~ ISSUE NO. 4 - SUMMER 1996 - brgs.me

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EDITORIAL
This edition is somewhat late in going to press, but that enables us to include
a page on B.R.G.S.' latest round of examination results. An 'A' level pass rate of
89% - the second best in the schools history - with eight students gaining three or
more straight grade A's. Special congratulations go to Catherine Ashton and Mark
Bury, both of whom go forward to read Natural Science at Cambridge University -
Clare and Churchill College respectively. At GCSE we were delighted to record our
best ever pass rate of 93% grade A* - C passes. Eight pupils achieved outstanding
results by gaining nine or more passes at grade A or A*. They are (A* in brackets):
Rachel Edwards (6) Lorien Stanfield (3)
Jennifer Boyer (5) Pauline Bowden (4)
April Jenkins (3) Helen Thirde (3)
Helen Brown (3) Victoria Farnworth (3)
A further eight pupils attained an excellent 8 passes at A or A*: Elizabeth Bonn,
Elizabeth Corry, Laura Hallam, Katherine Higginson, Charlotte Hill, Julie Lloyd,
Robert Ratcliffe and Caroline Wright.
The pages of the Rossendale Free Press are also full of degree successes from
ex B.R.G.8. students. In this issue we feature and congratulate as many graduates
as we know of. If you know of others we have missed please let us know for the next
edition of the Associate.
The Association continues to grow, though a little more slowly of late. I still
believe that there are many hundreds of ex B.R.G.S. students 'out there' who would
like to keep in touch with their former alma mata. Please keep spreading the word
of the existence of the B.R.G.S. Association. A couple of spare advertisements are
enclosed with this mailing for you to pass on or post to any ex B.R.G.8. pupils with
whom you could establish contact.
The next in our series of big five yearly re-unions has been fixed for Saturday
September 26th 1998. Further planning for this event will take place at the next
B.R.G.S. Association Meeting which will be held in March 1997 - more details in the
next edition of this newsletter.
Features in this Edition of the Associate include a re-print of the first part of
Dr. Milton Ormerod's History of Newchurch Grammar School, from which B.R.G.8.
is descended. Further information has been received about those whose names
appear on the plaque in the school entrance honouring those who were killed on
active service between 1939 and 1945. Thanks to all who have corresponded about
their former schoolmates. Articles also appear on former students such as Carlo
Nash (1990-2) recently signed as goalkeeper for Crystal Palace, and Liz Ratcliffe
(1984-91) who has recently been appointed as Appeals Co-ordinator for the
Rossendale Hospice Trust.
Our busy editorial team - now expanded to include Amy, Suzanne and
Catherine - would love to receive any letters for inclusion in future editions.
Best wishes
T.J. ELKINGTON

At the point of going to press the
school has just received the sad
news of the passing of Mr.
William Copley, Headmaster of
Bacup and Rawtenstall
Grammar School from 1949 to
1960.
The editorial team would like to
include more details about Mr.
Copley's time at B.R.G.S. in our
next edition of the Associate. We
would be very grateful for any
suitable items for inclusion in
this tribute from former pupils
of Mr. Copley's era.
Mr W Copley
FORMER headteachfn
of Bacup and Rawten
stall Grammar School.
Mr William Copley,
has died in Huntingdon,
Cambridgeshire.
Mr Copley retired 27
years ago after 21
years as head of the
school.
Before that, he was
senior modern languages
teacher.
A Yorkshireman, Mr
Copley was a Cambridge
graduate in
French and German
and when he retired,
he and his wife, Edna, '
went to live in Cambridge.
They spent much of
their time working for
an educational charity
and travelled extensively
in Venezuela on
educational projects.
As well as his wife,
I Mr Copley leaves two
sons.
The new Art Block, opened September 1996

