September 2023 - see above for link to Reunion Luncheon booking form

Philip Oakes SG61 makes contact from Cornwall.

August 2023

We have had sufficient expressions of interest to proceed with plans for our Reunion Luncheon, back in Beechurst Hall as in pre-pandemic times. The date is Saturday 7th October and we sit down for lunch at 1330. Please now book for this event using the link above, completing the form and returning it with your payment to John Dimmock as soon as possible.

July 2023

We now hope to be back in Beechurst Hall as in pre-pandemic times. Yes, back to having a live do!

But before we can definitely go ahead we need to have sufficient expressions of firm interest to make the event viable - so if you think you are very likely to come please, please contact John Dimmock as soon as possible  - no later than 22 July if possible.

We will let you know as quickly as we can  if there has been sufficient interest for you to then make a definite booking. Do not for the present make any payment.

Dr Carin Taylor will as usual bring us up to date on the past year at the Village College and how they have continued to cope with tricky times for staff and students ..

There will be a short illustrated talk, yet to be arranged.

The Luncheon will be of 3 courses. Including tea/coffee and wine - this would cost £35 per person (you will of course have saved much more than that over the three years we have had reunions via Zoom!).  We are all painfully aware of how much prices in the shops have increased since we last met together.

The date is Saturday 7th October in Beechurst Hall (for many of us our old Assembly Hall).  Doors open at 12.30 and we sit down for lunch at 13.30.

If a partner, relative or supporting friend enables you to come, they may enjoy the company and are welcome to attend (and will increase our numbers!).

So if you are very likely to come, as soon as possible please email john_dimmockuk@yahoo.co.uk

David Canham SG66 makes contact - he is now living in France.

April 2023

Clare Mitchell writes: My mother died recently and going through her paperwork we found things relating to my dad and his time at Soham Grammar School. He was Ronald Mitchell and he is shown in the 1937 School Photo (the year he started at the school) in the front row of 9/10, no3.
My daughter and I visit the now Soham VC for Parkrun sometimes and it's nice to think that we tread the same paths and fields as my dad did all those years ago. We have enjoyed reading the history on the website.

March 2023

Liz Stokes writes: My husband Reginald James Stokes was a pupil at Soham Grammar school in the 1950s. He sadly passed away on the 22nd Aug 2021 aged 79. [Editor: RJ Stokes was in the 1953 entry]. See also In Memoriam.

My name is Janet Clark I am David Clark SG69's wife.  Very sadly I must inform you David died on 12 March this year, after being diagnosed with cancer in November 2022.  He died at home after a short stay in hospital with infections/sepsis - for more please see In Memoriam.

My name is Erica Kohler, I am the daughter of Richard Ralph Petersen (known as Dick) born 24th May 1919, died 17th January 1960. I do believe that my father is in the front row 3rd from the left [in the middle of part 1 of the 1929 School Photo].

I was sorting out some papers of my late mother and came across a little silver badge that says : Soham Gr Sch, Cricket Ball u14 1st 1928. I was wondering if you could give me any information of how long my father was at Soham, any school records class or sport available, and if there is by any chance information of where he went after leaving here.  I think he might have gone to a public Roman Catholic School in London.
I was 8 years old when my father died from contracting polio.  He was an Observer in the RAF during WWII. He married Pearl Margaret Gibson in 1947 and they emigrated to South Africa where I was born and he died.

The Editor writes: in the SGS records to hand no Petersen has been found. The badge referred to by Erica is very similar to those donated by Jack Lockwood's daughter - please click here

February 2023

Apologies to all visitors this website. As can be seen below there is lot of updating to be done. Lengthy flu and post flu lassitude coupled with updating of computers and operating systems is my excuse.

Kevin Brown SG63 writes: I have to regretfully inform you that Peter J Smith SG59, passed away peacefully at home with his wife and daughter by his side on 2nd February 2023, just two weeks before his 75th birthday, after a brave battle with Prostate Cancer.

After SGS Peter worked in the laboratories at Spillers Milling where 3 or 4 other SGS have worked including me. From there he went to Reading University to study Food Technology before a career with Cadburys.

Around 10 years ago we met up again for an Ely Old Boys Reunion, five of whom were SGS. We then met up once or twice a year.

Apart from his family his other loves were music and running (he was a member of his local club in Hereford). Peter was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed by all that knew him.

Malcolm Partridge SG61 (joined Jan 62) makes contact: I'm now living in France. In the Champion School Fenland Schools Cross Country 1963 photo I believe that JR Harding was actually Paul W Harding.

January 2023

His grandaughter Gemma reports the death of Wilkes Walton SG36 on 30th December 2022 at the age of 96. Wilkes' funeral took place on 11 January at Breakspear Crematorium, Ruislip, Middlesex. Until prevented by age Wilkes was a regular attender (wearing a splendid bow tie in SG colours) at our reunions and can be seen in many reunion reports, usually with his great friend the late Roy Palmer SG37. Wilkes co-presented the talk on SGS at War at our 2010 reunion. For more please see In Memoriam.

October-December 2022

September 2022

[A report on the 2022 Reunion will be added in due course].

On 5 September an invitation to participate was issued to Grammarians with whom we are in email contact to participate part in our free 2022 Annual Reunion on Saturday 1st October, which will be online via Zoom from 2.10pm UK time.

We had hoped to be back in Beechurst Hall as in pre-pandemic times, but as a result of staffing issues at the contractors it proved impossible to make the catering arrangements in time.

Rather than do nothing this year, John Dimmock and I agreed we would again run a virtual reunion via Zoom, as enjoyed by many of us in 2020 and 2021. We truly hope that next year, 2023, will see us back to 'normal'.

Dr Carin Taylor will as usual bring us up to date on the past year at the Village College and how they have continued to cope with tricky times for staff and students.

