St. Nicholas Grammar School, Northwood

Added a superb new section - Newspaper Archive. Have a look here. 

London Borough of Hillingdon 1968 letters for parents added. here.

New photos added to the review of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. here.

Artwork reorganised. New pages added. here.

Those who survived will never forget the 1974 Lake District Trip. Available to read, at no cost, here.

Brian Tilbrook's letter to David Dixon is long (13 pages) and difficult to read. I confess I hadn't read it, so I decided to type it up. It's here and it contains some wonderful stories (there may be a few mis-spelt words, missing commas and full-stops etc.).

Several new pages added, including:

• Rugby Tour to Belgium - Easter 1966

• Trip to Rome - Easter 1968

• Theatre Visits 1963

• Athletics 1969

Journey's End available on BBC Sounds

Released On: 07 Nov 1970. Available for 29 days

A young military officer, fresh from school, finds himself facing the reality of war, and the tension and strain of life in the trenches.

Set on the British front line, before St Quentin, in March 1918. 

RC Sherriff's stage play - set during the First World War - was first performed in 1928.   

Starring Martin Jarvis.  

Enjoy the photographs and be sure to read about the magnificent school play here.

St. NICHOLAS OLD BOYS v UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL. Played at Edgware on 18th December, 1963. 

This was the Old Boys first match.  Read about it here (page added today).

A trunk in the attic? An old photo album in the sideboard? A shoebox in the wardrobe? A drawer in the bureau? A suitcase in the garage? 

Photos, cuttings, reviews - if you have anything relevant, don't let it deteriorate any longer, scan it, email it and I'll upload it.

"Rugby Reviews" section has been added to the Rugby page.

From the Sport Section of the 1967 School Magazine, a tribute to Mr. Alwyn Williams.
At the end of the Rugby season which he reviews below, Mr. Alwyn Williams left the School to take up the post of Head of the P.E. and Games Department at Hertford G.S. He had been in charge of the 1st XV since coming to the School in 1962 and no rugby player who has been through his hands will need to be told of his tremendous contribution towards the game at St. Nicholas. Mr. Williams has a rare gift for communicating his own enthusiasm for the game to those in his charge and for getting the very best from them and the many anecdotes which still abound about "Killer", both in the Staffroom and the School, are evidence that St. Nicholas has lost one of its characters as well as a first-class school master and a loyal friend and colleague. Staff Changes (1967)

The School Concert, 1957-58 School Magazine. Written by Mr Demmery - page added.

The Grammar School, 1957-58 School Magazine. Written by Mr Gosden - page added.

Brian Tilbrook (Art Teacher): I obtained my post as the assistant art teacher simply because Donald Plenderleith was so good.  It was he who designed the logos and uniform at the school's beginning.  Robert Watson wanted someone with the same background so he rang up Hornsey College of Art and asked them to select whoever most resembled Donald in college, training and outlook and I was the lucky one.  I simply went over to St Nicholas with my folder and a letter of recommendation.  We chatted about my army experience as a National Serviceman in Japan and my outlook on school art - I wanted it everywhere!  And then he said, ‘Very good.  See you in September'.  How fortunate can one get?

Read the full article here

From the School Fair Programme (1962), referring to the Junior Common Room: Now the building is up for all to see and for the boys of Saint Nicholas to use. As the boys, the Parents' Association and the Old Boys' Association begin to exploit fully the building's possibilities it would be as well to reflect that in striving after such a rare amenity, one which official sources would never provide, both the school and the Parents' Association have been accused of 'money grabbing'. Perhaps those who made this discouraging comment will realise that they are really attacking the ambition of the school to do the very best for all its pupils. 

From Expansion of the Universities, 1959-60 School Magazine. Mr Gosden writes: The real danger lies further ahead, for the day may come when some of our politicians will see votes in the cry of "University education for all who seek it", regardless of ability,  just as some have already seen votes in demanding a grammar school education for all whether suitable or not. That day has already dawned in some parts of the United States, but there is yet time in this country to ensure that standards of scholarship are not submerged beneath the floodwaters of mass education. 

1966 - SCHOOL SPORT
The outstanding individual achievement of the year was that of Graham Curd who gained the School's first International Cap: he played in the England Schoolboys (15 Group) Rugby XV on three occasions, against Wales at Twickenham (lost 0-5) and at Cardiff (won 8-0) and against Leicestershire (won 22-0). At Twickenham, Graham had very few opportunities to shine but at the Arms Park, where England gained one of their very rare victories at this level, he received some very good "write-ups" in the National Press.
The School is very proud of his success; may he repeat it at Senior level in the future!

Many thanks to Messrs Bentley and Behenna for helping to fill in some of the many missing names.

Basketball photos added to the Sport section.