If you did go to Holgate and left in 1992, we are having a little 25 year re-union on Saturday 3rd June, meeting downstairs in the Old No 7 start at 19:30. If you are on facebook, I've created a group..
Left in 81. Horace Jarvis & Spot Avery, they were characters, if any of the old boys remember them. Spot sadly had a heart attack & died just after I left. RIP. I used to do such a good impression of him as a kid, my mum & dad cracked up when they walked in to open day & he sat back in his seat & said "what do you wanna know?" exactly as I forecast.
Jarvis was still there in 92 when I left. Used to be funny how any lesson could be halted by the mention of football or cricket which would then end up taking up all the lesson. Plus if any of the lads used to be having a disagreement he would tell them to put some boxing gloves on and sort it out queensberry rules style. Legend!
I left in 1985. Mr Jarvis is still a huge Barnsley fan. I see him often on matchdays on his walk up to the East Upper. He's fighting fit for his age. He's been retired 20 odd years now. He remembers all the folks he used to teach. Must be in his 80s now, but still as sharp as ever. We always have a chat. Top man.
I left in 90 and used to love the cricket chats with Mr Jarvis. Great to hear he's still going strong. A character, but a very good teacher too.
I left in 67. I also see Horace most games in East Upper. He's a great bloke. As you say, he seems to have a superb memory. I first noticed him at Oakwell several years ago at a hand dryer in the toilets and recognised him at once, even though I hadn't seen him for about 45 years!
I left in 67. I agree entirely with your assessment of Spot and Horace. Spot was a superb teacher and could be quite scary for such a small bloke. He taught me A-level History. He had a habit of asking difficult questions and giving boys about two seconds to answer. He was always saying to us: "Get into your books!" He was a mean marker, by modern standards. 6/10 meant you were close to genius level. As someone else has remarked, Horace Jarvis is still going strong and watching the Reds. I see him on most match days at Oakwell.
Thanks for that. Yes, Spot was pretty inspirational, even in my day & didn't suffer fools. Good to hear Horace Jarvis still going to match. Must be a good age now. Can't say I enjoyed all my time at Holgate, but some of the older teachers were a class above.
Sorry to spoil your great memories guys, but Jarvis was a bully and nothing less. He enjoyed torturing those he deemed not worthy. I left Penistone Grammar in 1971 and went to Holgate for the next 2 years Jarvis made my school life a misery, constantly belittled me, humiliated me, threw the blackboard rubber at me with painful effect, and made me terrified to go into his lesson. Reason why? Penistone taught a new style of Maths, Jarvis was all about nodes and other stuff I'd never heard of like algebra I'd willingly throttle the git if I ever saw him today Appalling "teacher"
Fair enough, take folks as you find them. Old school teachers were provocative though. And violent at the time. The cane & fear was part of it & school ground brawls the norm. At Holgate in my time there was the "posting" induction too. Some people's ****** will have been reshaped as a result. We like in different times. Sorry you had a bad experience. As I said, mine was not all enjoyable. There were kids with flick knives that were really fecked up. They scared me more than the teachers.