticed the name of a Mr Moses - teacher? - in the previous postings - does anyone know if he was a keen bird-watcher and that would have been about 1955? ... if it is him then I can tell you something (good) about him, and how it relates to my life today.  I did not attend JBGS, my only connection with school being that my grand-daughter is in her first year there now.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 19, 2018, 09:35:40 pm
Probably Stan Moses.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: George on May 23, 2018, 03:08:32 pm
Hi Hugo, that's amazing that you've got that JBGS magazine.  It is me that Robina mentioned and it just so happens that I've just been speaking to Robina (Robbie) if that's the right term on Facebook.  She lives in Buxton now but she was in Llandudno at the weekend at a 'Get Together' with Nerys, Linda, Janice and a few more.  I live in the north of Scotland now so I don't get to come back to Llandudno very often which is a shame.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 23, 2018, 05:32:44 pm
Hi George,  I took some photos of the articles in the magazines and attach them so that you can see them.    The first two photos are from the 1959 John Bright magazine and the 3rd and 4th are from the 1960 magazine.  Hope that some good memories come back to you.

In the 1959 magazine there is a mention of Richard Jones as being a rock and roll fan, do you remember if he lived in the council houses on Conwy Road Llandudno.  The reason I'm asking is because a Richard Jones played in the same football team as me and he was ahead of me in the school
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 23, 2018, 11:05:07 pm
Hugo, it is interesting you still have the JBGS mags for 1959 and 1960.

By coincidence, I still have the mags for 1961-1966 in pristine condition.

Btw, Richie Jones from Conway Road is still local and lives over in Deganwy.

Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on May 24, 2018, 09:03:44 am
Bri: I've suggested to Hugo that he lends me his copy so I can scan it and post the entire mag in the gallery.  If you'd be agreeable I can send you details of how to pass the mags to me so I can do it.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 24, 2018, 09:10:24 am
Thanks Bri,  that's the same Richie that was in our team. He is in the centre of the back row in the photo.  I'm at the end of the players on the right at the back row.
The last time I saw Richie was in Tesco's many years ago

I'm afraid that my JBGS magazines are the worse for wear but I only look at them on the odd occassion
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 24, 2018, 11:57:28 am
That is a great photo, Hugo.

I would never have known that was Richie.

Together with Allan the Milk, the three of us went and sat together at Old Trafford for the period that Mr Ferguson was in charge.

However, I can easily recognise a few of your team mates.

Ian, to do what you want to do will it involve splitting up the pages of the magazines because I am not too keen on that, if it does?

They truly are pristine.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on May 24, 2018, 01:37:07 pm
Not at all, Bri.  I would simply scan them in position as part of the booklet and do everything else in post processing. The originals wouldn't be harmed in any way.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 24, 2018, 03:31:46 pm
No problem, Ian.

Normally, I bring them down from the loft every Xmas together with my collection of old football programmes.

They stay down until it is time for me to put the Xmas decs back up.

Will it be alright to leave them until then or would you like to make an early start on them?

Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on May 24, 2018, 04:12:35 pm
I'll send you a PM, Bri.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: George on May 25, 2018, 10:27:15 am
Hi Hugo, many, many thanks for the photos of our school magazine, what a trip down memory lane they are for me.  I'm going to pass them onto all of my classmates that I am in contact with, they will be blown away. You mentioned Richard Jones, well he was, and still is, one of my best mates.  Unfortunately he is not in the best of health, he has been suffering from COPD for the last 10 years and is struggling a bit.  He lives at (address removed by admin).  On another rather sad note the magazine mentions Hallam Lees well I'm sorry to say that he has passed away along with another nine members of our class, that we know off.  I'm happy to say though that all the girls mentioned in the magazine are still alive and kicking!  Nery's however, never did get to be an Air Hostess, she owns the Warwick Hotel in Church Walks in Llandudno.  If you'd like to carry on chatting about times past in JBGS it may be easier by email.  You can get me at popsatforbeshill@gmail.com, if you want.  By the way, I walked out of JBGS early as well, just like you.  Cheers for now, George
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on May 25, 2018, 10:53:39 am
George: sorry I had to remove the address.  I can still let Hugo know it, but this is a completely open forum so it's not wise to post contact details of any sort in the open.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 25, 2018, 05:11:31 pm
Hi George and Ian,   I am going to take up Ian's kind offer of scanning the books as they may  be of interest to other former pupils of JBGS.
Bri Roberts has the ones from 1961 to 1966 so if they are scanned also, then you'll be able to follow your class up to the time that you left school.
Richie was the old fashioned type of centre forward and very effective too, I don't keep in touch with anyone from my JBGS days but saw Ritchie at a funeral when Jeff Berrington died some years ago and the last time I saw him after that was at Tesco's.   I'm sorry to hear that he's in bad health now.
I can't say that I remember a lot of names from the school that were ahead of me other than those who played football. I remember Anne Hare and here brother Dudley who was in another football team with me
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 26, 2018, 12:49:50 pm
Hugo, I played in the Maggie Murphys football team with Dudley during the early seventies and didn’t realise he also played in another team, unless you also played for Maggies?  ;)

