Celebrating 70 years of friendship

By Karen Wyatt-Epapara | news@mags4dorset.co.uk

Exactly 70 years after they started at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, five friends met up to celebrate the anniversary.

Bob White, Ken Taylor, Alan Hall, Tony Gould and Keith Harvey joined the school as 11-year-olds in 1951, where they shared many experiences over those formative years.

They spoke with much fondness of their time at the school, agreeing that they were good times indeed. Their reminiscences highlighted the differences between education then and now. They laughed as they remembered the school swimming sports, which took place in the river, and when girls were allowed to join the school in 1953, giving them ‘other interests’.

Their teachers clearly made a strong impression – many were 'real characters', and they all had nicknames too. Albert ‘Fishy’ Maiden, their old English teacher was held in particular regard. Apparently, the nickname was acquired as he “swam like a fish” in his youth, and not for more unkind reasons.

From L-R: Bob White, Ken Taylor, Alan Hall, Tony Gould, Keith Harvey

Looking back, we realise that we were taught by real scholars, teachers who had a genuine interest in their subjects. It was an era gone by, but a good one, and gave us experiences that bound us together in ourformative years.

Adult life took them in different directions: Ken spent most of his life working in the civil service; Alan ended his career as chief chemist at Wellworthy Ltd; Bob went through the technical college system to become a professor of engineering at Southampton University; Tony served an apprenticeship before becoming a union officer for the Transport and General Workers’ Union and Keith was a draughtsman at Hamworthy Engineering.

Even so, they kept in touch over the years, but meeting up at an Old Winburnians reunion 20 years ago rekindled their friendship and they’ve been regularly meeting up ever since.

The five wanted to acknowledge friends who couldn’t make the get together, or are no longer with us. Chris Peters lives in Windermere, and was unable to attend, while a number of boys pictured in the form photo have sadly passed away.

Bob spoke for the group when he said: “Looking back, we realise that we were taught by real scholars, teachers who had a genuine interest in their subjects. It was an era gone by, but a good one, and gave us experiences that bound us together in our formative years.”

As boys, in the form photo