Son of Gas Company Secretary, John Harper Penney, and his wife, Meggie Isabella Gilliers, John Stanley Penney joined the High School at the age of 9.

He was one of 10 children, of which three brothers ( Herbert Gillies, John Stanley and Reginald Harper) attended the High School and served in the war.

John started at the High School in 1906, but stayed only two years, and left to go to Skerry's Collage in Newcastle (one of several Skerry's Colleges around the country that provided Civil Service training).

He joined the Royal Engineers and served as a Sapper.

He survived the war, and died on 4-Jun-1962.