P.S - I have also agreed with Ian to lend him my school mags.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 26, 2018, 01:14:28 pm
It was much earlier when Dudley played for the Llandudno Youth Centre.     This photo was taken at the Borough United's old ground when we played Maesgeirchen in the final of the North Wales Youth Clubs. I think that it was C1961  and I was about 14 years old then and the youngest player in the team.
We beat Maes G   2-1   and Roy Babbs scored the winning goal

Dudley is third from the left in the back row of the photo and I am next to him ( 2nd left back row )    I think that he was centre half in that game and he was a good strong player, in fact he seemed to be good at all sports.

I haven't seen him for about 50 years and I haven't seen Anne for about that long either although I believe that they both still live in the area
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 26, 2018, 01:34:49 pm
Nice pic, Hugo.

Apart from Dudley, I only recognise Begsy and Mr Lister.

I had an uncle over in the Jct who once told me he helped to pay for that grandstand and also helped bring it to Nantycoed.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 26, 2018, 02:30:47 pm
Borough United have had some really good teams over the years and deserved a grandstand like that.  For your info Bri  the team in the photo is made up of the following players:-

Back row left to right     Joe Jones,  Brian Hughes, Dudley Hare, Elias Williams,  Glyn Lister,  Alan McElroy
Front row left to right    Derek Williams, Jeff Berrington, Roy Babbs,  David Rawling, Simon Hughes
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 27, 2018, 02:42:35 pm
A photo from the 1960 JBGS magazine.   Is that Hallam in the back row second from the left?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: George on May 28, 2018, 10:42:46 am
Hi Ian,  thanks' about the heads up about addresses, no probs, I'll just remember in future.  Great Forum by the way!
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: George on May 28, 2018, 10:47:09 am
Hi Ian, If you were able to scan the school mags it would be absolutely brilliant.  What memories they hold and I'm sure they would be of great interest to the rest of my classmates that I am in touch with.  Many thanks.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on May 28, 2018, 12:44:34 pm
You're welcome, George.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: squigglev2 on May 28, 2018, 01:41:11 pm
Funny how you read the names and wonder (although I'm a bit younger).

I don't suppose John Haydn Powell was from Pydew?  Reason I ask is that although I don't know him (just the younger two brothers) is that there was a Haydn in the Powell family at Maelgwyn and the father's name was John. He was a bit older and I remember being surprised at primary school that Bryn could be an uncle as I thought then that uncles and aunts were supposed to be older than that...

I guess Anne Hare is the one who had the Queens Head in Glanwydden with Alan Davies, in between Dave Curtis and Bob Cureton?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 28, 2018, 02:07:48 pm
Tom Jones may be able to answer your question about John Haydn Powell, but Anne Hare was the daughter of the Landlord at Maggie Murphy's in Tywyn Deganwy.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: squigglev2 on May 28, 2018, 02:12:36 pm
Thanks Hugo, that seems to fit what I think I remember.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: George on May 30, 2018, 10:27:56 am
Hi Squigglev2.  Yes, Haydn (as we called him at school) was from Bryn Pydew and as a matter of fact he lives there now after spending a lot of time living in Glan Conwy.  His brother Mal also lives in Pydew as does one of his daughters and son. I'm in regular touch with him by email and phone so if you want me to pass a message onto him I would be glad to do so.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: George on May 30, 2018, 10:32:50 am
Hi Hugo, Anne Hare was in our class in school, any idea where she is now?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: squigglev2 on May 30, 2018, 10:51:20 am
Hi Squigglev2.  Yes, Haydn (as we called him at school) was from Bryn Pydew and as a matter of fact he lives there now after spending a lot of time living in Glan Conwy.  His brother Mal also lives in Pydew as does one of his daughters and son. I'm in regular touch with him by email and phone so if you want me to pass a message onto him I would be glad to do so.