There will be a short illustrated talk by Dr Simon Curtis SG67 on what lies behind the creation of his first novel, SWORDSMITH, published on 31 August 2022. Simon is one of this country's most distinguished and highly qualified farriers. The hero of his novel (set in the darkest of the Dark Ages, during the early settlement of England by the Anglo Saxons) is a farrier who becomes a highly skilled swordsmith. 

We hope you will participate in this year's event, and that those who may be fed up with Zooming will generously make an exception in our case. Please contact the Editor if you have not received our invitation email.

42 have registered as of 1 Oct:

Armitage, Rod SG55 Chilcott, Bill SG50 Clift, Kenneth/Sam SG50 Coe, Malcolm SG57 Crowe, David SG52 Curtis, Simon SG67 Czumaj, Ralph SG54 Dean, Richard SG56 Dench, Alan SG67 Dimmock, John SG59 Dunham, Ralph SG59 Evison, Peter SG'67' Faircliffe, Patrick SG48 Fernie, Geoff SG59 Fletcher, Malcolm SG49 Frost, Alan SG54

Haslam, Frank SG'59' Hawes, Michael SG69 Herod, Steve SG57 Hobbs, Ian SG48 Holmes, Paul SG46 Hunter, Kenn SG67 Johnson, Roger SG59 Kelly, William SG55 Monk, Donald SG50 Nix, Anthony SG65 Parr, Alec (Barry) SG62 Porter, Stuart SG59

Scott, Peter SG59 Scott, Peter (Maths) Sculthorpe, Robert SG63 Smith, Peter SG59 Smith, Roger SG56 Smith, Trevor SG62 Sparrow, Ralph SG45 Thornhill, Simon SG65 Wilkins, Denis SG53 Woodroffe, David SG60 Roger Wright 49 Dimmock, Sue Taylor, Carin (SVC) Morton, Carol (widow of Michael SG64)

• Mrs BM Wilkes (1968-72) taught Latin in the latter days of SGS and then at Soham Village College. A daughter, Margaret Sutton, has provided more information about her mother. There is also a link to her father, Professor Sir Maurice Wilkes FRS FREng, who was one of the leading British computer scientists. More recollections of Mrs Wilkes are welcome - please click here or see via In Memoriam.
   
• Many of you may have encountered the late Mrs Molly Bozeat, the wife of Dick. She supported many events at SGS and herself taught locally. The eulogy given at her funeral on 6th December 2021 can be seen on the In Memoriam page of the Ely High School website. 

January 2022

• Stan Harley SG53 and Terry Rule SG55 have notified the the death on 6th January 2022 of Trevor Carter SG55 at the age of 77. It was reported in the Ely Standard of 27th January. His funeral took place on Wednesday 2nd February - for more see In Memoriam.

December 2021

• The funeral of Mrs Molly Bozeat, wife of Dick Bozeat (Woodwork 1959-72) took place in Ely on 6th December. She died suddenly and totally unexpectedly at home on 8th November. Molly was Head Girl at Ely High School 1954-55 and they married in the early 1960s. Please contact me if you wish to write to Dick, who has a son and two grandsons. Donations maybe made to Cancer Research UK.     
   
• Dudley Walton SG63 writes: Bruce Butcher SG63  passed away on 23rd November 2021 after a battle with prostate cancer. He leaves a wife Julie and 2 daughters. His funeral is being held at Fenland Crematorium, Knights End Rd, March PE15 0YH on Monday 20th December 2021 at 11:30 - see also In Memoriam.
   
• Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) has provided a photo of John Humphry (Geography 65-72) and Don Riley (English 66-72) at Chur station on a skiing trip to Switzerland - click here 
  
  
• Terry Rule SG55 adds Michael Shaw and Barry Scarborough to the listing of the 1955 entry. Les Weston's name has been corrected. Where are they now?

November 2021

• John Humphry's (Geography 65-72)  Service of Thanksgiving took place on Wednesday 27th October, at St Andrew's, Soham. Please click the link in this news item to see the Order of Service, the Tributes given by his three sons and the interview he gave the editor in 2014. If you have photos or memories to add to John's page please contact the editor. 
   
• Peter Stearman SG65 has died at the age of 68. Peter suffered an embolism and died peacefully in The Royal Papworth Hospital on 2nd November, just five days after taking over as Captain at Ely City Golf Club. His funeral will take place in December - for more see In Memoriam

October 2021

• The extensive report on our 2021 Reunion via Zoom to which is linked Michael Yeomans' fascinating talk From Soham to the Medicine Chest of the World can now be read by clicking here.  They are best viewed on something like a laptop or an iPad. If you want to print them it's best done in landscape format.
   
• The death of Peter Handley SG42 at the age of 90 was reported in the Ely Standard on 30 September 2021. His funeral at Holy Trinity, Haddenham, took place on 14 October. Peter got his School Certificate in 1947; Senior Agricultural Scholarship 1949; County Major Scholarship 1949; Prefect; Captain 1st XI Football 1948-9; Football Colours 1947-8; 2nd XI Cricket; Games Committee; Captain of Ridley. He attended Reunions, last in 2009 - see In Memoriam: via Ivor Wright SG43.
   
• Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) on 13 Oct: One of his sons has let me know that John Humphry (Geography 65-72) has died. A later call was to say that John's funeral will be on Wednesday 27th October, at 2.30pm. St Andrew's streams its Sunday services but, with very few exceptions, not funerals.
      
• An extensive obituary for John Humphreys SG'50' who died in 2012 has been found from the Shooting Times. Formerly Deputy Warden at Bottisham Village College he wrote for country publications and authored several books on life in the Fens: see also In Memoriam
    
• We had a good time on Saturday afternoon, 2nd October, reuniting via Zoom. Some of those registered did not make it ... for various reasons ... but as the Irish say the craic was good. All Grammarians were sent a link to the recording of the event, which was available until 6 October.  A report on the lines of last year's is being prepared. Thanks to all who took part.
   