EDITORIAL TEAM GROWS!
As the administrative work of the B.R.G.S. Association grows
three new editorial assistants have arrived. Amy, Suzie and
Catherine are all Year 10 (4th Year) pupils as well as being good
friends. It is quite likely that when you write to the B.R.G.S.
Association you will receive a reply from one of these girls. As
good friends I've asked them to introduce each other.
FROM LEFr TO RIGHT:
Suzanne Elkington, Amy Boyer, Catherine Hargreaves

Catherine by Suzie
Catherine Hargreaves is a very fun person to be with. She is a great friend and will listen
to anything you have to say.
In school" Catherine is very hard working and it pays off when she constantly gets high
marks. She regularly attends recorder group and choir, as she loves singing!
Out of school, she enjoys playing her flute and is part of the Rossendale Valley Sound.
Catherine has a brother called Philip and is the proud owner of a guinea pig! Also in
school, but out of school time, Catherine sings as part of the Britbeat Bootlegs, with her
form teacher, Mr. Jackson, as lead singer!
Every Sunday, Catherine goes to Kay Street Baptist Church and attends Y.P. that same
evening.
If you were to meet Catherine, you would know it was her, because she always has a
smile on her face!
Amy by Catherine
Amy is very popular although she says she isn't. The reason why people like her is that
you can talk to her about anything and you know your secret is safe with her.
Amy is very sporty and likes playing netball. She is devoted to her pet cat, called Skipper.
Skipper is ginger and white and enjoys a life of luxury when Amy is around.
She also has an older sister, Jennifer, who is at B.R.G.S. in the lower sixth.
Suzie by Amy
Suzanne Elkington (or Suzie as she likes to be known as, or Elkie as she is sometimes
known by some of her classmates as) is the daughter of, yes, you guessed it, Trevor
Elkington, the founder of the B.R.G.s. Association.
In some respects you could say that Suzie is very brave as she puts up with her dad at
school, at home and at church, as he runs some of the Youth Clubs there that Suzie
attends.
At school Suzie is quite quiet and is very hard working but at home she often gets into
arguments with her younger brother Robert, (don't we all), and is far from being quiet.
Suzie has a dog called Ben who she loves very much and she has even got a jumper with
Ben written on it and a picture of him. She is also quite a talented musician and she
plays the violin and piano. She is up to grade 5 on her violin. Suzie also attends the
recorder group at school and is part of the string group as well at school.
Suzie also attends Kay Street Baptist Church every Sunday and also goes to YP at church
on a Sunday evening and she also attends a Youth Club on Tuesday nights at church
called Kings Club. (How does she manage to fit it all in ?!)
Overall, she is very reliable and trustworthy and a really great friend to have!

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
I am an old student of B.R.G.S.(1938- 1946) and in fact returned to teach there for two years (
1956 - 1958). I have lived in Australia since 1970 but have recently visited the U.K.
I have very recently spent a few days with .MissConnie Dracup (teacher at B.R.G.S.for over 30
years) and have met her friend Miss Dorothy Chadwick and stayed in Bolton with my cousin
and his wife (Eileen Lord nee Kenyon also an old B.R.G.S.girl). As you can imagine I have been
hearing lots of news and reading the last 3 old students news magazines.
My sister - formerly Joan Farrow, also resident in Australia, was a pupil at B.R.G.S.and left at
Christmas 1949 (I think) to go to the Northern School of Music in Manchester.
Yours sincerely
DOROTHY J. FARROW
Dear Sir
My address in Australia is:
30 Colrene Drive
Nerang
Queensland 4211
Australia.
Anfield
21 Jardin De L'Epine
Collings Road
S1. Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 1TX
I thought you might like to be inform

Thanks to Rev. R. Rawlinson for this photograph. He is able to
identify Headmaster Mr. T.E. Jackson (back row, end left); Edgar Bentley
Lord (front row, 2nd from right) - his son, Phillip John Lord (B.R.G.S. c 1942)
gained a Dr. of Music from Manchester and Cambridge Universities and
subsequently became a lecturer at Aberdeen and Sheffield Universities. He
died just 38 years old and is currently remembered by the Memorial Prize
awarded each Speech Day.
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NEWCHURCH GR~1MAR £C'HOo.L.
MAY 1911.

