Here are a bunch
of Baby Boomers in about 1964 (I think the Green
blazers disappeared in 1963)
Left to right: Robin Lowther, Bill Lax, Gavin Davison, Peter Wilkinson, Eric Hinds, Gordon Fulton (who supplied the photo) and in front: Bill Cope
The 1958 starters
Here are a bunch
of Baby Boomers in about 1964 (I think the Green
blazers disappeared in 1963)
Left to right: Robin Lowther, Bill Lax, Gavin Davison, Peter
Wilkinson, Eric Hinds, Gordon Fulton (who supplied the photo) and in front:
Bill Cope
The complete list of 1958 starters
from the Durham Chronicle
(thanks to Ronnie Barron via Jane Cullen (Tunstall) and George Downes)
Girls: F.Addison, Carole Alexander, M.Anderson, Andrea Armstrong, Lynda Armstrong, Valerie Armstrong, Linda Beckwith, G.A.Bell, Moira Bell, V.E.Berry, A.E.Blair, L.Bloomfield, Ethel Brice, Elizabeth Bruntlett, P.Y.Caldwell, June Carmichael, J.S.Cave, Judy Chadwick, P.Daglish, M.O.Davison, C.Dawes, J.Dodds, J.D.Dodds, C.Dumma, Pat Dunn, B.Eltringham, M.Etherington, M.J.Fisher, P.Foster, Vivienne Furness, C.I.Gosney, M.Harbershon, M.L.Handy, E.Hesten, E.Hedley, V.Henderson, Joan Hewitt, P.Hind, Connie Hope, Olive Hume, Ann Humphreys, Dorothy Irving, Shiela Irwin, B.Jones, Margaret Jones, J.Kenyon, C.Kerr, B.Laidler, Maureen Lambton, G.Leonard, A.J.Lewins, Sheila Lightburn, M.Lillig, J.Linge, Annette Lovette, S.J.Lowe, Marie Lowrey, L.A.Lucas, Sandra Lynn, P.Mack, J.M.Miles, F.Mills, Lynne Murray (now Hepplewhite), Christine Musk, Joan McCormack, J.McKie, Veronica McKinley, E.M.Nelson, Sandra Newman, C.Oliver, E.Oliver, M.Oliver, L.O.Parkinson, M.A.Patterson, Jen Peary, Yvonne Petrie, M.P.Pickford, J.C.Powney, Maureen Race, Betty Ridley, Linda Roach, Lynne Robinson, S.M.Rogers, S.K.Salisbury, Pat Sams, P.Saunders, E.Scott, Pat Seymour, Sue Smith, Anne Spark(now Anne Owers, CBE), E.Stewart, Y.Swainston, P.Temple, Ann Thirtle, Christine Todd, Jane Tunstall (now Cullen), D.Watson, Angela Wilkins, B.Wilson, G.Wilson, Valerie Wilson, Violet Wilson, P.Wiltshire, J.Winter
Michael Drysdale isn't on this list but some of us remember him well - did he start later? Glenise Lake won a prize in the fourth form, but she isn't here. And Geoff Howey, Tony Lincoln, Wesley Blakey, Albert Gurteen - were they in our year? What about Geoff Forth, Robert Brookes, Bill Savage, Linda Bloomfield? ...and Gordon Fulton was in our year, too - but had to take the second half of the eleven-plus late because of tonsilitis.
Here are Tom Thirlaway, Bob Brookes, Ronnie Barron and Jim Gill, photographed
in York in 2002
..and here are some more photographs scanned from the school magazine:
Joan
Hewitt, Colin Craig and "Doc" Telford with some fit-looking people:
Mike Candlish, Dave Wood (year behind), Colin Suggett (two years behind
and later a well-known football player) and Bill Cope.
..and here are some photographs and notes from the 1958 crowd:
Ethel was in
forms 1P, 2D, 3 Beta, 4P, 5T
After leaving school I studied building at Newcastle Poly and worked in the industry in the North East for a number of years before taking a London-based job with English Heritage around 1983. In the early 1990s I reinvented myself as a Human Resources Manager and, in 2000, came to live here in York with my Japanese wife Makiko where I run HR in English Heritage's three northern regions.
What's vaguely interesting about me? I once introduced Piers Brosman to James Bond, I presented a bouquet of flowers on TV to one of those Birds of a Feather, my ancestors on my mother's side are Spanish and a few years back I was garrotted in Bolivia and left for dead. Also I'm Secretary of the London Branch of the Carlisle United Supporters' Club and I've been married for the last three years to a Japanese wife.