  We hope that in 2022 we will be able to return to holding our reunion in the Beechurst Hall (our old Assembly Hall) at Soham Village College. The possibility of that being streamed for those unable to travel will be looked into.
   
  In the meantime please do make a virtual visit to the parts of the Grammar School that remain, by opening this link to see the aerial view of the site and then clicking on a Beechurst label to come down to ground level and wander around inside the building. The link is also on our Scrapbook page
   
•  Anyone in touch with ...
  John Lester SG65 wonders if anyone is in touch with Peter A Bolton? He does not appear in the Form Lists until Form III 1967-68, which would make him a nominal SG65er.  
  Frank Haslam SG'59' wonders if anyone is in touch with Sammy Martin (initial P) SG59? He was from Ely and was an expert on all things to do with railways
   
  There are many others we have lost touch with/would like to be in touch with - please see via Contact/In Touch > Out of Touch, or click OOT.
   
• Can you help?: Peter Jeffery SG49 in Norfolk was sorting through some old family films recently and came across one marked Soham Grammar School film on standard 8mm film. 
  Sixty or so years ago Peter was a member of Newmarket Cine Club. He vaguely remembers making a film in the 1960s of activities at SGS with two or three other members who been at SGS. Mr Riley was still there so it would have been 1967 or before. The film, which runs for about 20 minutes, shows boys and masters taking part in a variety of school activities.
  Can anyone help us get this converted to a format that will play on the Internet, like the films that Lionel Hart took (see Scrapbook)? If you are in the UK and can help with conversion, ideally for free, please contact the editor.

September 2021 - OUR 2021 REUNION VIA ZOOM is on Saturday 2nd OCTOBER
Please keep that afternoon free ...

• Our 2021 REUNION is via Zoom only: Invitations were emailed on 19 September to all in personal or third party email contact. An email reminder was sent on 26 September to those we had not heard from.
  The invitation explains how to register to take part via Zoom.
  Grammarians wishing to attend who are contactable via email but have not yet received the invitation email (check in case it has gone into Spam) are asked to contact the editor as soon as possible.
  Registration is required in order to take part. 
   
  Here are those registered as of  1310 on 2 October - 61 have registered so far ... please join us
  
  

  David Anderson 59* Rod Armitage '55' Peter Beavan '58' * Richard Berney 68 Don Boud 50 Kevin Brown 63 Germany Chris Bull 53 Bill Chilcott 50 USA Kenneth Clift 50 Geoffrey Cross 64 Richard Dean 56 Alan Dench 67 John Dimmock 59 Christopher Dubas (Pearce) 65 Martyn Davies 66 Ralph Dunham 59 Peter Evison '67' Patrick Faircliffe 48 Geoff Fernie 59 Canada Richard Formby 68 Alan Frost 54

  Peter Gipp 46* Phil Green 68 Vincent Gudgeon 66 Frank Haslam '59' Stephen Herod '57' Ian Hobbs 48 Kenn Hunter 67 Peter Jeffery 49 Bill Kelly 55 Ranjit Kurrie 61 Terry Mackender 59* Donald Monk 50 Carol Morton (widow of Michael Morton 54) Tony Nix 65 Andrew Nunn 55* John O'Toole: English 63-66 Australia Dr Carin Taylor: Staploe Educational Trust Sara Coutts: for many years our Reunion Caterer * first time attenders

  Barry Parr 62 Eric Pearson 60 Canada Stuart Porter 59 USA Ed Reed 67 Bob Robinson 58 David Scott 66* Peter Scott: Maths 60-72 Peter Scott 59 David Sculthorpe 65 Bob Sculthorpe 63 Brian Smith 63 Peter Smith 59 Trevor J Smith 62 Thailand Norman Talbot 60 Simon Thornhill 65 Piet Walton-Knight 52 Denis Wilkins 53 David Woodroffe 60 Ivor Wright 43 Roger Wright 49 Michael Yeomans 60 USA Steve Yeomans 65*

  
   
• We have made contact with Peter Gipp SG46 following an article in the Ely Standard about the 70th Anniversary of Peter and Christine's wedding.
   
• Reg Stokes SG53 died at the age of 79 on 22nd August. His funeral was at St James Church, Stretham at 1pm on 21st September: via Stan Harley SG53 - see In Memoriam
   
• Alan Mason died on 27 August after a long period of illness. He was on the SG staff as Lab Technician 1966-72. His funeral was on Friday 17th September at 12.30 at Soham Methodist Church. If you have recollections of Alan, please contact the editor - see also In Memoriam
   
• We have learned that Ray Thurston SG39 died at home in Newmarket in February 2021, aged 92. If you knew of Ray's life please help to add to his entry on our In Memoriam page.
  
  
• The family of Ed Kisby SG67 whose funeral took place last year would like his Soham Grammarian friends to know that a Memorial Service will take place in November in Hitchin. If you would like to attend, please contact the editor.
   
• Steve Yeomans SG65 makes contact and plans to join in our Reunion via Zoom on Saturday 2nd October. His brother Michael Yeomans SG60 will be our speaker, online from New Jersey USA .... go figure!
  

August 2021

• OUR 2021 REUNION IS ON SATURDAY 2ND OCTOBER - Please keep the date free
  After careful thought and consultation with Soham Village College, conscious that many of us are in a high risk group, and with the complications of assessing the catering requirement, we have reluctantly decided that we will not be able to meet together in Beechurst Hall for our Annual Reunion Luncheon this year.
   
  But we are still going to have a reunion, again using Zoom. We hope that we can build on last year's very enjoyable event. All SGs who are in touch by email have been asked to keep the afternoon of Saturday 2nd October free in their diary/calendar. We will be in touch with them nearer the time with how to book to join us via Zoom on the day. 'Doors' will open after 2pm and we will begin at 2.30pm. We were still going over 2 hours later last year. All times are UK time by the way. The event is free but BYO refreshments!
   