Dear Sir
My letter relates to the photography 'Class of 1928' which appeared in Issue 3. I was
pleasantly surprised to see the photography, which I remember quite well - all the
faces are so very familiar but the caption contains one or two errors or omissions, some
of which I can put right.
I am in the centre of the middle row but what puzzles me is how the word 'MASTER'
should appear in brackets after my name. I know I was a big lad for my age (13 at the
time) but MasterYThat must have caused a big laugh amongst the surviving members
of the class when they saw it.
Actuallythe master was Mr. J.G. Austey. I don't remember him being nick-named "Joe
Bugs", we always called him "Pigeon" - why I haven't the faintest idea. He taught
maths to many classes. The girl sitting next to Ada Foulds is Mary Oldfield and the girl
next to her is Bella (not Bessie) Filling. Bessie Pilling was Harry Pilling's sister and was
a year or two older than us. I can't remember the name of the girl on the right of Joe
Anstey,I think she was a comparative newcomer to our class. I have a feeling that the
boy between Harry Filling and John Brown on the back row was called Bob Dyson, but
I may be wrong. I'm almost sure, however that the second from the end (middle row)
was called Bernard Clennill (not Gennell).
Mary Oldfield and Bella Pilling both came from Bacup and were great friends. These
were the days before school dinners and we used to go to various eating places near
the school. When we felt like being extravagant we would go to the Co-op Cafe at the
junction of Booth Road and Burnley Road. There we could get pie and chips for 6d
(rice pudding 2d), but Mary and Bella, being a bit more up-market, would often have
stewed steak - 10d (exorbitantT). Sometimes if we didn't wish to spend as much as 6d
on our lunch we would go to the chip shop further down Burnley Road and have fish
and chips - 4Yzd. That left us almost enough to go to the ice cream parlour (Johnnies) a
little further down the road and have a "two penny dash" (a dollop of ice cream with a
squirt of raspberry cordial).
Happy daysY
The Editor
Yours sincerely
FREDHUMBERSTON (1926 - 33)
Late 1938, if my memory is correct the fifth and sixth forms, were given the
opportunity of a trip to Switzerland/Germany in the summer of 1939. An all in cost of
seven pounds and ten shillings (for 10 days). At that time this was a considerable sum,
and very few of us had ever been abroad in those days.