Thanks George. It was just a curiosity question as it seemed reasonably possible. I’m round about the same age as the youngest of the brothers and would also know Mel to say hello to.

I’m out of the area (Norfolk) but still have a brother in the area with some contact with Bryn Pydew.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 30, 2018, 12:58:28 pm
Bri Roberts has the ones from 1961 to 1966 so if they are scanned also, then you'll be able to follow your class up to the time that you left school.

Correction, Hugo.

I have now located seven editions from 1960-1966 inclusive.

I will drop them off for Ian to scan over the next few days.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 30, 2018, 04:34:25 pm
Hi Hugo, Anne Hare was in our class in school, any idea where she is now?

I think that she is in Llandudno but I haven't seen her for about 50 years, although I had a quick glimpse of someone a few weeks ago who reminded me of her.   I hope that she and her brother Dudley are both well as they were really nice people
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on May 30, 2018, 04:38:39 pm
Bri Roberts has the ones from 1961 to 1966 so if they are scanned also, then you'll be able to follow your class up to the time that you left school.

Correction, Hugo.

I have now located seven editions from 1960-1966 inclusive.

I will drop them off for Ian to scan over the next few days.

You must have been in JBGS a while Bri with all those magazines.     I was in 5 Gamma and stayed in that class to resit some exams but after a couple of months I had had enough and walked out of there and never came back.

Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on June 03, 2018, 06:37:51 pm
I was thinking to myself the other day why I hadn't got the JBGS magazines for the years 1961 to 1963 and realised that it was probably because of something that happened to me when I was in 3 Gamma.
I played a lot of football then and had represented the school in football but for some reason which I can't remember exactly I had to visit a Chiropodist.   The Chiropodist said that I had fallen arches and must stop playing football immediately so I told the school that and didn't play in lessons or in the school team
It was the end of the football season then and I had helped Llandudno Youth Club get into a cup final so there was no way I was going to step down from that game and we played and won the cup.
About two weeks later the Headmaster Mr S O Rees called me into his office and called me a liar after seeing the team photo in the local paper and he gave me three strokes of the cane on my backside.    The ironic thing was that I was actually wearing the foam padded insoles for my "fallen arches"  at the time.
During the Summer I worked in Marks and Spencers and saw their Chiropodist and he stated that although my arches were slightly dropped there would be no problem in playing football or any sport in the future
When I returned back to JBGS in the Autumn I told the form teacher the news and that I could resume playing football again and carried on enjoying the game.
I was again selected for the school and although I travelled in the school bus I refused to play for the football team or the Rugby team and in the end they knew that they were wasting their time asking me to play for them.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 08, 2018, 07:17:09 pm
I'e started the process of scanning every page of the 1960 John Bright  magazine and, despite it being something of a job, it makes fascinating reading.

On page 44 one of the third form pupils' stories was printed.  Called "A Christmas Murder" it was, as you might expect, a rather gauche attempt at detective fiction of the Christie genre, but it did display significant linguistic ability.  The writer called themselves Anthony B W Nethersell, so, purely out of interest, I Googled the name.  This is what I found:

"Anthony Barry Walter Nethersell

b.23 December 1945 d.29 May 2012
BA Cantab(1968) BChir(1973) MB(1974) MRCP(1978) FRCR(1982) FRCP(1998)(ARCO)

Anthony Barry Walter Nethersell was a consultant in clinical oncology at Glan Clywd Hospital, Rhyl. He was born in Llandudno, north Wales, and, in 1965, went up to Queens’ College, Cambridge, from John Bright Grammar School to study physics. After his first degree, he studied medicine, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, and then at Bart’s Hospital in London.

