Now some news from the ladies namely Kirsten Millinson <nee Elder> (Spalding). Life for Kirsten is very hectic but hopes to have several articles published this year in national and international magazines, one on homebirth and another on waterbirth and the surrounding issues. Her sister Ruth (Gunter) is now working as an assistant manager of 'Paco' in York and is married to a teacher - a fate they have both succumbed to! Our regular note from Canada came from Gwen Owen, Princeton, B.C., Canada. Thank you for your donation but as you guessed the bank charges were high. Maybe you can drop a few bob in when you come over in 1999 if you manage it. Pleased to hear that your husband has recovered from his operation. Gwen and her husband travelled to Ottawa for their daughter's wedding in June as mentioned in last year's news and their grandchild in Calgary arrived in January 98 and is called Barry Edward. Gwen <nee Weldrake >remembers B.G.H.S., those wonderful dedicated teachers, as well as all her friends. Haley Nicholson sent back her new address along with her s.a.e. Haley now lives at Dunston, Lincoln. Another change of address came from Peter Wade (now at Mickleover, Derby) who first wrote in August to say he and his wife had been thinking of moving back to Derby <nearer to Brigg> for some time and had finally made the decision and they are now in their new permanent address as from January 15th. Before moving in August Peter had been in touch with Derek Sumpter and George Gunson . He has also sent us further comments about the team photographs from America. The 'unknown' in the school '48 1st eleven cricket team on the back row is W.W.Cook and the 'unknown' in the '47/48 2nd eleven football team on the back row wearing glasses is J.H.Jackson who was in School House. He was a regular in the '48/'49 2nd eleven, (see March 1949 Briggensian).

Ellis Levinson wrote in to inform us of the death of his old friend Ernest Leslie (Louis) Brown (see 'Deaths Column' later). They were in school together in the 1920's and were close friends in Scunthorpe. Louis had a distinguished career as an Inspector of Taxes and remained remarkably alert to the end at the age of 88. Ellis goes on to say that he was at school with Frank Holmes and that he played in his 1st eleven team when he was Captain. Hopefully Ellis will have written to Frank to renew their friendship after many years. Frank was born on 3rd May 1909 whereas Ellis was born on the 3rd February 1910. Ellis left school in 1928 and remembers G Feirn who was at school 1925-30. I am asked to tell Harry Bottom that Ellis was a member of the family who in the 1920's maintained a store in Scunthorpe High Street which leads us nicely into Harry's letter sent to us last July. Harry (Barry, S.Glamorgan) started by saying that 'one meets with Briggensians in the most out of the way and remote places' - as we all know! He spent a few days in the Dales of North Yorkshire and who should he meet but a past member of Sheffield House namely Timothy Rounce. Tim had told Harry that he was a pupil at B.G.S. during the hectic days of upheaval and amalgamation. Now he and his wife Pam, with their three children, are proprietors of a small hotel. The building, converted from an old farmhouse, is situated in a remote corner of Coverdale. It is an ideal place for rest and relaxation far from the madding crowd. For those interested Tim's address is Coverdale Country Hotel, Swineside, West Scrafton, Leyburn, N.Yorkshire, DL8 4RX. (01969 0640601). Staying in N.Yorkshire but travelling a bit South we have an apology to make to Mr.C.Cash (Scarborough) who I have referred to as W.C.Cook in the last two issues! I hope to pop in to see you this year and apologise for not arriving last year but got very involved in holidays around Kirkbymoorside and did not leave enough time to visit my favourite Scarborough. Next a visit into Nottinghamshire to the home of P.D.J.Campbell (East Markham, Newark) who writes to say he is always interested to hear of Old Boys of his own generation. He sent me a paper cutting about the Right Rev. Eric Kemp, Bishop of Chichester being made a Canon of Chartres Cathedral (France). He is the first Church of England bishop to be made a Canon of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Chartres since the Reformation. The article brought back memories for P.D.J. as he remembers visiting Chartres with Eric and both being struck by the beauty of the Cathedral. They were visiting Belgium and France in the late thirties at the end of their Oxford undergraduate days. Eric stayed on at Oxford to take his Doctorate and become Chaplain of Exeter College where he was a distinguished academic. A