The Maltonian Website - for Malton School

Some memories of St Mary's C of E Primary School in Old Malton from Dave Preston.

June 2024 Some memories from Tony Kirby, concerning advertising in the Maltonian magazine.

I’ve just been catching up on the website and noticed your mention of adverts in The Maltonian. You’re quite right in thinking they must have paid for most of the cost of publication. It was the job of a couple of Lower Sixth people to go round the town to drum up trade, and I did it in 1961-62, with (I think) Margaret Penistan. Certainly a female presence could work wonders with some of the shopkeepers, a few of whom bore a more than passing resemblance to the infamous Arkwright in terms of customer relations. And it was quite a coup if you could get someone new (as we did). Most of them in fact were regulars, and had their own printing blocks which the printers (at Helmsley) obviously kept from year to year.

I remember also taking the text over to Helmsley with Pat Youdan, who sadly died whilst we were in the Upper Sixth. As a polio victim, he was the only pupil who had his own car to get in to school from Cawton. His death (he fell downstairs in the then new extension) came as a great shock to us all. Pip Taylor came round to our house on the Sunday afternoon to tell me, and together we went up to the school to remove his belongings from the Prefects’ Room: Pip felt – rightly or wrongly – that leaving them for people to see on Monday would be too much for some. After his death, his mother gave me his prized silver propelling pencil, which I still have today.

And some thoughts from Tony on the School Prospectus:

Interesting about the Prospectus. My parents were given one in 1956, but only once they’d opted for MGS after the 11+ exams. Sadly it has long since vanished: the extract you have on the website is (I think) amendments for the 1958 edition.

I can’t remember the full list of schools we were offered, and being an East Riding pupil it was probably different from the menu for North Riding people. Apart from MGS, we were offered Scarborough Boys High and Archbishop Holgate’s, so presumably the East Riding had some sort of agreement with the North Riding and York (which I would guess was it’s own LEA in those days). One or two people a year went to these, but they were the exceptions. The others that stick in my mind are Pocklington and Drax, which no-one ever chose, presumably because it would have meant parents paying boarding fees.

Just possible, I suppose, that someone may still have a copy of the letter, which we were all given in the morning assembly at Norton Boys’ and then allowed to go home to tell our parents. To add to the excitement/apprehension, Mr McManners (the Head) read out the names in random order. What a way of deciding children’s destiny!

February 2023 More notes from Ally Nurre (Alison Ware). This time memories of her life after leaving Malton School, with periods in Surrey, Honduras, Oxford, Kentucky, Northampton, Minnesota, and finally back to Kentucky.

January 2023 Ally Nurre (Alison Ware) sent two photos and some memories of hockey teams at Malton Grammar School in the 1960s

August 2022. About Mr Wellard. In response to a 1969 orchestra photo appearing on Malton and Norton memories Facebook page, Howard Campion remembers Mr Wellard. I first met Mr. Wellard when he was an ?English? student at Leeds, he was in the same Hall of Residence as myself. I think he did teaching practice at M.G.S. (1961) and just sort of stayed. Tony Kirby notes: Mr Wellard on bass: he was a superb violinist, particularly of things like Irish jigs.

August 2022. On Mr Lumb. Paul Hildreth remembers (Malton and Norton Facebook page) I will always remember my first French lesson when Mr. Lumb entered the room in his flowing gown and opened with "Allez a la porte". To an 11-year-old Yorkshire country bumpkin like me it sounded more like Arabic! Mr. Lumb spotted my ability to run fast and coached me at lunch times, introducing me to spiked running shoes (?hence my nickname at school) and starting positions for sprinting.

August 2022 Stephen Flaherty responded to my requests for Victor Ludorem winners to get in touch, and any memories of sport at school. He was Victor Ludorem in 1971 (having moved to MGS from MCM for Lower Sixth). MCM had a sports day every year when I was there. ( 1965 - 1970) that included every year.( 1st to 5th). In 1965 the PE teacher was Mr Simmons who had apparently taught at an approved school previously. He was followed by a local lad Brian Durno who lived at Easthorpe. He went through the system at MGS and returned to MCM as a PE teacher. He also taught History. You will see photos of Brian's involvement with out of school outdoor pursuits etc [on the Maltonians website]. He and Mr Coulthard ( rural studies) supported the Lyke Wake Walk etc. Brian was followed by David Weatherstone. He taught PE at MCM from 1969 to 1971 ( when the schools merged). A photo of David Weatherstone. (Male PE teacher) (Brenda Coles (Female PE teacher) Peter Eggleston (Metalwork teacher) is on the Maltonians website.

The first year records that I held at MCM were:, 100 yds, 220 yds, 440 yds, Javelin, High jump. I can remember some of the values but it's unfair to print them in case I am wrong. There was an article in the the Malton Gazette and Herald in June ? 1965 "First Year Breaks 5 Records" ( I do not have a copy of this) confirming this.

I held various records and the VL at MCM through other years but I cannot remember the figures. Brian Durno started a school Basketball team and I ended up playing for the County ( North Yorkshire). I had County Basketball colours ( maroon) and County Athletics colours on my blazer ( black and white).

In September 2022 Steve also filled in some information on a picture from 1970 of a YHA walking group at Crack Pot The references to Flaherty and Pickard were my younger brother Richard Flaherty (now deceased) and Kevin Pickard from Sherburn. Kevin came from a large family of sports achievers. His older brother Tim Pickard is on the 1971 basketball photo with me. Both Richard and Kevin were very good footballers and played for the County. Both went to Manchester United and other clubs for trials. Kevin signed for a club but I can't remember which. I think he ended up playing at York City ? Richard didn't sign for any clubs but went on to carve out a professional career in Sales. He captained Amotherby FC and Old Malton FC during his time. (He died aged 29 in a car accident.)

March 2022 Gordon Walsh sent some memories of Malton Grammar School 1936 - 1942, following a visit to the school this month with his daughers Ali and Heather. Gordon, at the age of 97, has a remarkable memory.

April 2021 Robin Coulthard sent an email with some of his memories of Malton County Modern during his years there as Rural Studies teacher 1966-1971. Robin contributed a number of photographs of Malton County Modern days which I was able to include in my book on the History of Malton School.

August 2020 Anne Doggett (Anne Glendinning) sent three emails, filling in some names on 1955 photos, sharing a few memories and a potted update on her life after school. At the time of writing she was settled in New Zealand.

August 2020 Keith Sunderland kindly sent some memories of his time at Malton School, which was created in his final years when the Grammar School and County Modern combined -1971.

February 2020 Pamela Ginger (nee Bennett) wrote some memories of her time living in Middlecave Road in the 1920s and 1930s, which her daugher Susie Bytheway kindly compiled and sent to me.