He chose to enter the pharmaceutical industry, becoming head of clinical oncology at the Wellcome Research Laboratories in Beckenham, Kent. Here he was able to apply his experience in physics to his chosen specialism – radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Whilst there he also took a prominent part in the development of the drug interferon and, concurrently, he held a post as an honorary consultant at King’s College Hospital in London to maintain and develop his medical skills.

He ultimately returned full time to the NHS. After a consultancy in Exeter, he returned home to north Wales to take part in the new cancer centre based at Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl. Here he was able to make full use of his clinical experience and, most importantly for him, his capacity for compassion and kindness, in which every patient was given his dedicated attention. The long and gruelling hours he willingly endured no doubt contributed to the decline of his own health.

Tony was also, from childhood, passionately devoted to music. He was a superb pianist and organist (an associate of the Royal College of Organists). Whilst at John Bright School, he often had the opportunity to play with that now defunct institution, the pier orchestra at Llandudno. His musical tastes were unusually wide and deep, from plainchant to Wagner, Motown to Bacharach. Whilst at Queens’ he was a very active member of the St Margaret’s Society (the college music society) and sang bass in both the college and the university choirs. Everywhere he lived and worked he was never without his old and cherished Steinway grand piano, with which he enlivened many a party. A memorable highlight of his Cambridge days was to play the solo part in the ‘Warsaw concerto’ at a Queens’ summer concert in 1968. After his return to north Wales, he also enjoyed playing the organ for services in the churches near his home in Deganwy.

Sadly, at the age of 62, his deteriorating health forced him to retire, and he battled bravely and patiently for his final five years. Tony, however, was fortunate to share most of his adult life with his childhood sweetheart, Jan, who was his partner throughout his career and whom he married in 2007."

I suspect scanning these magazines will turn up more stories of this type and the magazine will prove a useful archive of past pupils of John Bright Grammar.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 09, 2018, 03:39:41 pm
The entire 1960 John Bright Grammar school magazine is now uploaded and can be found by going to Photo Gallery (above) / Home / John Bright magazines. Each file is a single page which is identified by the name in the format JB 1960 005 for the page 5 file, for example, the last three digits corresponding to the page number (which, curiously, is missing in the magazines themselves).

Because of the odd way the photo gallery filing system displays and loads the files, page 1 is at the end of the photos and you work backwards through them. Thus when you first open the JB folder the first file you see is actually the last page of the magazine.

When all six or seven magazines are fully scanned the resultant archive will, I suspect, be of immense interest to many.  They're a great snapshot of life in the early '60s from the pupils' perspectives.

Many thanks to Bri and Hugo who are loaning me the mags for scanning.  They will certainly form part of a valuable social archive.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 09, 2018, 03:40:21 pm
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Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 09, 2018, 04:02:54 pm
One interesting aspect of the time is the way girls and boys were dealt with in print.  Girls had their full names printed, while boys usually only had their first initial and then their surname.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 11, 2018, 06:57:44 pm
The 1961 John Bright magazine is now on the forum. As before  go to Photo Gallery (above), Home then choose the magazine you want to view.  I'm using the icon of the cover of each mag to make it easier.  Thanks again to Bri and Hugo for loaning this invaluable collection and priceless archive of social and educational changes in the early '60s.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 11, 2018, 07:07:29 pm
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Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 12, 2018, 07:41:37 am
John Bright became a Comprehensive school in 1969 so I'm assuming that's also when the magazine stopped being produced. It would be useful to be able to see the magazines for 1997-9 and also any that preceded those dates.

Grammar school magazines were a uniquely British invention. They were considered essential by all Grammar schools and the tradition of producing them fell by the wayside with the advent of Comprehensivisation. But they were valuable mirrors of society at a time when the British were still attempting to rebuild cities after the war and today can act as catalysts for ex-pupils of the Grammar system.

In the case of John Bright's, two things struck me: the sheer weight of advertising - at least 20% of the magazine was taken by local businesses - and the other was the structure of the system within the school.

It was a four form entry school and used A, Alpha, Beta and Gamma names to denote academic capability. Reading some of the 'form entries' towards the back of the magazine it's clear, even from the heavily 'guided' writing, that the children were all too aware that there existed an academic class structure, within which they hoped to swim upwards.