  Those who have not told us they have email are receiving a letter asking them to get in touch if they now have email but forgot to tell us. Or if they remain without email we have suggested that friends or family who are online and might enable them to take part should contact us.
   
  As usual there will be an illustrated talk, this time by Michael Yeomans SG60 (who will be joining us from New Jersey, USA) with stories from his early years in Soham and Ely, the dilemma of having to choose between a career in science or in music, and his almost 50-year journey in the global pharmaceutical industry. Dr Carin Taylor from the Staploe Educational Trust will again be joining us. 
   
  If you are ex-SGS but not in touch and would like to know more about this event, please contact us.
    
• The death of George Porter Russell SG43 in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge on Monday, 23rd November 2020, aged 88, has been reported by one of his daughters, Anne Blake. A Haddenham boy, George was the youngest of seven children. He did his National Service in the RAF, where he trained as an electrician. After the RAF he worked for Setchells in Ely and then as an electrical contractor in Haddenham. He married Mary Handley in 1954 and they had three daughters. He was a member of the Royal Observer Corps for many years and was very involved in village events and in Haddenham Baptist Chapel. He can be seen in the photos of SG Reunions in 2005 and 2007 - for more see In Memoriam.
   
• Michael Hawes SG69 adds some names to part 8 of the 1972 School Photo
   
• Alan Bray SG60 reports the death of his cousin's son Graham V Place SG69 at the age of 63 on 1st July 2021 at Addenbrokes Hospital. His funeral was at West Suffolk Crematorium on 29 July - see In Memoriam

July 2021

• Alan Barber SG59 died at the age of 73 on 12 July 2021. His funeral service at 1pm on Monday 26 July was streamed from St Paul's, Whitley Bay. A full In Memoriam entry is being prepared.
   
• Paul Delanoy adds a tribute to his uncle Don Delanoy SG40? who died in 2016. He has provided a link to Don's page on the Pye Story website, which may be of interest to others who worked there - see via In Memoriam
   
• Research following the publication of an article in the Ely Standard adds to the story they had about Harry Kane SG44, an evacuee from the East End of London who was happily billeted in Stretham, thrived at SGS, and went on to represent GB at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. Thanks to Fred Eden SG44 Harry's ID on the 1946 School Photo has been sorted out. And no, apparently he was no relation to the other Harry Kane ... For this story linking the coming Olympic Games and SGS, but not UEFA Euro 2020, which includes an interview with Harry, please see Scrapbook, 1940s or click here.

June 2021

• The British Normandy Memorial was officially opened on 6 June 2021, the 77th Anniversary of D-Day. It records the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy in the summer of 1944. Among them, from SGS are Staff Sjt Duncan Frank Wright, Glider Pilot Regiment (1932-35, uncle of Ralph Dunham SG59), murdered whilst a POW on 6 June 1944; and from EHS, one of the two women commemorated on the Memorial, Lt Sister Mollie Evershed QAIMNS, who was from Soham.

May 2021

• Alan Frost SG54 is back home after giving himself and his friends a scare in February when he disappeared from our radar. He'd been seriously ill and now recognises that he should have responded to the signs his body was giving him. He now has to take it easy and gets tired very quickly. He's fortunate that he has family nearby and many friends who were concerned about him. 

April 2021

• The Delanoy family have updated John Delanoy SG42's entry on our In Memoriam page.
   
• Peter Smith SG59 writes: The Cambridge nostalgia FB website (Cambridge in the good old days from the 1960s, before and now) has many messages of condolence for the passing on 24 April of John Gentle, aged 73, who was an SG59er. One lady remembers him in the Guild coffee bar with other Cambridge-based Soham lads: Philip 'Sid' Cullum, Terry Impey and Mervyn Hardwick.  [We never did establish contact with Johnny - see also In Memoriam.]
   
• Do you have any EHS connections? The EHS Luncheon Club has announced that their Annual Luncheon will now not take place this year but look forward to holding it in May 2022, all being well.
   
• Pauline Ogden (née Ward), ex-EHS, corrects two IDs on the 1965 School Photo - Glyn Taylor and Phillip Wright. Glyn Taylor SG61 has just also made contact!
   
• John Dimmock SG59 writes: Sara Coutts, ex-SVC, who has been responsible for organising, preparing and serving the food for our reunions for the last ten years has decided to move on to pastures new. At a farewell event held appropriately in Beechurst Hall, Dr Carin Taylor, Executive Headteacher of the Staploe Trust, who many of you will know, praised Sara for her loyal service as well as her willingness to go well over and beyond her job description.
   
  As the local SGS 'boy' Dr Taylor had invited me to attend. On behalf of the Grammarians I offered Sara our sincere thanks and knowing her love of gardening gave her an appropriate voucher. It comes as no great surprise that she will not be working in the catering trade but has secured a position at Simpson's Nursery in Fordham.

March 2021

• Dannie Nicholas SG59's funeral took place on 17 March at Greenacres, Colney, Norwich: a number of us were able to watch it online. Dannie had exactly set out the music and words. We hope to add material from his funeral and from the family to a page being prepared on remembering Dannie.  
   
• John Gammon SG63's death in 2015 was reported at the time. Thanks to Peter Smith SG59 and further research a full obituary is now available on our In Memoriam page. It makes for interesting reading especially if you were into the music scene, in which John was a respected observer and operator. He was the subject of a BBC Heir Hunters programme in 2016 but it is currently not available via iPlayer.  
   
• Ian Hobbs SG48 and Brian Knott SG57 have heard that Fred W Thurling SG48, a Littleport boy, has died. No further details at present but please contact the editor if you know more.
   
