Other Grammar School Photographs

School Trips & Parties of the 1950s

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M.G.S. Reunions

Early in 2006 a group of old MGS pupils who attended the school together in the early 1950s came together by email and other means and resolved to celebrate a visit by Barry Riding from France, where he has settled after globetrotting for most of his life. As most of us still lived in or around Mirfield, the Hare and Hounds was chosen as the venue with David Walker crossing the Pennines to join us. This was such an enjoyable experience that Barry has crossed the channel on a few other occasions and another reunion was arranged in July of the same year. We had managed to contact a few others from our school-year so although we lost one of our number who was away on holiday we grew from 6 to 8.

From this humble beginning the group has grown steadily until we are now in contact with many more 'old boys' and 'old girls', 16 of whom were able to gather on February 15, 2007 for a send-off celebration for David Clegg who was emigrating from our mother country to Australia. We all wished him well and promised to keep in touch. David is now settled and is quite happy with his move.

October 2007 was the first reunion in what is now its regular annual slot and we had 21 male ex-pupils, 4 female ex-pupils, 3 teachers and 2 wives giving a grand total of 30. For the October 2008 reunion the numbers remained constant at around the 30 mark but at October 2009 we managed a magnificent 42 attending.

Click any of these reunion pictures for a larger image with names.

The 2009 reunion for the 1951/52 intake of Mirfield Grammar School was held on Thursday, October 1 at Dewsbury District Golf Club, Sands Lane, Mirfield, WF14 8HJ. This has become a regular venue for us and they have looked after us very well. We moved to the Golf Club because of our numbers which are growing year by year and 2009 was the largest yet with a total of 42 attending, including the old pupils and their guests. This is especially pleasing because there are also another eleven who sent their apologies because they were unable to make it this year due to one thing or another so we hope to be welcoming them next year.

We are also slowly gaining more ladies as we manage to track them down. Not all of the ladies we have found were able to come this year but we have high hopes for more at the 2010 reunion. We were delighted to welcome four of our teachers again; Mr. Saywell, Mr. Charnock and Mr. and Mrs Jones. This was only the second reunion for Mrs Jones so it was particularly pleasing to see how relaxed and at ease she has become amongst us.

Our reunions are informal gatherings which start at 12:00 noon. We have a definite start time so that everyone who comes will have the chance of interacting with all of the others. To make the catering arrangements manageable we have a Carvery rather than individual menus and this seems to be working well. Although the photos seem to show us all sat at the tables I should mention that this is only for the Carvery which comes after an intensive gathering around the bar where old acquaintances are renewed and old stories retold.

The next reunion will be held at 12:00 noon on
Thursday 7 October 2010 at Dewsbury District Golf Club,
The Pinnacle, Sands Lane, Mirfield, WF14 8HJ.

For any MGS 'old boys' and 'old girls' from other years who don't fall within the rather narrow constraints of our own reunion then there is another reunion run by Roy Mallinson at which all years are welcome. Roy's next reunion is set for September 15, 2010 at the Three Nuns and he will be pleased to hear from anyone who may be interested. He can be contacted by clicking here.

Photos from the October 2009 reunion.

A selection of Photos by David Walker.

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