I hope the inclusion of the entire magazines on here will encourage some past pupils onto the forum to post their own first-hand experiences.  The youngest of those will be in their late '50s, now, so if anyone's in contact with folk they know attended the school during the '60s do let them know what we have here.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 12, 2018, 04:56:29 pm
The 1962 JBGS magazine has now been uploaded to the usual location.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 12, 2018, 04:57:18 pm
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Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on June 12, 2018, 05:17:47 pm
I might be wrong but I can't see a class report for 4 Gamma in 1962 ( pg 4 )    Perhaps our class was so bad that year that they didn't want to include us in the magazine.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: squigglev2 on June 12, 2018, 05:36:56 pm
Just a slight follow up from up from one of Ian's comments.

John Bright comp when I was there used the first (or possibly in the case of someone better known by middle name, that one) name in class.  Although I don't remember if they used the shorter (and my preferred version) of my first name, which was the case in primary school - three syllables is always too formal and too very young age ticked off for me...

But How was it in John Bright grammar school in class.

Other systems I've known are, as experienced in the grammar I moved onto after YJB  were surnames. A local (Kent) tech college used Mr, etc. plus surname. Llandrillo when I attended there in later life was on a more informal first (and if needed) second name term with both pupils and staff which to me would be the closest to most (yes, other places might need things like Dr) work environments.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 12, 2018, 06:19:36 pm
I might be wrong but I can't see a class report for 4 Gamma in 1962 ( pg 4 )    Perhaps our class was so bad that year that they didn't want to include us in the magazine.

You're right;  there was no form report for 4 Gamma.  It goes 4A, 4 Alpha and 4 Beta. There are also pages that have been cut out of the 1962 magazine, but not from the form reports.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 12, 2018, 06:24:19 pm
When I entered a Grammar (and throughout the duration) only surnames were used. But that was a boys' Grammar.  Very few were mixed in the early '60s.

The other interesting aspect was the ratio of boys / girls going on to university. Girls were expected to become wives and mothers, so few went on to university, whereas many boys did.  I remember a preponderance of males at my first university. How things have changed.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 12, 2018, 06:27:05 pm
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Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: squigglev2 on June 12, 2018, 06:43:33 pm
When I entered a Grammar (and throughout the duration) only surnames were used. But that was a boys' Grammar.  Very few were mixed in the early '60s.

The other interesting aspect was the ratio of boys / girls going on to university. Girls were expected to become wives and mothers, so few went on to university, whereas many boys did.  I remember a preponderance of males at my first university. How things have changed.

I was later than that but, again I was at a boy's only grammar.  My mother says she was called by first name in her (obviously much earlier) grammar.

On changes, one thing she notes is that her grammar (Shrewbury) didn't have all the resources for her subjects (in her case the science A levels to follow up to train as a physio in QE Brum) so a few lessons in the later part were taken in the boys school.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 12, 2018, 06:52:34 pm
Girls have always been called by first names in Grammar schools. It's odd. But I was surprised to see the JB photos with the girls identified by full first name and the boys only by their first initial.  I'd have thought with it being mixed they'd have used first names for everyone.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on June 12, 2018, 10:45:26 pm
I had another look at the 1962 magazine and noticed that Peter Welsh, a forum member was mentioned in it. He was in 5A and he was in the school hockey team

George would have been in 5 Gamma then but only a couple of pupils were named in the article written by Ian Butler.    It's 52 years ago but I'm sure that I remember Ian from school and the Llandudno Youth Club and I've a vague memory that he died from some illness when he was in his teens.   If my memory is correct then it's so sad as he was a popular and nice lad
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 13, 2018, 07:43:01 am
It's probably statistically normal but I was surprised at the number of children who had died in JB. Not in the school of course, but in different ways.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 13, 2018, 03:26:27 pm
The 1963 Magazine is now scanned and uploaded to the usual destination.

An interesting feature of this one is the mildly satirical tone which has started to creep into reports and articles, possibly inspired by the rash of satirical programming on BBC, led by Frosts's That Was The Week That Was.