  
• This photo of SG Old Boys was found by Brian Knott SG57. He had it from Robin McLaren, who died in 2009 aged 93 and was at SGS in the 1920s.
  John Dimmock SG59  reports it has appeared in Ely Old Photos on Facebook. John recalls that Robin ran a garage in Haddenham and that John Chapman was the father of Peter Chapman SG57.
  When and where was it taken and what names can you add? A 1937-40, 1948 list of OBs may jog your memory.
  
  
  standing: John Chapman - Walter Sparrow - 3 - Robin McLaren - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16
  seated: Les Read - 2 - 3 - John G Unwin - 5 - 6 - Gothard - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11

February 2021

• Daniel Woodroffe in Norfolk is a grandson of the late Barry Woodroffe SG50. "He sadly passed on 23rd February 2013 after a short illness. During the times we spent together whilst I was growing up he spent lots of time speaking of his time at Soham Grammar school, growing up in Ely and moving to Norfolk at the age of 15. After watching a program recently, I have been spurred on to find out more about his time in Ely and at Soham Grammar School."
   
  Daniel hopes that someone reading this may be able to provide memories of Barry, including photos. He has no photos of his grandfather about the time he was at SGS and so has not been able to spot him on the 1952 or 1954 School Photos. For more information to jog memories about Barry please see In Memoriam and if you can help Daniel please contact the editor.
   
• John Fordham SG47 died on 27 January 2021 aged 84, writes Ian Hobbs SG48: John was a gifted mathematician and sportsman - SGS's first Soccer Blue (Oxford) and continued to play with Soham United for several years. He was also in the school cross-country team and continued to run long distance for many years in this country and abroad as a veteran. Diploma in Education, Oxford University; taught at Newmarket Grammar School (his wife Pauline taught at Ely High School): more information when available - also see In Memoriam.
  
  Chris Wain (Maths 66-70) writes: I played with John a couple of times, at left-back for Soham United including in 1966 against Soham Town Rangers, a keenly anticipated local derby! The last time I saw him was at the funeral of Bob Chapman, father of Colin Chapman whom I taught at SGS.
   
  
• Dannie Nicholas SG59's daughter Wendy writes: It is with the greatest sadness that I inform you of the death of my father Dannie John Nicholas. Following a long battle with [severe non-alcoholic] cirrhosis and COPD, he unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19 mid-January. He passed away peacefully on the evening of Sunday 31st January 2021.
   
  Funeral arrangements are uncertain at present and in current circumstances will be required to be small and private. It saddens me that we can't necessarily honour all of my father's wishes regarding his funeral but for anyone who would like to make a donation to charity in his memory, he expressed a wish that donations be directed to Bipolar UK [click here to make a donation]
   
  If you have memories, photos etc of Dannie to share with us and his family please contact the editor.
   
• Darren Tebbitt updates our In Memoriam page with an entry on Desmond Gutteridge (1934 entry, believed died 1999): "Des was a gentleman's hairdresser with a barber's shop in St Mary's Street Ely, known for his eclectic taste in bow ties - he never cut without one ....."

January 2021

• A Happy and Healthy New Year to all - keep well
  
  
• Lorna Delanoy (ex-EHS), widow of Michael SG48  informs me that the last of the Delanoy boys, John SG42, died on 4 January 2021. Don SG40? died in 1988 and Michael last year. It is hoped to have a full obituary in due course - for now see In Memoriam
   
• Norman South SG46, born and raised in Littleport, died on Christmas Day 2020 at the age of 85. As reported in the Ely Standard, 5 January 2021, he was a well known figure on the local sporting scene: via Chris Bent SG53 - see more in In Memoriam
  
  
• Darren Tebbitt's grandfather Les Tebbitt worked with a cousin Douglas Joe Heaps and Douglas's father Joe Heaps on the family farm in Haddenham. Darren has identified Douglas on the 1935 School Photo. Douglas was taken ill during the 1942 Harvest and diagnosed with Leukaemia, dying six weeks later aged 22.
  
  
  
  
  Darren has this photo of Douglas (right) with his friend Maurice Waddelow (left, d 1976), also from Haddenham, at Hunstanton in 1936. Maurice served in the Royal Artillery in WW2. Is it Maurice standing next to Douglas in the 1935 School Photo? Haddenhamites please report.
  
  Darren's former neighbour Geoffrey JA Newell SG51 b 1940 d March 2015 is in the 1952 and 1954 School photos.    
  

---

December 2020

• Mr Leon Kitchen (History 1951-57)  died on 2nd December 2020, aged 93. His funeral was on Thursday 17 December at 2.15pm at the West Road Crematorium in Newcastle.
   
  His daughter Rachel writes:  As you know he was a very special man and I’m privileged to have had him as a father for so long. My mother Barbara and I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
   
  Through his son Mark, Leon held The National Autistic Society particularly close to his heart and donations in Leon's name are welcomed by the family.
   
  Leon attended many of our reunions, the last in 2009 and thereafter sent his apologies. He kept in touch via our website and contact with some of those he taught. In due course we will add his order of service and tributes celebrating his life to his page. If you have messages to be passed to the family/recollections of Leon to add to his page please contact the editor: with thanks to Ian Hobbs SG48.

November 2020

• The death of novelist John Harding SG62 in 2017 has been noted by Peter Smith SG'59'. John, who was from Prickwillow, was Head Boy in 1968 and read English Literature at Oxford - see In Memoriam and Pages by/on SGs
   
• David Bryan SG66 regains contact from New Zealand
   
• Lees Donaldson SG'59' has provided news of the death of Jeremy David (Wayne) Fisk SG58 - see In Memoriam
   
  Lees also writes: Although I have lived in Newmarket since the mid seventies, my visits to Ely diminished after my father died and my mother moved to Shelford.  She died last year on Christmas Day at the age of 99 so another link with Ely and the Scotch Home Bakery which my parents ran has gone.  I remember sometimes travelling to school on the bus with a box of freshly baked rolls which Mrs Jarrett had ordered.  I never did find out what they were for.
   
