TEACHERS

UpHolland Grammar School in the 1960's had some fine teachers who helped to shape our future lives. Please send in names, nicknames and memories of your favourite teachers.

My favourite teacher had to be George Lythgoe who taught maths. With George we had great fun in class and some crazy moments, but he was always in control and made sure that the work was done. George not only helped me get my maths O level but he helped me and many others to revise for other subjects. George was responsible for giving me the nickname "Cowman" later shortened to "cow" because my father was a herdsman at College Farm UpHolland. (David Robinson)

Talking with other ex-pupils one teachers name always gets mentioned that is Nelly Penman thats P, E, N, M, A, N, Miss Penman taught biology and used to put the fear of god into new pupils but in later years at school she was our form mistress and was a lot less frightening. (David Robinson)

On my first day as a junior reporter on the Evening Post, I was sent, with a senior reporter, to cover Wigan Quarter Sessions, as it was then. Who should I see across the courtroom but our beloved former P.E. teacher, Jock. So they've caught up with the sadistic bastard at last I thought. Unfortunately, he was on the jury ! (Phil Rickman)

Does anyone know what happened to Fred Barker, who not only got me through Latin O level but also tuned my three-quid guitar and taught me my first chord (it was C) or Keith Barnes, the English teacher who despite a low fourth-form tolerance, was a good bloke. (Phil Rickman)

Just for fun! - Can you put names to the following teachers - (pictures taken from 1965 school photo.)

Let's see who can remember the most. Send your answers to the website and we will see who has the best memory! Also send any amusing memories of any of the teachers.

Follow up email received from Diane Thomas (see below) -Recently moved from Alberta to Ontario - it took 5 days to drive here ! ! Please note new email address - portiaact2@sympatico.ca Several students contacted me but I cancelled my old email account without saving their addresses so I would appreciate hearing from them again.

E-Mail below was received 15/04/2004 from Diane Thomas ex-UGS teacher.
Found your website. Great - or as they used to say at UGS in the sixties - belting!
I was a very young teacher at Upholland from 1960 to 63, teaching girls' P.E. I well remember Mr. Ellis, Mr.Anderson (referred to by one overawed first former as "looking like a greek god!", Mr. Studdert who was truly one of the most learned men I think I have ever met, Miss Penman, Miss Stephenson, Mr. Bowman etc etc. I really enjoyed my time at the school and have many fond memories of Saturdays spent with hockey teams, summer afternoons of tennis and track, teaching sixth form boys to dance and accompanying a group to Italy in '63. I especially remember Miss Doreen Young who became a close friend. She taught English and directed several memorable productions,including "She Stoops to Conquer" and the play within a play from "A Midsummer Night's Dream". I think it is probably the only time Pyramus and Thisbe were ever played by twin brothers. They were hilarious! I have lost touch with Miss Young and would love to contact her again. I hope that your web site might unearth some information.

I was looking through your list of teachers and found the name Les Atkinson. He was a good tennis player. I was worse than useless. We were both members of the same tennis club and on one trip to Kendal there was no-one else to be his partner but me. He suffered in silence and to tell the truth we did not do too badly. He was a good friend.

I emigrated to Canada in 1966 and moved to the west in 1967.1 retired from teaching in 1997, having spent the final 20 years at an elementary school teaching English, Math, French, Music etc. Red Deer, Alberta, is a city of 75 000 people, halfway between Edmonton and Calgary. We are between the prairie and the foothills of the Rockies in an area that is known for agriculture and oil wells.

I can be reached at portiaact2@sympatico.ca and would love to hear from. anyone who remembers me.

Thank you again for setting up this website.

Diane Thomas.

Diane Thomas (anyone know the 2 pupils?)

Thanks to Dave Atherton for staff room photo shown below.

Below is a list of some of the teachers who made us what we are today ! (special thanks to Peter Normanton who's memory of our old teachers is far greater than mine)

Frothy Jones - History and Economics (He's the one on the right in the photo).
Ron Eastham - History and chain smoking !
Jock Anderson - P.T.
Mrs Banks - P.T. (what a lovely pair!)
Fenella Ellison - (the french poodle sounding lady) English & 1E's form teacher.
Joyce Stephenson - English (always wore her gown - 60's fashion statement!)
Les Atkinson - Eng. Lit. and fine pianist (nicknamed Dracula by Phil Rickman )
Keith Barnes - English (Barney is the back scratcher in the above photo !)
Reg Kilner - Deputy Head and History ("Pick that paper up boy !")
Dorothy "Nelly" Penman - Biology - no need to say more !
"HAF" Forte - Physics (used to froth at the side of mouth when teaching !)
Paul "Fred" Barker - Latin (driven to despair by practically everyone !)
"Paddy" Studdert - Latin during 61 and 62
George Lythgoe - Maths (Great bloke, hero to many, good sense of humour!)
Frank "Fred" Green - maths (his tongue could kill at 100yds !)
Mrs Wynne - Maths
David Caterall - form teacher of 1C in 61.
David "Bop" Bowman - Music (incredibly talented pianist )
Mr Downton - 1D's form teacher (popular with the head girl !)
Harold Lee - woodwork (enjoyed helping Jock Anderson bully 1st years !)
Eric Anderton - Metalwork
"Spike" Jones - chemistry/Biology (little stocky bloke with glasses)
Stan Melling - chemistry (looked a bit like Q in the James Bond films)
Mr Smith "Bullwinkle/Happy frank" - Geography (tall and miserable )
Derek Morris - physics
Mrs "Plug" Socket - English (I think!)
Mrs Naylor - Dep. Head/French (encouraged us with remarks like "you'll all fail")
Miss Smallshaw - Chemistry (young, regulary tormented by class members)
Barbara Bibby - English (Barney was always hanging around her! - lovely lady)

Physics with HAF