Staff in the 1950s

Staff 1958
From Les Simpson: simpson0403@fast24.co.uk  The 1958 Staff photo was taken the year after I left and also during the first year or so of the School being at Winshill, so there are several "new masters" that I do not know (7 in total, all on the back row).

Norman Roe, Back Row, far left, a diminutive chap who taught English, probably came after Tom Snape left in the middle 50s. Never taught any of the classes I was in. 
Ezra Somekh, 3rd from left, arrived in 1955/56 and probably had more influence on me personally than any of the other BGS teaching staff, certainly got me through GCE Physics, when I was finding it difficult to anything else but fail. Earned the respect of all who came in contact with him.
Walter Chadbourne, 2nd from right, joined in 1955, again a master that never taught our class, my impression was of a rather boyish looking face, taught Maths and was a "skip" in the Scout troop.
Dennis Grimsley, far right, an Old Boy of the School, appointed around 1955/56 teaching Chemistry. Took us in Vx and LVISc I think, was great fun and we got work done too, we called him "Teach" probably something to do with the film "Blackboard Jungle" which was about at the time. Suprised that he didn't stay that long.  
Middle Row:-   Reading left to right,
Joyce Keightley. assistant secretary, started around 1956 a former Technical High School student, she was sister to R.G. Keightley a Head Boy of BGS in 1953/54? I was slightly acquainted with Joyce as she was friendly with a girl I was going out with at one time and we went out as a group occasionally and Joyce and friend were in the group.
Gaffer Henton, arrived during my time at BGS teaching Geography, but did not take any class that I was in. Later became deputy Headmaster.
Lewis Heath, teaching Art, replaced Mrs. Biddulph in the early fifties, didn't have any contact with him until I was in Vx when I took art as a fill in subject, enjoyed the year studying under Lewis, he was certainly very knowledgeable of his subject, I was very disappointed not to pass GCE Art. I believe Lewis was responsible for the design of the new school badge. 
K.T. Harris, another master who arrived in the fifties, known as Katie or the man with the wide parting, taught Spanish, a subject that, as I went on the science side in 4A, I didn't have to take, so had little contact with Mr. Harris.
Percy 'Butch' Barratt taught us History and was our Form Master in the first year in 1A. Got us through a difficult time settling in at a new school with very different principles to those we had previously encountered. Only taught our form that first year as 'Whisky' McKewan arrived the following year and undertook our Historical education.
Cyril Edlin, took us for English in the senior school, quite a character, well read on subjects of the Arts and involved in the Senior Dramatic Society. I remember that Cyril produced rather more saliva than most when he was speaking and would remove the offending dribble from the corner of his mouth with a crooked index finger, which was of course picked up by boys when they were doing the inevitable impressions of masters. One of his sayings that was also used by mimics was,'Put it away boy!'. This referred to the rule which was normally on the desktop together with pen and pencil and was often fiddled with when answering Cyril's question. His wife taught Spanish at the School until the early fifties.
Joe Crowther, the Biology master seemed to live for the most part upstairs above the Headmaster's office in the Biology lab or in his little cubby hole next door. The lesson was always interesting and sometimes eventful, especially after homework had been handed back as anyone getting less than 60% would have a public whack from Joe's thick bamboo cane (complete with plaster on the end) called Percy! I remember one of his sayings which amused us boys was 'It's all my eye and Peggy Martin', we often ribbed him about 'Peggy Martin' in later years. He reminds me now as someone akin to Inspector Morse, with his love of classical music and playing of various instruments together with his apparent preference for quite a lot of his own company.
Vic Roebuck, joined as Games Master after the departure of Dickie Starling (who was really music master) in the early fifties. His arrival sparked a new approach to Physical Education and fitness regime. Gone were the arms up, to the side, legs apart, together jumping exercises, circuit training was introduced and we even got appraisals in PE for our reports. Vic certainly did a lot to enhance the school's record as far as Rugby was concerned and his contribution to Burton Rugby Club over the years has been quite something. 
Rev. P.V. Appleton, became Music/RI Master after Dickie Starling, he was also Vicar of Rangemore and Dunstall. He was known as 'the Rev' or 'Pippin'. A very soft spoken, kindly man the very sort of man you imagine a vicar to be. He possessed an extremely versatile voice and would sing any part to demonstrate the effect he required and worked wonders with the school choir.
Norah Mitton, School secretary, she was almost the matron type of public schools, was efficient, helpful, discreet and fiercely loyal to the School, the Staff and the Boys. Rode a motor cycle to get to the Winshill site after the move from Bond St.
E.T. Ward, taught French, took us all through the junior school up to GCE 'O' level exam. I never knew his Christian name until I saw it on the BGS website, we called him Ernie, not to his face of course! that sort of thing was certainly not tolerated in those days.I found him a good teacher and one that got work out of you with the minimum of fuss, I can't recall him getting really angry with anyone, yet he maintained a quiet discipline in the classroom. He was interested in radio and ran the Radio Club, one of the after school activities.He also took a group of students on exchange visits to France each year. He lived in Rangemore St., near the Town Hall during my time at BGS.
Polly Lowndes, taught Maths but never to any class I was in. She was involved in a rather unsavoury incident while I was at school when she was attacked by a student in the classroom, an act for which the student was publicly suspended and I can't quite recall whether he was eventually expelled.Polly was involved with production of the Junior Dramatic Society plays and also in charge of the National Savings collection. A School Choir stalwart.
