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Feel free to add messages relating to the site and the school. The only rules are: real names only, no personal attacks and no unrelated messages (inappropriate messages may be edited/withdrawn without warning).

It would be appreciated if you gave an email address, where you now live and said when you were at the school, but you don't have to.

Plase note that if you click on an email address below you will need to replace ~DOT~ with . and ~AT~ with @ in your email program. The Guestbook presents these this way to avoid email address harvesters collecting your email addresses from the page. I know it's a pain, but it's very much better than the alternative.

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Viewing messages 131 to 140

Alan Whittaker(53-59) | alan~DOT~diwhittaker~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hi everyone. I remember a High School dance in the late 50's. In preparation we had dancing lessons, does anyone remember how to do the "strip the willow"! On the night the High School girls arrived en masse and went to the far side of the room whilst the boys got together as far away as possible! The evening started off slowly but eventually we became aware that teachers were patrolling the school corridors because some of the clasrooms were being used for a bit of human biology!

Thu 10-Mar-2022 10:33 - Langford Budville

Eric Moyse | eric~DOT~moyse~AT~sky~DOT~com

Ah, School Dances. Doreen and I attended our Second-year Sixth dance together but it was the year before that when a famous incident took place. Charlie Conna announced that interlopers has got into the gym for the meal. In consequence some ticketholders had not been able to sit down to eat.There was a loud cry of "Hard cheese"and Charlie shouted "Get out, Horseman." Whether he recognised the voice or just assumed it was Horseman, I do not know. Ah, happy days!

Wed 9-Mar-2022 10:26 - Reading Berkshire

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

Reference School dances.

By 1950 things were fairly well organised though Alex and his contemporaries would have been outside the zone for attendance.

As I recall, because of the numbers involved only the boys in the third year (Upper fourth in those days) and the girls inn the same year at the girls High School were allowed to attend. But here's the thing - the girls were bussed to our school on a couple of occasion (after normal hours) to try to teach the boys how to dance. As mentioned they were all the old fashioned dances but a great time was had by all.

I seem to recall also that light refreshments were laid on in the old gymnasium provided, I think, by our parents. Since I wasn't in IVUA until 1952 the worst of rationing was over.

Maybe there are some other memories out there. i

Tue 8-Mar-2022 19:50 - ruskington lincolnshie

Alex Patterson VUA 1946-1951 | ad1935ap~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hello Mike and readers,
I had a look at Alan’s Macarena letter and at the Youtube version he referenced and tried out a bit of it on the kitchen floor. It brought back memories of a 60th wedding anniversary party we attended recently where the DJ played a mix of The Macarena, YMCA and the Hokey-Cokey. Most of the guests were contemporaries of ours and most of the dancers were confused and knackered by the end of the third repeat. It was like musical chairs, and if you did YMCA moves to the Macarena you were a gonner. The winners received a six pack of Guiness. I didn’t win.
School dances seemed to be few and far between. I can’t remember more than one from 46-51 Maybe Neale, Eric or Bruce can recall more. I couldn’t dance for toffee and the only dance I ever attended I was stalked by this giant of a High School girl, Beryl I think, who for some reason took a shine to the little squirt that I was at the time. Thank Goodness for dances like the Bradford Barn Dance and the Dashing White Sergeant!!
Ma Goudie partnered by Alf (Pan) Headley taught us how to dance. They danced a mean Foxtrot….I think. Does anyone remember other dances in that timeframe?
Best wishes from a warm and sunny 16C North York,
Alex

Sun 6-Mar-2022 23:05 - North York, Ontario, Canada

alan wightman | aconlan111~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Good Morning, Mike & Everyone,

`Growing old is mandatory, growing-up is optional´.

Los del Rio, `Macarena Mix´ YouTube 17/1/2014 `Youmovetv´. Part of Keep Young & Fit Programme. Have fun with your `younger´ family members, e.g. at birthday parties. (Practice the moves!)

`Sandancer´`Geordieland´.

Wed 2-Mar-2022 11:38 - south Shields

Eric Moyse | eric~DOT~moyse~AT~sky~DOT~com

Thanks for all the loppakitty memories. I remember playing this game at school and not in the street where "Cannon" was the thing.
Re John Graham, he was (is?) a distant cousin of mine and he was a champion swimmer snd a good fast bowler. My clearest memory of him was his fight outside the music room with prefect Skelly Elliot. I do not know what punishment was meted out for fighting but I imagine that this fracas was a bit of an embarrassment for the staff.

Mon 28-Feb-2022 16:56 - Reading Berkshire

Alex Patterson VUA 1946-1951 | ad1935ap~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hello Mike and other O.Bs.,
In Garwood Street backlane there were four to a team in Loppakitty. One who stood with his back to the wall, who cradled the second person’s forehead in his hands against his stomach. The third and fourth persons formed a line behind the second supporting him like in a rugby scrum. Girls weren’t allowed to be the wall person. The other team then jumped onto the backs of the scrum as close to the Wallman as possible until the scrum collapsed. Three collapses changed the teams; a ‘no collapse’ won the game. The first team with three wins were the champions. Other games were “Tiggy” and “Killer” (a game involving marbles, a gutter, and a drain cover), whoever was nearest to the drain without losing the marble was the winner. I always tell my girls, “ I lost my marbles years ago.”
Bruce, I was at RAF Locking for GCA Training and RAF Kinloss for the balance of my service and I share your brother’s sentiments about ‘boyhood to manhood’.
Best wishes from a snowy North York,
Alex.

Mon 28-Feb-2022 06:02 - North York, Ontario, Canada

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

Correction. That should have read 2202.

Sat 26-Feb-2022 15:43 - ruskington lincolnshie

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

Further to Alex's numerology it occurred to me that this year is unique in another way. The roman numerals for 2022 are MMXXII - this double digit coincidence will not occur again until 2211 - MMCCII and not again in this Millenium.

Just a thought.

Sat 26-Feb-2022 15:15

Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com

Alex

No my brother was CD Graham - one of three Grahams in the A Form one year ahead of you. Relating to National Service my brother always said he "went in like a boy and came out like a man".

Lopakitty. How many were in each team? I think it was ultimately banned at the school as being too dangerous -reflecting on your experience.

You mentioned Weston Super Mare in your National Service experience. After "O" levels I began an RAF Apprenticeship at RAF Locking near WSM that led on to a very diverse career around the world.

Fri 25-Feb-2022 18:47

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