Some excellent items, as always, but each magazine treated the type setting differently.  In the 1962 mag the spacing was wider and the page printing  format smaller than the 1960 and 1963 magazines.  One interesting aspect is that quite a few of the pages are not set square, which had me thinking for a while that it was my scanning.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on June 13, 2018, 03:56:03 pm
Thanks Ian,  I've had a look at the article on 5 Gamma and apparently Mr Rogers used to wait  patiently for my homework!   That's escaped my memory but it must have been true.       ;D
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 13, 2018, 04:37:48 pm
I suspect they may simple have forgotten to include your for the previous issue  If so, that's unforgivable.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 13, 2018, 08:07:30 pm
The 1964 JBGS Magazine is now uploaded and available to view.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on June 14, 2018, 07:31:52 am
I suspect they may simple have forgotten to include your for the previous issue  If so, that's unforgivable.

It's strange why our class wasn't on the list but it's not important and was probably just an oversight on someone's part.  I've got a couple more memories of my time involving the head Mr S O Rees but I'll save them for another time.     
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Ian on June 14, 2018, 01:22:56 pm
The 1965 magazine is now in place.  I should finish the 1966 one today after which I'll open a new album for the adverts - they're as much of a social commentary as the magazines themselves.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School - Houses
Post by: Hugo on June 14, 2018, 02:13:25 pm
I can remember some of the adverts were from parents whose children were in JBGS and it was an eye opener to see how the town has changed over the years.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Ian on June 14, 2018, 04:27:05 pm
The 1966 magazine is now uploaded and tomorrow I'll make a start on the final one, the 1959 magazine.  Thanks again to both Bri and Hugo for their generosity in lending them to me to scan.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 14, 2018, 07:04:51 pm
You are very welcome, Ian.

Am I now in a position to call and collect my seven mags from where I dropped them off?
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Ian on June 15, 2018, 08:26:48 am
Not yet, Bri; I still need to check I've got all the adverts - which should be done today - and then I'll PM you with the info as to when they'll be back.  Thanks again, though; fascinating stuff.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: George on June 15, 2018, 10:14:14 am
Hi Hugo, yes I'm afraid that you are quite right about Ian Butler, he died of cancer in his neck,  A very good friend of mine and I'll always remember he used to call my mum 'Mrs Lady'.  He was a real wit and is sadly missed by all of his classmates
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: George on June 15, 2018, 10:28:25 am
Hi Ian, I can't thank you enough for all the trouble that you have gone to to upload all of the JBGS School Magazines onto the forum.  What a fantastic job!  So many memories.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Ian on June 15, 2018, 10:46:25 am
You're welcome, George.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Ian on June 15, 2018, 11:11:43 am
The 1959 magazine is now being uploaded. I'll then create another album specifically for the adverts.  In particular, look out for the Baxters Meat ads, which changed each year and some of which would attract a fair number of complaints, nowadays, if they weren't actually illegal.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Hugo on June 21, 2018, 06:13:16 pm
I collected my magazines from Adam this afternoon Ian and thanks for going to so much trouble scanning them.   I've enjoyed looking at them and expect that many others will find them interesting.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Ian on June 21, 2018, 06:47:27 pm
You're welcome, Hugo. I hope they provide as much pleasure for our members as they did for me.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Meleri on June 22, 2018, 04:19:31 pm
Thank you all so much for supplying and scanning the JB Magazines  :) I really have enjoyed looking through them and found quite a few photographs of my brother and his friends, in various soccer & hockey teams, which I will pass on.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Hugo on June 24, 2018, 04:14:27 pm
FACT OR FICTION

Over the years you often hear stories about places and wonder if they are true or not and Penrhyn Old Hall is no exception.   I've heard stories of ghosts and also the Priests hidden room in the chimney, I know the Priests story is true but the ghosts one, I'm not sure about.
Another story I was told years ago that there was a secret passage from Penrhyn Old Hall to some place on the Little Orme and I've never looked into that but if you are interested in such things then there is an article in the 1960 JBGS magazine at pg 043 and it's an interesting short story written by Susan Leah ( 4 Alpha ) that's worth a read

Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Cambrian on June 25, 2018, 07:30:16 am
Hugo

The late Norman Tucker said that a tunnel discovered when the tramway was being constructed on Penrhyn Hill was an old lead mine.  He thought the existence of the tunnel gave rise to the suggestions there was a passage from the hall to the Little Orme.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Hugo on June 25, 2018, 08:32:38 am
Thanks Cambrian,  I did read that bit many years ago but didn't realise that Norman Tucker wrote it, I think that because the Pugh family from Penrhyn Old Hall were Catholics and were persecuted the suggestion of a passage was an escape route for the family if needed.

