South Shields Grammar-Technical School for Boys   
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There are 500 messages in the guestbook
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Viewing messages 141 to 150

alan wightman | aconlan111~AT~gmail~DOT~com
Good Morning, Mike & Everyone,

Rally round the flag, Old Boy,
Recruiting `scribes´ to re-deploy!
Shouts of "Hurrah" for billeted `Sandancers´
Legacy `armoured´ by Old Guard `Enhancers´!

`Sandancer´- `Geordieland´.
Fri 11-Mar-2022 11:33 - south Shields
Bruce Graham | bsgraham~AT~btinternet~DOT~com
Ah, the 6th Form.

I didn't realise they had a separate school dance because I left the school after O Levels to begin an RAF Apprenticeship (just like Alan Whitakker a few years later)

The 6th Form. They were the ones with deep voices and needing to shave. Nowadays I seem to see these same teenagers at that stage in their lives at about 13 or 14.
Thu 10-Mar-2022 17:00 - ruskington lincolnshie
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

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