I like being nostalgic (meet regularly with Tom, Ronnie and Jim), playing rock'n'roll, doing a bit of gardening and DIY and visiting some of the battlefields of the First World War.
Group Captain
Bill Cope, who may be the Bill Cope we all remember, signing a print
of a Buccaneer in action.
Brian Craggs (brn.craggs@yahoo.co.uk)
I left school in 1962 and did a 6 year apprenticeship as a printer after doing the rounds I started my own company in 1978 at Houghton le Spring I sold it in 1999 and since then have spent my time playing golf, gardening, holidaying and apart from some consultancy work enjoy my early days of retirement. Married Valerie in 1973 (the same year as Sunderland won the cup) two children Gary who is head of History at Shotton Hall school Peterlee and Carolyn who is training to be a solicitor (don't know where the brains come from). The web site is very good but sad to read of the passing away of ex school friends. Strangely one my customers when I owned the printers was Washington School we printed the Diary and the Brochure for the school. Still see Joe Poulter, Alan King, Albert Gurteen and occasionally Peter Swinburne and bumped into Brian Rose (1959) on the golf course recently, regards to all old friends.
I
remember many things but when I was doing business with the school I was amazed
how small it seemed when we were kids it seemed a huge place. I saw Albert
Gurteen quite regularly when I had the business but he sold all of the Gurteens
business for many millions and he now lives near Haltwisle. Peter Swinburne
owned a company called Airhire Plant at Durham I believe he sold it and now has
a farm near Satley outside of Durham. My
memories of the schooldays are many I remember the school trip to Switzerland we
stayed at the Hotel Belmont at Wilderswil We holidayed there a few years ago the
Hotel is still there although greatly refurbished but other than that time seems
to stand still in that beautiful country . A friend of mine was working in
Washington some years ago with Hugh Furnevals brother and it would seem that he
just vanished they believed that he was working for a government organisation. I
attended the reunions organised by Jane Tunstall I think they were a means to an
end for her but she got about ninety people together overall and it was good to
see people that i hadnt seen for so many years tom Wayman Sheila Irwin Ethel
Brice Christine Kerr Lyn Murray Sue Smith (who was landlady in the Burn Hotel
until a couple of years ago) Ron Barron Bill Lowe Jim Gill Ian Quinn Tom
Thirlaway Colin Craig (who was my next door neighbour for 12 years) and so many
more. Keep in touch and once again good to hear from you.
I was
one of the 1958 starters and I would have been in the school choir at about
the time the picture was taken, but I can't see myself; nor can I help
with identifying anyone else. I used to bump into Ken Self occasionally
at Music Festivals as we both continued to sing in different adult choirs.
After A levels I went to Rutherford CAT in Newcastle gaining HND in electronics. David Routledge and Rob Kirshaw were also there but on another course. After a couple of years in the R&D department at Morganite Resistors in Jarrow I started in the transmission department at Tyne Tees TV in 1970. I think it must have been around 1980 when someone I'd been talking to regularly on the phone at the IBA transmitter came to visit TTT in person. It turned out to be none other than Peter Russell. In 1993, when TTT was taken over by YTV, I moved to Kirby Hill near Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire, and worked in the transmission centre in Leeds until I retired (early) in 2004.
I married Margaret in 1971, have two grown up daughters, and now spend most of my time on musical activities. I'm a member of Vocalis, a choir based in Harrogate and I maintain their website www.harrogatevocalis.org.uk <http://www.harrogatevocalis.org.uk/> . I also play the organ at the village church where I live, and am musical director of the Church Choir in Boroughbridge.
There's a separate page with photographs that
Pete sent in - click here.
Gary
(-baldi) as in the biscuit, don`t ask me why, I just can`t remember.
Behind the tennis courts looking through the mesh fence, it was just like
watching a film in slow motion. I bet it didn`t feel like it when he split
his lip. "Fell over Sir"! We must have been mad.
It`s a long time ago and there`s been a lot of water under the bridge
since then but I wouldn`t have missed it for the world. I did enjoy
the ATC in Sunderland, the gliding weekends down at Catterick and many
other things. I suppose that`s really why I signed on the dotted line.
The photograph certainly brought a lot it back.
Where to start? Left Washington in 1963 with a grand total of
2 `O` levels, would you believe it, Maths and Religious Knowledge, that`ll
teach me! Should have been a Vicar.
