Frank Wellock was an acquired taste. When he was pleasant he was fantastic. But when he was unnecessary critical not so nice. But always very knowledgeable.

Obviously better at cricket than Gilbert Swift who was clearly the rugby specialist. His affable son Tim who who was in some ways rather more wimpish than his pugnacious father was a cricket writer for the Northern Echo. Strangely after school I only met him once quite by accident in a very basic hotel in Crete. I was alone with my books and he was with a group of not so interesting scribes from his Darlington office. I was glad to part company with him and his tedious mates -- and chat up sun-kissed Scandinavian ladies on the backpacker trail back in the seventies.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1961-68

Current location (optional) Riddlesden

Could they have been the two I met in a "hotel" in Istanbul in 1968?

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

Current location (optional) Leeds

The first part of your statement, Vernon, reminds me that once, in my middle school years, I was last into the gym - can't remember why - but Frank had already started our class on its various activities. He must have been in a mood for some reason that day and he decided to take it out on me. He had a sawn-off cricket bat and he belted me so hard on my backside that it brought tears to my eyes; he then began taunting me in front of the whole class about not being able to "take my punishment like a man." The whole situation was so very unjust and I think whatever tears I shed were certainly in anger. So yes, I know what you mean. But, I confess, it was the only brush I ever had with him, though I think I was always wary of him after that incident.

Doug

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

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

Quite possibly Shaun, but I do know the young Scandinavian ladies with their shimmering blonde hair and deep erotic sun tans made West Yorkshire seem a long way away. Did you accompany them into the Aegean islands after Turkey. Our paths may have crossed at some point as we possibly waited for infrequent ferries from the Turkish coast to the easterly Greek island of Samar. Intrepid Lord Byron lingered there for a while drinking Samian wine, writing poetry and eyeing up the local beauties.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1961-68

Current location (optional) Riddlesden

No Greek islands for me at that stage. Having been around Anatolia and the east, the dalliance in Istanbul was but a brief interlude before moving on through the Balkans, an encounter with a young Croatian fellow with a knife, and 10 days stuck with broken wheel bearings and no money. All infinitely preferable to a PE lesson at KBGS. If Christmas drinks at the Brown Cow ever return I may pop in and exchange anecdotes.

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

Current location (optional) Leeds