I suppose like a few other innocent pupils I was press ganged by the memorable Gilbert Swift into carrying crates of beer from his car at the the back of the old school into the Keighlians Club. I can't remember much about the inside but it looked quite cosy. Anybody remember what year it closed and what the atmosphere was really like inside?

There appears to be a New Zealand sports company called 'Gilbert Swift Rugby Shorts'. What finer legacy could the great Gilbert Swift have?

Even as early as when I played in the KBGS 1st XV, we always played with Gilbert balls. Gilbert's comments from the touch-line were not always encouraging and we often took it out of his balls.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 52-60

Current location (optional) Lincoln

Terry - you have waited 50 years to confess that you played with Gilbert's balls and it must be a huge relief to unburden yourself in this way. Anything else you feel you need to tell us? Perhaps the odd snog with Stoker? Rubbing noses with Beaky? Bit of rough trade with Basher? Just as well I know you better.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-57

Current location (optional) Melbourne

Tell me more Steve. I have lived in NZ for 47 years and haven't heard of the brand. Gilbert balls yes, but Gilbert Swift no. Cheers.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 47-51

Current location (optional) Auckland NZ

John,

Do you mean the one opposite the Lord Street doors?

I think that it closed in the late 60's - quite compact inside with a small bar.

I think that it became the 'Trattoria' Itallian restaurant and, after that had closed it became the West Yorkshire Road Car Company's staff social club.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 59-66

Current location (optional) Embsay

The downstairs bar was frequented by the rugby players on returning to town following the Tuesday and Thursday training nights at Marley.

It is now a taxi office and the West Yorkshire Road Car Company's Staff Social Club is now housed in the old Halifax Building Society Offices on the corner of Cavendish Street and Lawkholme Crescent.
The offices on the 1st and 2nd floor were of Bottomley and Smith. (Incorporated Accountants and then Chartered Accountants)
Having served my articles there on leaving KBGS in 1955, I recollect the office staff were fascinated by the huge number of people queuing to see the final act to appear at the Queen's Theatre (Hippodrome)
SYNCOPATING SANDY and his piano playing Marathon

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 50-55

Current location (optional) Keighley

John,
You ask about the Keighlians Club in Lord Street. I used to pay the place a visit now and again when I played for the team in the early 50's. As I remember it, little would have changed from the terrace house it would have been before the Keighlians occupied it. There was a hallway from the front door from the pavement in Lord Street which led to the staircase to the first floor. The front room to the left was used as a committee room and select bar for the great and the not-so-good, whilst the room at the back served as a bar room for the plebs with drinks being dispensed from the bar under the stairs. Presumably the beer and bottles were stored in the rear extension which would have been the kitchen when it was a house. I could not remember ever having been on the first floor so I consulted an old friend, Geoffrey Kitchen against whose buttocks I used to snuggle on a Saturday afternoon [he played prop forward - I was in the second row] Geoff used the Club far more frequently that I and he replied as follows:-

I have been carrying out some research as regards the old club on Lord Street. It would appear that it was aquired in 1921/22 by the 'Grammar School Old Boys' Association' when it had a Reading Room, Card Room and Tea Room and was strictly DRY [article by Arthur Town in the Golden Jubilee brochure 1920/1970]
From the same article I quote,' At this time [1925/26] a crisis arose regarding the club on Lord Street. The rugger players naturally wanted to apply for a licence so that intoxicants could be available on the premises. The school, of course, opposed this, but the motion was eventually carried with the loss of some members [not players]. We took over the premises, had changing rooms arranged in the attics and a rather primitive bath installed in the cellar.'
My own recollections date from September 1949 when I first joined the club. You are correct in your description of the ground floor. The room on the left [called the Wharton Room] was used as you say. It was in my early days used for providing food for the visitors after the game. ladies were allowed in the club to provide this which was quite a break in tradition as I understand. Up to that time no female pssed through the door.
Upstairs on the first floor [I don't recall any attic] was a snooker table and before we had any accommodation whatsoever at Thwaites, this is where both teams changed. The concrete bath [it could have been the one as in the 1920's] was in the cellar. We were transported to and from the ground by Scott's Taxis but if the visitors came by coach we would use their transport. When the weather was bad and the ground muddy, this was the most sensible way.
The bar was as you describe, but eventually both downstairs rooms were knocked into one and the bar placed with it's back to the window in Lord Street. Also in my early days as a committee member we managed to sell the snooker table and turn that too, complete with bar, into a large room for social events.
The first accommodation at Thwaites came from two old army huts which housed home and away changing rooms, a bath and a large bar area. The bar originally sold only bottled ale until the advent of Watney's Red Barrel, which would keep even if not consumed at the time.'

The Lord Street premises would have been disposed of in 1969 when the ground was transferred to Utley and the magnificent new Club House was built.

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

Current location (optional) Norfolk