Jake Hammond, the fearsome (to the young boys) Latin Master, was very fervent about his subject which in my day was one that was necessary to gain a place at Oxbridge and also one that many of those that struggled at it questioned its validity. Not so Jake, but to his credit he never really gave up on us(strugglers), though it was unlikely we would be even thinking of Oxbridge. A keen sportsman, he was involved with school cricket and rugby teams and also played for the town clubs at both sports.
Taffy Davies, took us for Woodwork in the first year, after which we had to opt for woodwork or art, I chose the latter. I didn't lose contact with Taffy though because he was also involved with games and rugby in particular and was ever present on the field during the winter refereeing rugby games during the afternoon games periods, or during times when the weather or the fields were unfit to do games, he would explain the rudiments of The Game to a us assembled in the woodwork workshop. He had a good sense of humour and lively wit, which was appreciated by the students who found Taff one of the masters they could really talk to. During my time he was an able and respected CO of the school CCF, of which I was a member, and enjoyed two summer camps with him and 'Brab' Smith together with thirty or forty other cadets, before transferring to the Brylcreem Boys section. Taffy was also a major force in the Junior Dramatic Society and, as one would expect from a Welshman, the school choir.
G.H. Cooper, nicknamed the Black Hawk as he was never without his gown and because of his slight stoop, glasses on hooked nose, he was Second Master and taught Maths to us in the sixth form when his administrative duties would allow. Absolutely dedicated to BGS as one would expect from an association which dated back to 1915 and only interrupted by his years at university.
H.H.(Horace) Pitchford, became Head of BGS the same year I started following the demise of Mr. Moodey in 1950.It was difficult to tell that he had not been in the job for years. He obviously loved the school and all it stood for and woe betide any boy who let the school down in any way shape or form. According to Horace you were a Grammar School Boy whether in uniform or not, in Burton or not, in England or not! you had a tradition and reputation to maintain. He occasionally filled in taking us for RI when the usual master was absent and two things I remember about these times that during a quiet time in the lesson, we were probably reading a passage or writing something, he would come out with a question such as, 'Who succeeded James I as monarch of this country?' As this was in the 1st or 2nd year nobody replied and Horace banged on his desk top and remarked rather forcibly,'Come on now, you don't know your cigarette card history!' and on another occasion he wanted to know if any boy could spell 'syzygy'. Spell it? of course none of us had even heard of it. Anyway he duly told us how to spell it and what it was.Strangely years later when I was in 5A for a second year, he took us again for RI and this time it was of course a different set of pupils with me, he came out with, ' who can give me the dictionary definition of syzygy?' Every boy had a dictionary as part of the set of books issued, so we all opened them and I think Horace was well surprised when I raised my hand and gave forth with the definition. The spelling of the word has stayed with me since that day in 1951.
Chazzer Brown , While I was at school if you wanted Chazzer it was odds on you'd find him in the Library, he never actually taught us but obviously one came across him if you required a book of any sort and we learned of his hobbies, beekeeping, angling, walking, cycling, camping etc. etc and his involvement with the UN and its various offshoots. He was a very tall man, a gentle giant.
C.F.L. (Bill) Read , taught us Maths through the whole school until the Sixth was form master in 5A for the two years I was in that form, so we saw quite a lot Bill. I enjoyed his subject and his teaching of it to some extent as it took me some time to master the rudiments of algebra, I was average at arithmetic and good at geometry, but we both stuck at it and by the 5th form though I say it myself I was pretty good at it and even looked forward to the maths lesson. In the early days of school he had a habit of getting us to factorise (a-b)2 and stroked the back of our head as we enunciated each part of the answer, for each wrong bit we got a smart smack to the back of the head. He had a humorous side too showing us card tricks one afternoon at the end of term form period just before Christmas. He was a keen sportsman, a swimmer, rugby and tennis player, and refereed rugby matches during games periods. Bill was in charge of the swimming team and also looked after the tennis six. As with Taffy Davies, Bill devoted a lot of time to the CCF. Namely the RAF section where he was OIC Flt. Lt. Read. Yet another master who loved his subject, the School and the people associated with it.
Ron Illingworth , took us for Geography, a subject I never really got to grips with so never enjoyed, whether it was the layout of G Room, in which geography was always taught, with its tiered levels of desks rising from front to back, (as it was previously the chemistry lecture room), I don't know. Ron always seemed to be well layed back, it was as if he knew his subject so well that everything came out so easily. I opted for Chemistry instead of Geography in 4A so the only time I came into contact with Ron after that was on the games field, either with cricket, at which he was pretty good, or rugby on which he was very knowledgeable. He was a member of the School choir, played piano at morning assembly and the organ at speech day.
H.Wood , Senior French master who never took any class I was in and never really came in contact with. I believe he was at BGS for quite some time.
Norman Jones , Taught us Chemistry through to GCE 'O' level and although I reckoned Norman to be an alright sort of chap, I can't remember anything really outstanding about the lessons.
 

From Norman Binns
W.J. (Jack) Adams, now aged 88 but still very active, presented Norman with two school caps - one of rugby colours 1928-29 - when they met on Peel Croft last Saturday (24th Nov 01). The caps will go to the Heritage Room. The Old Boys' Annual Remembrance Day Service was held at the school on Friday morning, 9th November. About 22 Old Boys attended including President, Keith Rushton from Sussex and Vice President "Toff" Neal from Birmingham.