Went straight into the Royal Air Force as an Apprentice Airframe Fitter in Jan. 1964 and spent three years at Halton. Loved it, especially the sport side, did a lot of boxing, even represented the RAF on several occasions, must have had something. Spent two tours in Germany and one in Sharjah (Persian Gulf), married Linda in 1967 and have two daughters, Paula ( now 35) and Tracy ( now 32). Posted to Norfolk (twice), Lincolnshire, Yorkshire (twice) I ended up doing 23 years and finished up as a Flight Sergeant in charge of the Regional Non Destructive Testing Team at Marham in Norfolk. ( NDT - Crack Detection using Radiography, Ultrasonics, Eddy Currents etc.).
Retire at 41! No chance! Out to Saudi Arabia with British Aerospace, now BAE Systems. Started off as an NDT Technician. Progressed to Superintendent, then Chief Engineer and ended up as Principal Engineer Intermediate Maintenance at Khamis Mushayt, near Abha over on the Western side of Saudi. "Not the place to be" I hear you say. Now I`d agree whole heartedly, that`s why I`m back in this country. But then, well, a different place all together. I did over thirteen years, Linda with me for ten, and we enjoyed most of the time there. Came back to UK in December 2000 and definitely thought about retiring. Couldn`t do it!
Needed something to get me up in the morning, so after trying several things, including working in a Prison for a few months, I was lucky enough to be picked from a cast of hundreds for the job I do now. I work for the Norfolk Constabulary, yes the `fuzz`. I`m the Western Area DNA Intelligence Officer, based at Dereham Police Station, sounds fancy doesn`t it? I co-ordinate all the DNA and Fingerprint Hits, formulate intelligence packages and send out to the officers dealing and then monitor their progress.
Keeps me busy, but not too busy. Plenty of time to spend with my three
grandchildren, girl of nine Josie, boy of eight Rhys and another girl of
four Toni. Fortunately they all live locally here in Dereham. Couldn`t
be better. I still manage to get up to Penshaw, Mum still lives there
and brother Brian. I`m afraid that it`s not the place I`d choose to live
but it`s good to visit.
George ended
up in 5E with Mr Smith (I think you sat next to me,
George!)
Married to Judith (who did not attend Washington, but was a friend of
Tim Shield [South Africa] and Alan Johnson [deceased] from Wrekenton, Gateshead).
Three children Jane 28, Helen 26 and Michael 21. Grandson Sam
born on the 14th August.
..and now (2000)
George Downes
remembers: Gary Dodds, Michael Craig, Howard Kendall, Jane Tunstall,
Ken Self, Bob Harle [we both got caned off Mr. Billinge for not doing our
10,000 word essay on "why we should not talk in class"
(I
remember that too, George. Billinge sent us round the long way while
he went through the library, so he'd talked to the Boss by the time we
got there. We didn't get a chance to tell our side of the story!)],
Lynne Murray: Ian McCullough, Albert Gurteen, Brian Craggs, Bill Archer,
Ronnie Barron, Tom Beetham, Wesley Blakey, Peter Wilkinson, Billy [Mouse]
Lowe, ? Rushworth, Peter Swinburne, 'nitch' Matthewson, ? Swinney and Brian
Porter who married Ethel Bryce, Tim Shields mate from Wrekenton and Stew
Birkenfield. Bill Allonby from Shiney Row and Big Alan Johnson, are
sadly no longer with us.
I remember an incident in my first class room when the teacher threw a 'sand shoe' or, as some from East Boldon would have it a 'plimsoll' at us for talking and it lodged in the wall. Another is of the 'fights' behind the gym with 'toss you for the first punch' Furnival, and an incident when Michael Craig talked Joe Lethard out of giving us a caning when I was second in the queue.
Living in Cheshire, our home since 1972, and married for 36 years. One
daughter (Katherine), one son (David), and two grand-daughters, born June
2001 and April 2005. Worked as a consultant for Barclays Bank. Have
now taken early retirement but I'm also doing part-time consultancy work.
Jim Gill (raggyspelk@btinternet.com)
...will I'm sure send
us some details soon, but meanwhile has donated this photo if him at (about) 16
in "a dubious Blackpool Hostelry" with Billy (Mouse) Lowe, Jimmy (Jammy)
Holland and Brian (Eggy) Leng
Ian Hann (ian_hann@lineone.net)(Notes
from FriendsReunited)
Left Sunderland in 1979 and spent 8 years in Blackburn and 2 years
in Sheffield before moving to Merseyside in 1989. Live in Widnes
in Cheshire with Freda, we married in 1972, and have sons Philip, 22, and
Christopher, 15. Currently Managing director of Express Travel (Holdings)
Limited a Coach, Bus and Engineering Company bought from British Bus in
1994.