• It has taken ten years for us to be reasonably confident that this is 'our' Andrew K Bailey SG60: Ely Standard, 16th Dec 2010 - BAILEY Andrew, sadly passed away on December 7th, 2010. Much loved and loving son of Joan and the late Don, brother to Debbie and Dave, loving uncle to James and Ben. Thanks are due to Lees Donaldson SG'59', Pete Smith SG59 and Nick Cave SG60 - see In Memoriam for the full story.

October 2020

• 24 Oct: The reporting on our 2020 Reunion via Zoom two weeks ago is now available.  As it was recorded we all shared the many stories that were being told.  There are three sections linked to each other:
  1. Reunion Report (including Roll Call)
  2. The talk Some Funny Goings On at Soham Grammar School
  3. A collection of anecdotes.
  
  It'll take you a while.
  Either go to it via the Annual Reunions link or click here for the reporting on our 2020 Reunion via Zoom.
   
• 11 Oct: Our 2020 Reunion via Zoom took place yesterday and a report is being prepared. A third of those who registered had not attended before in this century (that's called historical perspective) for various reasons - distance, health, event clashes etc. We had many long distance faces on our screen - among them Australia, Thailand, New Jersey.
   
  We were delighted to be joined by Mrs June Lawrance and her daughter Gaye and by Mrs Carol Morton, widow of Michael Morton SG'54'. JROT (as we were reminded of John O'Toole (English 63-66)'s nickname) and Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) joined us. Not all who registered were able to turn up, the most dramatic being Eric Pearson SG60 in Kuujjuaq, Canada whose internet connection was knocked out by a blizzard.
  
  As Dr Carin Taylor of the Staploe Educational Trust said to us, let's hope that she will be warmly welcoming us back in October 2021 (date to be arranged) to our usual Beechurst Hall to be fed by Sara and her team and served by the senior students.
   
•  It's 18 years since this website was launched. We have had getting on for 104,500 visits. Thank you to all who have contributed material. The editor looks forward to hearing from those who may have more - stories, memories, photos, Soham Grammarian magazines etc that we do not already have.   
   
• In response to the 2020 Reunion letter sent to those for whom we had no email address, more have now provided one. If you'd like to be in touch with any of them please let me know: Kevin Brown SG63, Geoff Double SG68, John Drake SG52, Terry Jordan SG48, Bruce King SG64, Ranjit Kurrie SG61, Terry McHugh SG65, Chris Dubas-Pearce SG'65', Bill Peters SG48, Chris Wain (Maths 66-70), Michael Whymer SG52.
   
• Ted Bullman BEM SG48 writes that he was sorry not to attend this year. After long service in Comms in the RAF and MoD dealing with sophisticated technology, followed by a long stint in electrics, he's left that all behind and is telephone only these days. He enjoyed 5 years supervising the Sandringham Flower Show. If you wish to contact him, let me know.   
   
• Bernard White has written to inform us of the death of his brother Terence William Wright MBE SG37 at the age of 91 on 29 September 2015 - see an interesting account of his life and involvement in sail training for schools in In Memoriam. 
   
• John Woodward SG58 has made contact, thanks to his old friend Denis Wilkins SG53. He has enabled us to provide a more accurate Form 1T listing for the 1958 entry - see via School Lists > Entry Year Guide
   
  John's family moved to Hertfordshire in July 1960, the same time as Mr Rex Waller (Latin 49-60) departed SGS for Somerset. John completed his education at St Alban's Grammar School for Boys, which he compares unfavourably to SGS. He went to sea and became a Ship's Master.
   
  Rex Waller was a churchwarden at St Mary's Bruton where John's wife's uncle was the Vicar - John's wife and family were friends of the Wallers. John had planned to drive Rex up to Soham for our 2008 Reunion but Joan Waller had been admitted to hospital and not long afterwards, Rex died.  For John's recollections of SGS see the 1950s section of our Scrapbook page.  

This year's Reunion - how to join in this invitation only online event

On 1st October all Soham Grammarians in email contact were sent an invitation to this year's Reunion. This is being held via Zoom on Saturday 10th October, 2.15 for 2.30pm London time. If you can't find that invitation email (and have checked that it was not routed to your spam or junk email folders) please let us know by clicking here. If you wish to join in please carefully follow the guide points in the invitation email and then click the registration link provided to register for our reunion (even if you have already told us you'd like to attend). You will then receive a confirmation email which has the link and passcode you will use to join us on the day. If you have any queries then as usual please contact John Dimmock at box-office@sohamgrammar.org.uk If you are unable to join us but wish to present your apologies please click here and send us a message. A letter to those Grammarians not in email contact was posted on 1 October informing them about the Reunion, asking if they are now using email or if someone in their 'bubble' who is on the internet could facilitate their joining in. We already know a number of Grammarians who for reasons of age or health, or living in foreign parts (i.e. even further away than Cambridgeshire, including beyond these shores) are looking forward, on this occasion, to being able to join us. We're giving it our best go. Dr Carin Taylor will again be attending to bring us up to date on the past year at Soham Village College and the challenges they are now facing. There will be a short illustrated presentation on Some Funny Goings on at SGS.  We hope you will join us. Bring your own food and drink! Registrations as of 12:45 on 10th October - name and year of entry. Plan to attend but not yet listed? Please register NOW * one of 20 new attenders David Beale 62* Richard Berney 68* Kevin Brown 63* Germany Martin Brunt 66 Chris Bull 53 Bill Chilcott 50* USA Michael Clark 55* Australia Kenneth 'Sam' Clift 50 Malcolm Coe 57 Martyn Davies 66* Richard Dean 56 Alan Dench 67 John Dimmock 59 Susan Dimmock Alan Diver 40* Keith Diver 70 Geoff Double 68 Ralph Dunham 59 Keith Essex 69* Canada Patrick Faircliffe 48 Geoff Fernie 59 Canada Richard Formby 68* Alan Frost 54 James Gilbert 65 Phil Green 68* Frank Haslam '59' John Hill 48 Ian Hobbs 48 Roger Human 46 Ken Hunter 67 Peter Jeffrey 49 Douglas Jones 71* Terry Jordan 48 Bill Kelly 55* Ranjit Kurrie 61* Mrs June Lawrance f (AEL) Brian Lythell 56 Vaughan Moll 59 Donald Monk 50 Mrs Carol Morton (Michael 54) John O'Toole (English 63-66)* Australia Barry Parr 62 Christopher Dubas (Pearce) 65* Saudi Arabia Eric Pearson 60* Canada Stuart Porter 59 USA Terry (Eric) Scannell 66* Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) Brian Smith 63* Peter Smith 59 Roger Smith 56 South Africa Trevor Smith 62* Thailand Carin Taylor SET Brian Thorby 49 Simon Thornhill 65 Piet Walton-Knight 52 Michael Whymer 52* Denis Wilkins 53 Tony Willenbruch 62 Michael Yeomans 60 USA

