Grammar school pupils can enjoy a walk down memory lane thanks to a retired teacher whose labour of love has been producing a publication about one of the city’s most historic schools.
Former Bemrosian Robert Wilson has brought together the accounts of former teachers and pupils to create a 728-page hardback book about The Bemrose School’s 45 years as a grammar school.
Within its pages are recounts of the war years, school productions, sporting achievements, pen portraits of pupils, memories of teachers and various recollections of ‘floggings’.
Robert Wilson at home in Aberdeen, book in hand.
Amusing anecdotes include a Daily Mirror story from 1955 which reported that a group of six boys at the school were running a dating society, charging their schoolmates 6d per introduction with girls from four other schools in the area.
While another pupil recalls asking for a book about Marilyn Monroe to be presented to him on prize giving day – only to be handed a copy of the bible instead.
The varying accounts show how education at Bemrose School changed over time and invariably demonstrate a marked contrast with modern schooling in the 21st century.
In a boys-only school, boys were required to play the female roles, not only in Shakespeare plays but in operas etc too.
Clive Wilne and Reg Fletcher, as Empress and Emperor respectively in The Emperor’s New Clothes. July 1956.
Robert, who attended the school between 1951 and 1959, said: “Although Bemrose has now operated as a co-educational comprehensive for longer than it served as a grammar school for boys, there are many people in Derby – and indeed much further away – who have vivid recollections of those years.
“It has been my pleasure to collate these accounts and produce a book which covers the grammar school years from 1923, when the ground for the school was purchased, to 1975, when Bemrose ceased to be a selective grammar school for boys and became a coeducational comprehensive.
“There are accounts from those who did not enjoy their time at the school, as well as from former pupils and teachers who have fond memories.
Classrooms at Bemrose were of a standard size, with an assumption that, once seated, pupils would remain seated, so very little circulation space was provided.
“I was lucky to be able to collaborate with Ray Street, another former Bemrosian who was in my class at school. He designed the book for me and without his generosity of spirit this publishing venture would have stayed well beyond reasonable reach.”
Within the pages of Robert’s book are accounts of various teachers from the school, often referred to by their nicknames such as The Cheese, Nunky and Poetry in Motion.
One contributor recalls the time that his class was taken to Queen Street baths, as it was known at the time, and being instructed to jump into the pool so that the teacher could assess who could swim.
Those boys who hesitated, knowing that they would almost certainly sink, were told to imagine they were standing on a burning ship and ordered to ‘jump for their lives’.
Another writer recalls the devastating moment that a young pupil fell into the path of a bus outside the school on Uttoxeter Road. The boy was killed instantly and the incident stayed with his fellow pupils for many decades, serving as grim reminder of the fragility of life.
Robert Wilson (left) with twin brother Bill, at International Combustion’s Christmas Party for workers’ children, December 1951. End of their first term at Bemrose.
This is outside school hours and off school premises, but official school tie, pullover, regulation short grey trousers, and school socks are still being worn: their Mum saw to that!
Even by the late sixties and early seventies, the school had none of the technology relied upon in classrooms today. One teacher recalls the time he was presented with a mechanical calculator for the first time but found it too cumbersome to work with.
Robert, who now lives in Aberdeen, spent seven years researching and working on the book and says his dedication to the cause comes from the knowledge that he owes the school a great deal.
He went on to spend his career in education, the great majority of it in Scotland, principally in teacher-training.
“I did so wonderfully well from the education I received at Bemrose School and I have enjoyed working on the book,” he said.
“Ray and I have exchanged more than 3,000 emails over the last seven years and some of the articles have had 14 or 15 drafts because we wanted to create a publication that was worthy of the contributors and the school.
“Ray has spent a career in publishing and put 100s of hours into improving the quality of the photographs in the book. Our greatest hope is that people find it scholarly, accessible and entertaining.”
Although the book is about the former life of the school, many of the contributors refer to its modern incarnation as a multi-cultural school for children aged between three and 19 years old.
It has recently benefited from a multi-million-pound refurbishment, which has preserved much of the original character of the school while bringing it in line with modern day teaching requirements.
Robert added: “I called into the school out of the blue one lunchtime, and was lucky enough to be given a tour. The facilities were super and I was so impressed by witnessing widespread close interaction between staff and pupils of a quality which seldom happened in my day.
Building programmes since 2000 have done much to enhance the school’s facilities. This Science building won a Civic award for its design, and also helped make the School accessible for disabled pupils, with the inclusion of lifts.
“Many of the city’s secondary schools which were at one time Bemrose’s contemporaries have gone, some without trace. Such being the case, I feel we ancient Old Bemrosians are among the lucky ones.
“Not only do we have a school to go back to and reminiscence in, we are also made hugely welcome when we do return and especially if we have arranged our visit well in advance.”
The new book, recently published, about Bemrose in its grammar school days.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Bemrose School, Derby – The Grammar School Years you can buy it from W.W.Winter in Midland Road, for £29.95, card payments only.
It can also be purchased directly from the school by telephoning 01332 366711 to arrange collection or by emailing [email protected] for a copy to be sent in the post, for the cost of £38.
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Information/captions for picture files supplied to Penguin PR re Robert Wilson’s book
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