Form 1C (Mr Curtis)
and 1P (Miss Patterson), 2E (Miss Ellis), 3D(Miss Patterson), 4P(Mr Peart/Mr
Dagg), 5E (Mr Smith)
I remember frozen Jubblies on hot summer days, arguments with a prefect who thought he was entitled to push to the front of the bus queue, nightmare hours standing in goal on a rock-hard, icy playing field, sitting opposite Pat Dunn on the dinner table, Mr. Oliver's endless attempts to humiliate me into improving my handwriting...
...and these wonderful comments in my third form report, which impressed
my parents immensely.....
...later (1964 at Workington school for "A" levels)
... I left Washington
after "O" levels in 1963 and did a couple of "A" levels at Workington Grammar
school in Cumberland, then a physics degree at Surrey University.
...as a hippy (plus sister Pam) and a nuclear physicist (1970!)
After
seven months at AWRE Aldermaston I realised the life of a scientific civil
servant was not for me, and after a PGCE at Goldsmith's college I was obviously
not going to be a teacher. I've been working with computers as a
student from 1967 and as a full-time programmer/analyst/DBA/consultant
since 1972 I can't get very excited about the computer business - but it's
been a great way to see the world.Married since 1971 with two sons (both
now in Australia) and a seven-year-old grandson, I've been an Australian
citizen since 1984 and now work at the European Patent Office in The Hague,
Netherlands where I'm active in the union and my wife and I recently gave
up running a boat hire business (www.willowboats.com).
Part-time student, working on a Masters in Marine Engineering!
Here
I am (far right) trying to catch up with Bryan Ferry in the Urban
Spacemen
....
and in 2004, counting
down to retirement
And here are a couple of Important Bridges:
After
A-levels did Electronics at Salford and achieved my long held ambition
of becoming a research boffin (white coat, specs, thinning hair....
).
Married a lass from Houghton, two kids and eventually a divorce. Now living on my todd in St Albans. Have spent the last few years dabbling with Open University courses - hence my e-mail address:
Did not plan to stay in London long but 33 years later am still commuting
to the big smoke! Am now living in Watford with marriage, two kids and
a divorce behind me.
Next great ambition is ....... Retirement !!
2004 - ambition achieved !!
Degree in Bacteriology
from Birmingham in 1969 then emigrated to South Africa. Returned to UK
with the addition of a wife (Jill) in 1976. Now living in N W Leicestershire.
Working as General Manager for a large contract testing organisation. two
kids Graham 23 and Emma 21.
My email address does not reflect my football loyalties as I remain a faithful supporter of Sunderland !!
The person I remember from Houghton is John Gill. I did track him down a long time ago but haven't heard from him for ages. I do keep in touch (xmas cards etc) with Cyril Maddison who lives in Monkseaton. The main people in my set were Jane Tunstall, Connie Hope, Sandra Newman, Ann Humphries, Bill Lax, John Forsyth (who I met at a reunion) Michael Candlish (he lived in Boldon like me). If you have any contact with these folks please pass on my regards.
He married a Houghton girl called Susan Hartburn and had 5 kids. he had 3 boys David 35, Gary 31, and Kenny 30. He had 2 girls Mandy 29, and myself (Marie 28) and he also now has 12 grandkids. So my Mum and Dad do a fair bit of babysitting!!!
He recently took early retirement from Cable & Wireless and
is now spending lazy days in a caravan he bought in Cresswell Towers near
to Sandy Bay. He also
plays a lot of golf.
He is still living in Shiney Row after moving back from Hylton Castle in Sunderland.
He is thinking of doing some contracting work as retirement does not suit him after working all his life. (plus he needs to pay for my wedding next year!!) ha ha
After Washington,
did an economics and politics degree at Sheffield, then a PhD at Oxford.
Research and teaching in Africa, returned to the UK to work at the Universities
of Wales and North London, then to Australia in 1991
Married in February
1969 to Wilson Hepplewhite (who went to Usworth School and ended up as
an apprentice footballer at
Latest (2005): I've been in the UK since the beginning of April. I'm living in Oldham - with, and engaged to, Tom Wayman!
