Staff in 1930s & 1940s

A FEW NOTES ON MASTERS 1936 - 42 : From Ted Warren.
Head Master:  Mr Frazer died tragically in 1941. Deputy Head + Physics Tom Parkin, feared in early years but respected in the 5th & 6th forms.
'Cherry' Major Orchard was a territorial so went to war in 1938-9, returned to school afterwards. Di Davies - Woodwork and P/T Terrier with S, Staffs called up 1938-9 - returned after war. Nicholson - Chemistry . Di Hughes - English & Cricket . Frank Read - Maths & coached swimming. During the war he was C.O. 351 Squadron Air Training Corps . Ron Illingworth - Geography & coached cricket was also an officer in 351 ATC. ‘Chasser’ Brown – History – formed a League of Nations society.  Packed up when war broke out. The famous H.H. Pritchard – History & Geography – always carried a small case with him and wore a trilby hat. Ran school bookshop for years with George Cooper & was eventually the last Headmaster of B.G.S. ‘Scraggy’ Shan taught French, had a viscious right hand. ‘Bunny’ Leighton taught French, organised school scouts. ‘Daddy’ Spooner – taught Art. M. Vinc taught French but resigned before the war and returned to Belgium where he died in the Belgian Resistance. ‘Reggie’ Neale taught Biology & was a good rugby referee – left to join the Navy, did not come back to B.G.S. but became a well known author. N Crystal – I can only just remember – did not return to B.G.S. but he came to Burton after the war, blinded and badly injured by bomb explosion – he was in bomb disposal unit. ‘Connie’ Illsley came to replace Neale as Biology teacher – first lady on staff. Lastly the ‘boy’ who never left B.G.S. for long – George Cooper gained a scholarship to B.G.S. Higher School Certificate & entrance to university. Qualified and returned to teach at B.G.S. all his scholastic career- taught Maths and helped run school bookshop.