The Class of '66 - "1966 and all that"

It's now a half century since we all went our different ways from WLBHS .
I skipped the last few days at school to set off on a youth hostelling trip to Germany with a couple of classmates (Graham and Wally). The only thing I remember about my actual last day at WLBHS was playing football on the rugby field next to Heights Lane. That was the only occasion I played soccer on the school premises.
England was engaged in a major football competition back then too, with rather more success than the current national team. I managed to watch the '66 World Cup Final in a village pub somewhere in the Rhineland. This year (2016) I was in a bar Croatia when I watched England knocked out of the Euros.
It's also the 100th anniversary of the battle of the Somme. Sobering thought that our schooldays are now as historically remote as the battle of the Somme was to us in our teens.
If anyone else cares to comment or add a few reminiscences to the website you can
Good luck and best wishes to all my former classmates, 50 years older and wiser, John Swash.

Upper 6th Arts May 1966

Back row( numbering L to R): David Ravensdale ( 3), Keith Dickson(4), Dick Stabler(5), Paul Ramsden(7), Glen English(lenny) (9) behind the legend in his own lunch time Brian Campsall.

Front row( numbering L to R): Phil Gregory (1), "Wally" Walton (4) and Vic Ellis (6) are seated on either side of the teacher(Jack Hurst?). Dennis Carty(7) is next to Vic. David Hydes(8) Brian Campsall (9).

 

6a Science May 1966
Back row (l-r): Michael Dearnley, Phillip Webber, David Middleton, Raymond Peat, Derek Reardon, Colin McKinley, Jon Elsworth, John Kitchingman, Ray Sowden, Ian McMeeking, Richard Newsom, Peter Bramwell.

Middle row (l-r): Barry Hargreaves, Neil Buckley, Geoff Corner, John Swash, Graham Lobley, Paul Turner, Arthur Smith, Chris Hawkins, Dick Turner, Graham Warren, Roger Britton, Chris Appleton, William Luty

Front row (l-r): Colin Sunderland, Michael Burton, David Slater, Malcolm Johnson, Ian Copley, Simon Collins, Mr Rose (Physics), Ian Slack, Phil Holmes, Nigel Robinson, Dave Best, Richard Newton, Doug Calder

Prefects, 1966

back row l-r: Simon Collins; Colin McKinley; Paul Ramsden; Arthur Smith; Dick Stabler; Keith Dickson;Dick Turner; Graham Warren; Geoff Corner; Derek Reardon; William Luty

front row l-r: Phil Gregory; Dave Middleton; Mike Dearnley; Ian Copley; BrianCampsall (Head Boy); J.S.Barnshaw (Head Master); Roger Britton( Deputy Head Boy); Phillip Webber; Mervyn Rees; Phil Holmes; Malcolm Johnston

The First XI in 1966.

back row l-r: Dave Ravensdale; Geoff Corner; Paul Turner; ?Elsworth; Peter? Carey; Brian Campsall;
front row l-r: Mr "Jack" Hirst(Geog/Games); Phil Gregory; Glen English; Keith Dickson;
Phil Holmes; Phillip Benn; Colin McKinley.

Taken in the school Hall.- It must have been raining!

The First XV in 1966

back row l-r: Melvin Flesher; Roger Britton, Graham Lister, Dick Stabler, Keith Dickson, Dennis Carty, Phil Holmes, Derek Reardon

front row l-r: Sammy Marshall, Norm Gardner, Phil (Pip) Brown, Graham Warren, Brian Campsall, Andy Gardiner, Geoff Corner, Steve Parker, Don"Jack"Hirst

Missing of course, as this was taken in the Summer term after rugby had finished, was Tom Robinson who was killed in a motorbike accident, just outside the tuck shop on his way to a rugby game at the beginning of the season.


Tennis Team, May 1966


Front ( l-r): Dennis Carty, Arthur Smith, "Taffy" Lloyd (Geog), D J Turner, Nigel Robinson
Back ( l-r): Mike Dearnley, John Swash, Colin Sunderland

The brass plaques on th wall were the "Roll of Honour" for the two world wars.

Badminton Team, May 1966

Front Row(l -r): Nigel Robinson, Arthur Smith, Stan Wilson, DJ Turner, Roger Britton
Bk Row ( l-r): Dixon, Paul Haigh

6th form chemistry class, May 1966 - "The white heat of technology" The year that Harold Wilson & Tony Benn coined the phrase

Front(l-r): Chris Appleton, Ray Sowden, Phillip Webber, Chris Hawkins, Graham Lobley, John Swash, Mike Dearnley.

Back(l-r): Dave Best, Doug Calder, Roger Britton, Raymond Peat, Dave Middleton, Peter Bramwell, John Kitchingman, Mr Kowalcek and Mr Caird.

Rare archive photo of the 6th form Physics class in May 1966.

Front(l-r): Chris Hawkins, Neil Buckley, Steve(?)Parker

Back(l-r): Simon Collins, Mr Daniels ("Dad" aka "bebe"), John Swash, Roger Britton, Colin Sunderland, "Van De Graaf", Mr Kowalcek, William Luty, and Mr Rose ("Little Joe").

 

  
The sixth form photos above were taken just before A Levels ( did we look worried, I know I was). Meanwhile the fifth form below were just about to take their O levels.

Form 5A, May 1966

Back row (l to r): Paul Whitacker, Stuart Bryce, Chaplin. ?, Fletcher. Smith (GB), Brooke.

Middle row (l to r): Johnson, Richardson, Barlow, John Toth, Smith (K), Robinson, Wharton, Roclawski

Front row(l to r): George Grayson, David Grainger, John Tasker, Paul Haigh, Mr Leverton (Latin), Graham Elliingham, ?, Alan Jones, Malcolm Crampton.


Photo courtesy of Paul Haigh, +names from John Tasker

Upper 5-1 ( or 5 alpha) May 1966

Back row (l-r): ?, Maude, Burns, Molden?, Umpleby, Tony Gilbert, Germaine, Saunders, Russell.

Middle row (l-r): Chris Battensby, ?Hawkins?, GB Smith, Parkinson, Steve Buckley, Musgrave?, Geoff Cooper, ?.

Front row (l-r): ?, Robert Wright, Alan Wormald, Geoff Scott, Mr Baddeley (French), Martin Lennard, Morris, David Leach , Grenville Jensen.

Photo courtesy of Chris Battensby with apologies to anyone missed out or named incorrectly.