Brian was in 1T,
2G, 3 Beta, 4L and 5E
When I got 25 years in, they gave me a party and a prezzie and told me how much they valued loyalty and committment. 2 years later they made me redundant!
I've had a couple of jobs since then, most recently at Newcastle University as an IT Project Support Officer. Currently unemployed.
Those who know me will not be surprised that I only got 2 'O' levels at Washington so, rather than going straight to college after school, I decided to wait for a while ( well, actually about 20 years! ) before doing a part time Honours Degree in IT at Sunderland University.
I can just imagine the faces of some of my old teachers!
A
leading human rights expert, Anne Owers, CBE was appointed HM Chief Inspector
of Prisons for England and Wales on 1 August 2001 and is the fifth holder
of the Crown office. She works independently of the Prison Service
and reports directly to the Home Secretary. Penal reformers praised Ms
Owers's appointment, saying her respected campaigning record over the past
20 years, particularly on refugees and reform of the criminal justice
system, proved she would bring the independence of mind needed to resist
ministerial interference.
The appointment of Ms Owers as the first female chief inspector prompted comparisons with Elizabeth Fry, the 19th century Quaker whose prison inspections led to better conditions across Europe. Some critics had feared that Mr Straw would prune the powers of the chief inspector of prisons, but Ms Owers's appointment and unchanged terms of reference dispelled those anxieties.
Ms Owers, 53, is the director of Justice, the all-party human rights and law reform organisation, in which job she has repeatedly expressed concern about Mr Straw's criminal justice policy. She played a key role on the government task force overseeing implementation of its human rights law, and also served on the commission on the future of multiethnic Britain. Ms Owers said: "I am not just interested in what happens to people in prison but also what happens to them afterwards."
Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, welcomed the appointment, saying Ms Owers had great integrity.
Born in Boldon Colliery, the daughter of a colliery joiner, she was educated at Washington Grammar School. Anne graduated in History from Girton College, Cambridge and spent thirteen years variously researching African history for an uncompleted Ph.D., working as a teacher in Zambia (When/where were you in Zambia, Anne? I was in Kitwe for three years in the early seventies) and doing voluntary race and advice work.
Of life at school itself I don’t have many vivid memories but – the cross country runs round the pit workings & slag heaps, the domination of the school by Washington Pit and it’s two mighty heaps (now under the A1M or the like), disasters at French and Latin, being told by the Geography teacher I would fail and actually getting an ‘A’ in the GCE, our RE teacher spending the year teaching the gospel according to Matthew and the GCE exam being on Luke – he told us about one week before the exam! -, the dreaded cane across the hands for fighting and the school dinners.
What happened to me after my formative years? – I took up an apprenticeship with BP to become a marine engineer and travel the world. I studied at South Shields Marine and Technical College and Hendon College in London, then went to sea as a steam ship engineer for about 18 months in total before leaving to go to Plymouth College of Technology to study for and obtain a 1.1. degree in mechanical engineering. I then joined BP Engineering’s Control and Electrical Division and remained there aspiring to a Senior Instrument Engineer specialising in On-Line Analyser Systems, Fire & Gas Systems and Flow Metering till my early retirement in 1999. I am now enjoying the life of leisure.
I have had quite a good and comfortable life and seen plenty of the world in the course of my work via my sea going days and via my office based job with BP. Canada (Toronto, Niagara), USA (Alaska, New Orleans, Houston, Seattle etc.), South America (Rio de la Plata), Australia (Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne), Singapore, India, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Nigeria and Algeria.
I am married to Elizabeth with two sons Guy and Ian and settled in the South East on the Hoo Peninsula (near Rochester and Gravesend) – we built our own house with the help of a self employed builder. I have not achieved fame or public acclaim but I have helped to influence things in my fields via National and International Standards involvement and Research and Development projects – so a little bit of fame in restricted circles."
Mark remembers Ian McCulloch, Gary Dodds, Bill Allonby, Bob Buchanan,
Bob Oxley, Ted Reay, Bill Archer, Edwin Oliver, Alan King, Alan Purvis,
Hugh Furneval, Bill Savage, Ian Quinn, Martin Heslop, Robert "spider" Brookes,
Geoff Howey, Gavin Kitching, Peter Wilkinson, Brian Stratton, Geoff Forth,
Brian Spears, Violet Wilson, Veronica McKinley, Linda Bloomfield and Betty
Ridley