• You can do a different kind of zooming - in and out and all about - the SVC website has a fascinating 360 degree aerial view of the Soham Village College campus and the surrounding town and countryside. See how much it has grown since SGS days - we have a direct link to the aerial view in Scrapbook > Other
   
  
• Back in contact or making contact: Nigel Haslop SG66 in Cambridgeshire, Brian Smith SG63 in Kent.  
  

September 2020 - This year's Reunion - see August - keep the afternoon of Saturday 10th October free!

• We have heard from his daughter Diana that John Butcher SG47 died on 12th September 2020. Further information is awaited.
   
• Bob Sculthorpe SG63 and his brother David SG65 have been in touch with the news that Charlie Maschke SG64 died on 12th September in Addenbrookes Hospital after a short illness. He was a boarder during his time at SGS.   The funeral is on 29th September 2020 at Cam Valley Crematorium, Saffron Walden - family only mourners due to COVID restrictions. More information on Charlie's life in due course
   
• Michael Smith has been in touch to say his father Trevor William Smith SG61 died on 30th August 2020, a month short of his 71st birthday. The notice in the Ely Standard on 10 September called him 'the Rock of the family'. His funeral was at St Mary's Ely on 24th September and it was planned that family all over the world would be able to view it. For much more see In Memoriam.
   
• Geoffrey Glover's father Albert Glover SG22's best friend was Professor Leslie Audus who left SGS in 1929. He has identified his father, next to Leslie on the Late 20s School Photo (see via School Lists/Photos), of which he has a copy, alas undated. His father has been added to our In Memoriam page (he was the first Little Downham boy to go to Cambridge University) and recollections of Leslie have been added to Leslie's page.
   
• Mike Yeomans and Eric Pearson, both SG60 musicians, add memories of Greg Holt SG60 - see via In Memoriam
   
• Charles Peacock SG44 has informed us of the death earlier this year of Chris Strawson SG44 from Ely. He was in both the Football and Cricket 1st XIs. He became a Squadron Leader in the RAF, retiring to the Isle of Wight. For much more see In Memoriam
    
• Simon Curtis SG67 had a new book published in August. The Farrier is a photo-book: Dr Curtis says "Wherever there are horses there are farriers. My photo-book celebrates the farrier's role, the environment they work in, and the variety of horses they care for. It is the culmination of a 10-year project with one purpose: to share joy and pride  for the craft of farriery.": thanks to Ivan Whymer SG56, who provided a cutting from the Newmarket Journal, 13 August 2020 - see also Pages on/by SGs
   
• A letter sent to friends by Edward Armitage advising of their move from The Moat to Cambridge Road, Ely reveals some of his early thoughts about the new Sixth Form Centre in Ely - see via Annual Reunions > 2012 > Report (end of) > Talk (end of)
   
• Brian Jackson SG50 has made contact from Australia and put us in touch with his brother Gordon Jackson SG52. They were Fordham boys - Gordon has not moved as far as Brian, who has had a career in aviation. Brian says he was sad to hear of the death of Clive Bray SG50 who lived at the top of his street and did quite a lot together.
  
  "One SGS memory that is indelibly embossed on my brain" says Brian "is that trackway with tractor ruts and freezing cold muddy water that I 'accidentally tripped' Mr Foster into during a cross country run. BOY did I pay -  he picked a long whippy stick and I copped it across the back of my legs until we made the road. We had a love/hate relationship." Another teacher taught Geography and was a Chelsea F.C  fan and loved twisting your ear and in his words 'I'll give you a bit of ginger'. Who could that be?
  

August 2020

July 2020

• From the Ely Standard 23 July 2020
  DELANOY Michael Ewart MBE. [SG48] Beloved husband to Lorna, father to Kevin, Craig and James and grandfather to Jordan, Joshua, Carlotta, Scarlet and Zak, died suddenly on July 9th 2020. Private family funeral. Donations in Michael's memory if desired to The Farmland Museum or British Heart Foundation c/o A.G. Carter Funeral Director, 6 Froize End, Haddenham, Cambs CB6 3UQ - see In Memoriam for a family tribute.
  
  Mike's contributions to local life (and those of his wife Lorna) will be well known to many of you, notably The Farmland Museum. His funeral took place on 31 July. With thanks to Lorna Delanoy, to whom our condolences; Ian Hobbs SG48 and Brian Knott SG57.
   
• Trevor Smith SG62 writes: I trust this finds you happy, healthy and free from all 'outside threats'. Here in Thailand we seem to have gotten off very lightly when compared to the UK.
  
