Retford Grammar School with Photos and History

Some other photos that have come to light: School history, 1318-2002 School photos, 1904-1969 School Panorama, 1947 School Panorama, 1957 Edward cricket 1st XI, 1949

The Retfordian and photo Album

Spring 1935, Dec 1950-Jul 1958, Sep 1959, Jul 1960

The French Trip

December 1954

School from the Air

1973 and 2004

Hello Folks,


I was raised in Worksop and passed my 11+ exam in 1951. Only 5 passed from 60 at my Primary school. There was much joy in the family when they learned I was going to Retford Grammar School, but I was scared stiff on the first day. Almost everyone was bigger than me and there were no girls at all. The prefects were unsympathetic and frightening near-adults.

In 1958 I left RGS to go to University. I was now the tallest pupil at RGS, a prefect, the best at Squash and throwing the javelin, and even the best at Physics as well. My whole physical and mental condition had changed out of all rcognition in just 7 years. From being bullied by everyone few now dared to touch me. I sharpened my wits by competing academically against my peers and betters.

The masters and pupils who filled much of my waking day are shown in this panoramic photo taken in July 1954. I had been addicted to steam-train spotting and so did poorly in class. In 1954 my parents told me to give up train spotting and work hard at school instead. When the photo was taken, I had just come near the top of the class, and with ten more boys skipped the 4th forms entirely and moved into "Junior Fifth" as an experiment. We got individual tuition in the class of only 10, and did well academically as a result.

We made fun of our masters behind their backs, but respected them for the knowledge they had. They all wore collars and ties and academic gowns. They were the 'source of all knowledge' for us. These odd-looking men introduced us to some of the great secrets of life: how calculus works, the language of Shakespeare, how carbon atoms join, and discovery by inductive reasoning.

Today all the masters have gone and most of the boys are contemplating retirement. Many have raised families and some are now grandfathers. The great wheel of life has turned and a new generation feels the thrill and despair of Youth. I look at this photo of my life 53 years ago and say to myself "What I owe you is beyond compare".

John Palmer now living in Dorset, England
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Updated 20 May 2007