brief note arrived from Mr.R.J.Baxter (Morecambe, Lancs.) to say he and his wife would be celebrating their Golden Wedding last May and after 16 years of enjoyable retirement. Reading increases as physical recreations are reduced and R.J. had noted the details of Dr.Pimlott in the national press little realising that he was an old Briggensian and the son of the late Harry Pimlott who he remembers with treasured memories. Going south our next news came from Don Sykes.J.P. (Worcester Park, Surrey) where he reported being knocked down in his own grounds and at the time was moving in great discomfort. We all hope that things are improving. Geoffrey Parratt (Woodford Green, Essex) wrote sending his s.a.e. to make sure that he did not miss the Spring issue this year. He used to receive his copy via Mrs Watson (retired dinner lady) having been passed on from the Longden family! This year it will come direct to Woodford Green. Mike Spencer (Bewdley) visited the school last December and like so many others found that the school had changed out of all recognition. He was shown round by Dave Brittain, as well as spending time with Jim Flewker. Mike had noted that John Ketteringham's name had been mentioned and he wanted to record the fact that they both started school together in 1950 and left in 1955. John's father Roland was also at school 1919-1925, and John and Mike remember him most for his statistical passion for cricket scores, keeping match records for most of his time at school with commendable fortitude. Howard Paynter (Newbury, Berks.) sent a note of thanks to Dave Brittain and myself to say how much they (Dave Brewer and Mike Beardmore included) had enjoyed the Annual Dinner. They were all very surprised to see Mark Seaward and enjoyed meeting him again after over 33 years. They thought he looked younger than they do and agreed he must have found the elixir of life. On the Sunday morning they all had a wander round school noting all the changes! Howard hopes to be with us again this year bringing more of his old school friends along. They would like to meet up again with Gerry Longden and Jack Moore but maybe keep the big occasion for 2000! Last November Dave Brittain had a letter all the way from New Zealand from Robert Walker. Robert had been sorting out some old 9.5mm home cine films taken by his father in the early 1930's. Among them are some shots of B.G.S. sports days of 1934 and 1935, as well as film of the cross-country run taken in 1935 he believes. These films have been put on video and Robert has typed out such names and other information that he can remember. The video will be a gift to the school now that Robert has the correct address. Dare I say that he had heard some year's ago that the school had been changed into some sort of adult college! Robert has many happy memories of B.G.S. attending with his other two brothers (A.H. & E.P.) who were boarders at the school in the 1930's in the days of Mr.J.T.Daughton. Their home was in Doncaster where their father was an architect. Robert G.Walker lives at Hamilton, New Zealand. Reading through his Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph John M. Gray wrote to us again to say he had found very interesting having attended B.G.S. from 1929-36.As mentioned above Mr. Daughton was the headmaster at this time along with famous staff names as Thumwood, Knight, Morris, Pratt and Pimlott. John used to take part in all sporting events that he could and had the honour of playing for the school at cricket and football as well as being in the athletics team when they competed against Clee and Caistor Grammar schools. John also remembers coming second in the school cross-country race being beaten by a boy named Conroy. I hope that John may be able to write to Robert and ask if he remembers the Gray brothers. Peter Gray who is now dead lived in Florida (U.S.A.) for the last years of his life. Like Robert Walker John Gray holds B.G.S. in deep affection as days there were some of the very best of his life and are unforgettable. Please do not worry about writing to us as much as you like John and if you would like a visit to the school one can be arranged at most times. As one of our readers mentioned earlier Briggensians can be met very easily in all sorts of places. I had the pleasure of seeing in the New Year (1999) at a Caravan Rally where three other Briggensians were present namely Tony Brumpton (Scunthorpe), Derek Austin (Grimsby) and Brian Neall (Boston). What a splendid occasion! Derek will no doubt be attending the golf competitions again this year and hopefully I shall have the chance to see him on the golf course at Grimsby again before the Annual Dinner.