A similar story existed in Rhuddlan where there is an old banqueting hall in Princess Street. It was said that a passage led from the hall to the castle and was used when the Banqueting Hall was threatened.  It remained just that until I read an article in the local paper many years ago confirming the existence of a passage there
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Quiggs on July 06, 2018, 05:05:18 pm
I,be just been reading about Beckham and Kane. whilst at Grammar Scool being told that they had to play Rugby, Football not being allowed. I remember when Rugby was first introduced at John Bright Grammar school. I wasn’ interested, so remained in the changing room. The new Rugby teacher found me and ordered me to put on my kit and join the others on the field saying “ That it was a great game for fitness and character “. I looked up at his cauliflower ear, broken nose and scarred face and replied that it hadn’ Done much for him. From then on I was Persona non Grata and never did play Rugby. I left shortly after to take an Apprenticeship as  Tool Maker. Best decision I ever made, gave me a career for life.  :)
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Hugo on July 06, 2018, 05:42:28 pm
If it's the same Rugby teacher as I think it could be, I remember when I was travelling on the school bus to Holywell  he gave me a rollocking because I wasn't wearing the regulation school trousers.

When we arrived at Holywell he then found out that the first team for Rugby was one player short and asked me to make up the numbers.   I very politely refused to play as I didn't like rugby either and I didn't like the teacher too.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Hugo on July 08, 2018, 02:34:17 pm
Looking through the 1963 magazine reminded me of our form teacher Mr H H Hughes or "woody" as we called him.    He was a good teacher and a very nice guy but we did play a few tricks on him but he had obviously forgiven me for it because we used to see each other years later when we played golf at Maesdu Golf Course.
I was talking to my friends and fellow classmates Kenneth Jackson and Mervyn Roberts in recent years and we had a laugh about Mr Hughes and detention after school.
Mr Hughes had a wicked sense of humour and our detention was until 5 o'clock, I had no problem with that as I just lived around the corner but Ken and Merv both lived in Llandudno Junction and their train left at 5 o'clock sharp.   Woody could see them squirm when it was near 5 o'clock but a few minutes before the time he would let them out and off they would run as fast as they could to catch the train
Sadly both Ken and Merv died recently both aged 71, two nice guys
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: squigglev2 on July 10, 2018, 07:57:11 pm
JB (comp then). I got sent to Joe Butler (head master for the junior block – I think it was a Mr Garfield Rees at the main block) for fiddling with the innards of a water pistol in the canteen and squirting water.  I got 1 week lunch and evening detentions for that but my form mistress (the generally kindly CM Jones – she was a nice old school [geography] teacher) persuaded me to go back and ask for two weeks lunch time because of Pydew and transport.

The grammar I went to afer then had Saturday morning detentions of which I picked up about 2 or there did YJB ever do them?

Thought I’d once got away with one of my offences in that school as HM and I had a good chat but it ended with the nice “btw, you’d better take a week of detentions” but I guess in those days, there, you just say “thank you sir”...
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Ian on July 11, 2018, 07:43:11 am
I remember Saturday Morning detentions.  I suspect they were popular in Grammar schools in the late '50s / early '60s.
Title: Re: John Bright Grammar School
Post by: Micox on September 24, 2020, 04:52:42 pm
Hi. I was in JBGS until 3a in 1953. I engineered my departure (hated what I felt was the snob ethos there) when I was 15. My real fame was as the owner of a wire haired fox terrier called Paddy who had the habit of following me to school and appearing in assembly from whence I was ordered to take him home. But no matter what collection of security arrangements were tried, Paddy always managed to subvert them!  He was featured in the (I think) 1952 mag. I'm sure when I was there, rugby was introduced to the school by a new teacher, Hoppy. I played briefly, until I was thrown out, and enjoyed it.