Memories of Blackpool Grammar School, 1961 - 1968

By John Westmoreland, October 2000

I started at Blackpool Grammar School in 1961, the first year of the new building at Highfurlong. My father, Eric Westmoreland, attended the school in Raikes Parade in the 1930s and was proud that I also went to BGS. He was a great cricketer in the '1st Eleven' and rugby player in the 1st XV, but I did not share his enthusiasm for sport (See below).

(see photos: 1935 Rugby Team and 1934 Rugby Teamwith Eric Westmoreland)

I was placed in form 1R, standing for 'Bob' Rigby the Form Master. There were three other first year forms that year. The change from Bispham Endowed School was an intimidating experience, with masters and prefects wearing gowns and imposing strict discipline under Luft, the dour headmaster, backed up by his stern deputy Wynn. Throughout my time at the school it was 'boys only'.

I progressed through forms 2X, 4X and 5X, i.e.. the 'express' stream, so called because we had to do O levels in 4 years rather than the normal 5. This was vaguely justified at the time by giving us the opportunity to take the Oxford or Cambridge entrance exams after A levels in a 3rd Year 6th Form. With hindsight, I regretted this since we were forbidden from doing art, music and woodwork after the first year so that we could concentrate on exam courses only. In the end, only a few people were considered good enough to be put in for the entrance exams, excluding myself, and I think only one actually passed. I can recall only one person from my year who actually achieved an Oxbridge degree, and he had been barred by the school from taking the entrance exam! Some friends went straight to university after their 2nd year in the 6th Form.

Among the excellent masters who left a deep impression were Noble (Chemistry), Gowling (Physics), Rev 'Omo' Haig (Geography) and Percy Williams (French).

Along with many in the form, my one failure at O level was Latin: I even failed a re-sit! Several masters were drafted in to try to rescue the situation, but to no avail. These included Beetham, Murdoch, Ben Line, Ken Topping, and even the headmaster had a go. In those days Latin was considered essential, especially for Oxford or Cambridge. However, I seemed to manage to do Electronics without it!

I hated rugby and cross country running, such that I was normally one of the 'sick lame and lazy', as Dennis Quinlan (DQ) used to call those who invariably had a note to excuse them from games. The worst experience was an enforced cross country run, with Gowling patrolling in his car looking for people not running or attempting to take a short cut. Then there were the bus trips to the horrific Cocker Street baths with DQ - but at least I learnt to swim. However, there was a benefit in the 6th Form of not being a 'sports' type since this disqualified me from being a prefect! In fact, in the 6th Form we had an alternative 'walking group' instead of proper sports.

I was in Lower 6 Maths and then Upper 6 Maths taking A levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics. Ernie Makin took us for O and A level maths - a hard taskmaster but a superb teacher. I believe everyone in form 5X passed O level maths, and there were many Grade 1s, including myself. Bob Evans (Physics) was our Form Master in Upper 6 Maths in 1966/67 (see photo: 1961 as U 6th Maths). The various 6th forms were a mixture of 'express' people, '5 year O level' people, and others repeating exams. So in Upper 6 Maths some form members were 2 years older than myself.

I enjoyed a 3rd year in the 6th Form improving my A level maths grades, taking Engineering Drawing at O level, doing an engineering project with Mr Price, and also some woodwork at last! Being a 3rd Year 6th person I was made a prefect by default!

Looking back, and in comparison with today, it was strange that the 'Careers Room' (at the top of 'Lancaster' staircase) seemed always to be locked and in darkness. Was it ever open? Fortunately, I had decided myself what career I wished to follow!

I left BGS in 1968 and went to Salford University, where I received a 1st Class Honours degree in Electronics, and then to UMIST for my MSc in Digital Electronics. I subsequently had a challenging career as a computer systems design engineer at British Aerospace at Warton, from where I took early retirement in January 2000. My first Head of Department (Electronics) in 1972 was Alan Stott, a great character, authority on Blackpool local history, and an old boy of BGS.

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