  I thought I'd drop you a quick line to let you know that thanks to your prompt efforts in putting us back in contact, 5 former SGS pupils enjoyed a 2-hour 'reunion' Zoom chat a few days ago. It was mainly to celebrate joint 70th birthdays, but all 5 of us thoroughly enjoyed this 'international' chinwag: myself (SGS62) Thailand, and former classmates of SGS61 (or at least of that age group): Tim Ewer New Zealand, Nick Grainger Australia, Ranjit Kurrie Cambridge UK, and Doug (Fred) Neate in Leicester UK. Among other things we talked about the occasion of Tim, Fred, Nick and myself performing at the 6th Form dance (not sure what year!)
   
• For those of you with EHS connections Ely High School Luncheon Club have postponed their Annual Reunion to Saturday 22 May 2021, in the hope that it will be safe to go ahead by then.
  

• Malcolm Brooks SG51 is one of four St Andrew's School Burwell boys who gained County Scholarships to come to SGS in 1951. His daughter found a photo of them, one of whom was Michael Goodchild - see via Scrapbook/Burwell
   
• Ivan Whymer SG56 has provided Clive Bray SG 50's obituary published in a recent Newmarket Journal - see via In Memoriam
   
• Shirley Fuller writes of Colin Fuller SG51: "Sorry to hear about Michael Goodchild. A good friend of Colin’s. I am sorry to have to let you know that Colin passed away on the 17th June 2020. His funeral is on 9th July, West Chapel, Cambridge Crematorium."
  Another Burwellian 51er.  He will be added to our In Memoriam  page.
   
  
• Brian Thorby SG49 writes: Sorry to report that Michael Colin Goodchild SG51 died on 12 June 2020. He was originally from Burwell, later Exning.  He was 79 and had wife Gwen and a son and daughter. His funeral was on 23 June at West Suffolk Crematorium - for more see In Memoriam 
   
  
• Brian Knott SG57 writes: Rodney Fretwell's death was in the Ely Standard - died 31 May in Kettering aged 89.
  Born in Ely, educated at Soham Grammar School [entry year 1942], lived in Witchford, Little Thetford and Ely. Only child of Florence and Jack Fretwell of Stuntney - see In Memoriam
   
  
• Mike Hallam SG51 perhaps resolves the mystery of the girl in his photo from the 1957 outdoor production of The Taming of the Shrew by observing that such photos were posed specially as a record of the actors rather than being of the play as performed - see via History > History 2 > Productions

• Mike Hallam SG51 provides a photo from the outdoor production of The Taming of the Shrew by the Sixth Form and EHS in July 1957.
  Is anyone in touch with Jeremy Franklin? - see via History > History 2 > Productions

• On 29 April Martin Kyte SG'69' wrote: Sadly I have to tell you of the sudden passing of Chris Sangster SG63 of Burwell last week after a major stroke. Chris was at the last reunion and can be seen in the photo report. I knew Chris from way back although in recent years we became much closer though our shared interest in model engineering and clockmaking. Along with another of our friends we met every Monday night to talk of workshops and eat cheese. Soham Grammar School often cropped up in conversation.
  Further information will be added when available - for now see In Memoriam
   
  
• Jon Evans SG'61' has provided a photo of the coach that lost its windscreen on the joint trip to Europe with EHS in Summer 1964. He wasn't on the trip but his future wife Jean (née Williams) was one of the EHS girls who took part. We asked 'Who is the boy in the photo?' He has now been identified - see via History > History2 > School Visits ... 1964
   
• Ralph Dunham SG59 has provided a warm recollection of the late Bill Jethro Rennison, History 61-67, which will also interest the SG Scouts of that time - see via In Memoriam.
   
• Phil Green SG68 is in contact:  He says he was one of the unfortunate ones to lose the good teachers because of going comprehensive between the Fourth and Fifth Forms leading up to O Levels. In 1975 Phil joined Spillers Milling in Cambridge and followed a laboratory career across the industry, culminating in Quality Management roles before retiring early in 2017.
   
  He has added a few names to the 1972 School photo and added a colour photo of some of his friends walking in the procession to Soham Parish Church on 28 July 1972 for the service commemorating the end of SGS - see via History (at the bottom of that page).
   
• 16/4/20 Frank Haslam writes: Earlier today I heard from Alan Bray SG60 of the death of his brother Clive Bray SG50, on Tuesday 14th April, in West Suffolk Hospital. Clive had been there for 17 days suffering from pneumonia and another infection before being additionally diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.  Clive and Alan have been great supporters of the Soham Grammarians. They can be seen sitting together, as usual, at the 2019 Reunion. Our thoughts are with Alan, and Clive's family and friends.
  If you have recollections of Clive or condolences to pass on, please send them to me via email - for more on Clive see In Memoriam
  In these troubling times, you will understand when I ask you to let me know if you learn of a Grammarian's passing.
  Keep well, you and yours.
   
• Chris Bent SG53 has informed us of the death of Terry Day MBE SG57:  "Terence Robert Day - Terry passed away Thursday 16th April 2020, aged 73. Much loved husband of Julie, father to Sarah, Stuart and Joanne. A celebration of Terry's life will be held later in the year." - Ely Standard, April 23, 2020 - see In Memoriam.
   
• Stephen Martin SG62 was browsing the Staff pages, including Bill Rennison, History 61-67.  He followed the link to the Tewkesbury History Society (THS), of which Bill had been Treasurer and found that Bill had died in 2017. Our recent Reunion letters to Bill's residential home in Reading were not returned so we were not aware of this. The editor last saw Bill at Gordon Hemmings' funeral in 2011 and had been in letter and phone contact thereafter. 
  
  Bill's page on this website has been updated with the THS tribute. If you have memories or photos to add to those coming in please contact the editor -
  see Bill's page via In Memoriam   
   
• Peter Nicholls SG39 adds Mr Turner (39-40) to those who taught English - "He was a graduate of Magdelene College, Cambridge, and was called up" - see Staff Timeline via School Lists > Staff
  

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