Holgate School

Ha! I remember Mr Goddard very well (well pretty well after 56 years) and Mr Jarvis rings a faint bell bugger I wish I'd paid more attention at school! I do remember Mr Hinchliffe getting really fed up with John Wood in a lesson in one of the classrooms across the playground and Sir, told Woody "OK let's see what you're made of" and having a bloody boxing match (no gloves of course) in the classroom. Woody lost (I think) but thereon in Woody never took the piss again in Mr Hinchcliffe's lessons.

 

Did a stint at Kingstone as a science teacher Mr Helm. Looked like that skinny one with the blonde curtains from the office.

 

Another one, from 1966.

 

Almost certain it will 3rd January.

 

Is Peter Matysiak involved?...I remember him organising one many years ago but didn't see the notice in the Chronicle until after the event.

 

It’s not really a reunion but the Holgate Old Boys Society Dinner , i’ve Not been but my brother has and he is one of the youngest there 63yrs . Pete was a mate of my cousins , lived at Redbrook if it’s same one
Here’s a photo with Spot and Wes Hall on from around 76 Sixth Form ( nicked from a Holgate Facebook page )

 

The one person who doesn't seem to have had a mention is Bernard (Harold?) Smith, aka "The Boss". That man glided around the corridors like he was on castors. I swear no one ever heard him coming!

 

He's on the pic fatalbert posted. God he was creepy!

 

Left same year as you, Lock Sadler though.. So no doubt I'll know ya

 

Still loves his football and at 84 is still fit and looks 64.

 

Yeah quite possibly. Should we reveal our identities?

 

I was taught by Spot in the 3rd form, and I also did A-level with him in 1967. He was a great character and terrific teacher. He never allowed us to get too high an opinion of ourselves. I remember when he flung our books back to us once, obviously unhappy at the standard of our homework, saying, "3A ? More like flaming 3Z". As a matter of principle, he would never give any boy more than 7/10, however impressive their work might be. "10/10 is perfection, and what you produce is a hell of a long way from that". We knew, though that 4/10 wasn't that bad a mark from Spot and 5 and a half was more than satisfactory.

 

I also left in 1967, after A-levels.

 

I took O-levels there in 1965 and left in 1967 after A-levels. We were either in the same year, or you were two years ahead of me

 

Fancy that. Jack Livesey was my form teacher when I was in the 1st form, back in 60-61. He also taught me Maths

 

If it’s the same Pete Matysiak from Redbrook I used to work with him at David Browns in Penistone. Not seen him in at least 10 years and last I heard he lived at Malvern in Gloucestershire.

 

Norman Goddard was our form master for two years. Top teacher and a smashing bloke too. Once spoke to him at Rose & Crown in Hoylandswaine many years ago. Wasn’t sure if he was still around. Must be pushing 90 now?

 

"Spot" Avery was a first-class academic and I can well understand that he did not really enjoy teaching in a comprehensive school. I suspect that the fact that he was a fairly heavy smoker did not do his heart many favours.

 

Norman never taught me, but my brother, whom he did teach, told me of an amusing incident in one of his lessons. One of my brother's classmates muttered under his breath that Norman was "as blind as a f*****g bat", to which Norman replied, "But not as deaf as a post", before proceeding to mete out appropriate punishment.