Sad to report the passing of David Baldwin wo died peacefully at home on the 11th of March, aged 83 years. David, who lived at Long Lee, was at KBGS the same years as myself although in a different Form, and was a Solicitors Clerk during his working life.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1945-50

Current location (optional) Keighley

Sadly also, to report the passing of Gordon Warin of Glusburn, who died peacefully at Beanlands Nursing Home, Sutton, on the 5th of March. Gordon was in the same Form as myself all through our time at School. He was a good cricketer and played with me in the School 1st X1 in 1950.
I spoke to Gordon's wife Marjorie, on reading about his death in the Keighley News, and the subject turned to Frank Wellock, a teacher at the School and a well known local sportsman, who married one of Gordon's cousins. Margerie then mentioned that Frank was also in 'Beanlands'. He is now 94 years old but his memory is 'not very good'. David

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1945-50

Current location (optional) Keighley

Sorry to read about the death of my namesake with whom I spent many a boozy Friday and Saturday night in the Con Club playing thee card brag for 6d stakes.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1959-66

Current location (optional) Shoreham-by-Sea

It is with great sadness that I receive news of the death of John Waddington-Feather, with whom several of us corresponded over a number of years. Allan Robinson wrote to tell me, this afternoon:

"Ian Dewhirst rang me yesterday to tell me that John Waddington-Feather died last Friday. He had sounded very frail the last time Ian had spoken to him on the phone. I'm not exactly sure how old he was, probably in his mid-eighties, but he was still writing stories, essays and poems almost to the end of his life. An admirable feat considering his life was dependent on dialysis for many years. Ian is writing an obit for the Keighley News. I thought I'd let you know (though you might have already heard) as I gather you corresponded with one another."

Farewell, and RIP John.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

John (Waddy) W-F was a great man who taught me English at KBGS and introduced me to a life-long love for literature, especially Dickens and Conrad to whom I have returned throughout my life. He was a natural born enthusiast who will be remembered for many things, not least his publication The Muse that encouraged many of us to overcome a boyhood shyness to write poetry. Always pupil-focused he never raised his voice or threatened violence and knew when to switch from teaching English to entertaining us with tales of his prowess at boxing and his years of National Service. I wrote to him on many occasions in later life and he never failed to reply with warmth and enthusiasm. A lifelong Christian he was never shy about his faith and work as a prison chaplain in Shrewsbury. There is much I could write about J W-F but he will be remembered with affection by many and sadly missed.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1959-1967

Current location (optional) Ebberston, North Yorkshire

I vaguely remember Margaret Messenger who lived at the far end of the village of Oakworth, from myself. Roughly bisecting the line between our houses was the church.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1953-58

Current location (optional) Brighouse

Not easy reading this thread. I wonder does anyone know the whereabouts of Mike Hopwood? He went on to Cambridge University I think. Went camping and hitch-hiking ( extinct now just about) with him in our last year at school.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

would someone in authority plese delete my above post and this one.Many thanks.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-66

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 55/60

Current location (optional) Harrogate

I have just had a phone-call from Robert Bracken's daughter to tell us that her father has died in hospital from Covid19, following a collapse at home as a result of a bout of pneumonia. He had been suffering from dementia for a year or so, as indeed, has his wife, June, who is now also in hospital, where she too has contracted the Covid virus (as did Robert). Robert was my predecessor as organiser of the KBGS reunions, for many years, and he and June attended several even after he had given up the task of organising, but not in the last seven or so years since he gave up driving, Beverley being rather too far off the map for them to attempt to get to Keighley and back by public transport. Robert was Head Boy at School in, I think, 1946, and I remember there are some photographs of him in the School play for that year, 'Twelfth Night', if ever we could retrieve them! Robert was a schoolteacher, in Essex, I believe, and eventually a headmaster. He was 93. When I still had a house in East Yorkshire I used to call in and see them periodically, always enjoyable visits, but it must be seven or so years since I last saw them, though we always corresponded at Christmas.
RIP Robert.

Doug

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

I’m quite a lot younger than Robert but I do remember him well. He was a prefect and in the upper sixth form in 1945 when I started school. As a small, short trousered eleven year old I recall being amazed at the size of those ‘big boys’ in the 6th form. By the time I’d made it into the 6th form Robert Bracken had long gone and it wasn’t til I started attending the old boys reunion lunches that I met him again and he was still as good looking some 65 years later. But I do have one recollection you might like to hear even though Robert was not personally involved in the story. People who know me will know that I keep myself occupied in retirement by painting. I had been commissioned to paint a house portrait of a detached house in Cononley up the Main Street. It was meant for a person living in Bedford who had relations who had once lived in the village. I planned to do the job whilst up in Keighley for the reunion but it was pouring down. No chance - so I decided to take a photo and work the picture up at home . The obvious place to get the picture was from an elevated yard in the house opposite and permission was given by the householder, a pleasant lady who generously supplied me with coffee cakes and conversation. I told her that I was in the area to attend an old boys reunion at Utley and she immediately told me that her cousin used to organise the event. Small world! The only other thing I remember was that both Robert and the lady (who made great cakes) had Farnhill/Kildwick connections. Sorry to hear that the lad has gone.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1945 - 50

Current location (optional) Norfolk

Robert Bracken must have been a prefect when I was at KBGS . As a small short trousered lad the sixth formers were way up there with the teachers . I wonder if you ,Denis , could point out Robert on the 1946 panorama of the school . It would be interesting to see if it brings any thing to mind .

Current location (optional) Tasmania

After posting the previous note on R Bracken ,I have had a search and found the photo of the school prefects for 1945-6. R.J.Bracken is the Head Prefect . As there is nowhere to post a photo , the rest of the prefects are ,. FK Whalley. S.W.Dawson J.G.Bancroft L.Helliwell J.G. Holt K.Paver J.Sharp and W.R.Marchbank
Guess not many around now to remember them

Current location (optional) Tasmania

Denis,

Robert was from Kildwick and I remembered him telling me that he always went home for lunch when he was at the School - a feat which seemed well nigh impossible to me! Would you have been able to do that to Sutton and back in what an hour, an hour and a half?

Doug

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

I have had an enquiry from someone who is trying to trace this person who was at KBGS between roughly 1958 and 1965, Does anyone remember him? Does anyone happen to know where he is now?

Doug

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

Doug, I attended from '58 to '65 and I'm pretty certain that he wasn't in that cohort.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65

Current location (optional) Leeds

Thanks, Shaun. Apparently he was tall, fair-haired. and a good rugby footballer - possibly played for Keighlians.

Doug

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria