Staff news
Ken BURFORD (1949-62)
– taught Woodwork For many years we have tried to
find Mr Ken BURFORD, our Woodwork Master . Out of the blue I
had a telephone call from him, we talked for ages and he and his
charming wife, Elizabeth came to the Spring Lunch where he was met with
delight by many, many people. Ken became a School Inspector
and went to Bath in 1962. He has retired to 1 Highfield
Close, High Bickington, UMBERLEIGH, EX37 9DS, so all of you chaps who
have asked after him can write or ring him up!. Tel: 01769
560779. Welcome to TOGA Ken, after all these
years. I had rung every Burford in the Directory when our
year of 1948 had our own reunion in 1997. Miss STOCKLEY,
Derek COLE, Roy CRESSWELL and Roly DAVIES all attended with Derek as
guest of Honour.
Dr Peter THOMPSON
continues as your Chairman, attending all reunion events. He
doesn’t seem to change or age at all! He is delighted to hear
from former pupils and passes much news on to us for this publication.
Mary MORTIMER
Dr Thompson sent me this letter from 1968, because he felt
its message from most Old Grammarians and staff was as true today as in
1968. Mary Mortimer was the wife of the Bishop of
Exeter. She taught at TGS.
3.2.68
Dear Dr Thompson,
Thank you very much for
the calendar and your kind words. I am so glad that
Mrs BEHENNA is doing nicely (I wonder very much whether Pat WARE passed
her O Level, and how she is getting on). I have been meaning
for too long to thank you for my wonderful lease of life at
TGS. I realise more and more what wonderful chances you gave
me – including the ones I grumbled about at the time, namely
trying to sell the Ancient World to non-specialists. The
Science Sixths (RE) I think, did appreciate at the time. They
were wonderful company to be in. I can’t look back
on the obstreperous Form II without sentimental spectacles, and even
Form IV was certainly “A Great
Experience”!! St Mark with the good little Third
Form Girls was a wonderful contract (yes I can’t help
overworking the epithet!) Looking back I see the whole thing
as a miraculous diversion).
Then I can count up to
quite ten absolutely first-rate people it truly was an honour and joy
to be colleagued with. I can’t believe there are
many schools with so much human kindness and interested care for the
work and the children, “Lumen ad revelationem
gentium” (Long may it shine). Thank you very much:
and everyone else who was kind to me.
Yours ever
Mary MORTIMER
3.2.1968
Were you a teaching colleague of Mary’s or an
“obstreperous Form II pupil? or one of
the”good little Third Form Girls? Where is Pat
Ware? Do you remember Mary?
Roly DAVIS (1945-75) –
is in Palm Court Nursing Home, 7 Marine Parade, Dawlish. 01626 866142
. Roly loves receiving letters and visits from old
students. His mobility is extremely limited but his wits are
as sharp as ever. John Morris, now you can write.
Marjorie DAVIS, Roly’s wife - The White House,
Woodway Road, Teignmouth.
Miss Betty LADMORE:
(66-79) Writes to tell us of a move from her
family home where she had lived since 1940, to her new address; Flat 5,
Kilverstone Court, St Margaret’s Road, TORQUAY, TQ1
4NW. She thanks us for the TOGA NEWS and says she reads it
all with great interest and realises what a lot of hard work goes into
its production. Sends her best wishes to Kate FORCE (nee
McLEES) next time I saw her (like nearly every day, Betty) as she
remembers Kate fondly from when they taught together at TGS.
KATE FORCE (nee
McLEES, formerly WILKINSON) (48-53 @TGS and 70-81 Teaching PE
@TGS) continues apace with her Locum Medical Secretariat.
Whether she wants to retire or not, the demand for her specialist locum
cover for medical secretaries show no signs of diminishing.
Mr Roy and Mrs Joan
CRESSWELL are not terribly well at present and we wish
them better health soon.
I have not been able to
speak to Musk Frost, so have not got too much Staff News, I’m
afraid. Musk – I lost your email! SOS!