I have often recalled this trip, mainly because it took place in June 1939, very close
indeed to the start of the 2nd world war; unfortunately I have never been able to recall
any of the other students who went. I only remember a Mr. Snowdon and Mr.
Hewshaw? who accompanied us, fairly new members of staff as I recall. I wonder if
there is anyone else with memories of this?
We travelled on some rather uncomfortable trains to our destination, but we were able
to hire pillows at various stations, which helped with the rather uncomfortable slatted
wooden seats.
Our destination was Ermajungen where we were based for 10 days, on the side of Lake
Constance and visited The Zurich Exhibition, and by cable car to Mount Sanjis.
I remember that 'Constance' itself seemed to be a hive of activity at that time, with a
profession of 'Heil Hitler' signs, decorating all the area, remains in my memory that we
were approached by a party of Hitler Youth, who gave us the Hitler Salute, of course
we did not respond (I'm not sure that we understood this at that time). However, they
became somewhat agitated, until our guide explained to them that we didn't
understand and they calmed down and moved away.
In later years, I realised how close we were to perhaps being caught up in the events
that transpired in September 1939.
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DONALD SHEPHERD 1935 - 40
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THE HISTORY OF NEW CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
1701 - 1913
BY
M.B. ORMEROD
(reproduced with permission)
The foundation of this school at the beginning of the eighteenth century did not occur in an
educational vacuum in Rossendale. In 1677 the parish registers record the death of Charles
Howorth, who is affectionately called ludimagister nosIer de Rossendale. This worthy had acted
as the 'parish register', i.e. the official elected by the chapelry to be responsible for the registration
dfbaptisms and marriages in the period of the commonwealth.
In 1692 the dissenting body from which the Baptists in Rossendale sprang erected a
schoolliousein Bacup, but little else is know of the school conducted there. In 1701 John Kershaw
of Wolfendenbooth Fold (i.e. the area around the 'Jolly Sailor' Inn) removed certain lands "lying in
Ye Healde and Old Meadows within Bacupboothe" from the hands of one set of trustees and
conveyedthem to another set of three trustees, who were to devote them "to the use and behoofe of
a master of a free school for ever, who is to teach ye English, Lattin and Greek tongues at
Wolfendenboothfouldin Rossendale and be qualified both in learning and good government and be
diligentto ye schools". A photograph of the deed is kept in the study of the present headmaster.
John Kershawalso left lands to be sold for the erections of the School -the lands in Bacup
beingirttendedto providean incomefor the master.These lands lyingalongthe east bank of the
Whitewellwere a collectionof fieldswhosenameshave a familiarring - the Sysse (Sissclough),
the Too Carc, the Gag Hill and the Mythe Holme - and it is pleasant to speculate how the
endowmentof the School would have increased in the nineteenth century if they had been retained
and the outlying farms in Bacup sold.
John Kershaw was buried on the 1st February 1701, aged 85 years, and -his wife An (sic)
on the 4th January 1709. On their tombstone at Newchurch is inscribed:
They lived long beloved
And dy'd bewailed
And two estates
Upon one school entail'd.

The Finances of the School
It is rather disappointing that the type of material which survives about a school is most
likely to be information of a somewhat legal nature and hence lacking in human interest.
One would have liked to know more about the curriculum and how the School was
conducted, but such information is totaUy for the eighteenth century. We can, however, infer the
sort of thing that went on from what is known of other local schools, such as Bumley Grammar
School. In these schools it was customary for the scholars to pay the master "cockpenny" on
Shrove Tuesday for the privilege of conducting a cockshy in the school yard - this brutal sport
consisted of throwing stones at a tethered cock, which had had some training in avoiding them. In
many schools there was also the custom of "barring out" the master on one day a year by the
pupils and, at Accrington, "smoaking" was encouraged in the hope of reducing the risk of smallpox
infection.
From the beginning the School, like many others, suffered from two handicaps: an
inadequate endowment and lack of successions amongst the trustees. The endowment was, from the
first, unfortunate. The trustees were unable to secure payment for the lands that Kershaw had
meant to be sold for the erection of a schoolhouse, since bankruptcy overtook the buyer before he
could pay, and the trustees were involved in litigation, which lasted until 1742, before they could
recover the money. For the first two years after An Kershaw's death, therefore, the trustees devoted
the income from the Bacup farms to the building of a schoolhouse, so that the School did not
actually open until 1711.
When the trustees did get the money, they loaned it out on the mortgage of a warehouse.
This mortgage failed and they were left with the warehouse. This they converted into cottages,
which they let out to rent.
In 1787 the trustees bought some land in Newchurch and erected a new school upon it at a
total cost of £163, raised by public subscription. They ~nverted the old schoolhouse in Boothfold
into cottages which were let. The rents from these properties were applied to the master's salary.
In 1828 lames Thomley, of Disley, left £100 to the School. This money, together with
subscriptions from others, was used to build a house for the master, but the house proved
unsuitable and was let, the rent going to augment the master's salary. In 1858 the Boothfold
cottages were sold for £56. This was applied to the alteration of the existing master's house at a
cost of £250, the balance being raised by public subscription again. All this solicitude for the
domestic comfort of the master in the nineteenth century is very touching. In 1880 the School's
building was evidently so unsuitable that the School was being conducted in Baltic House,
Waterfoot.
The last building to house the Newchurch Grammar School was erected in 1889 and is still
in existence, now being St. Peter's Primary School in Turnpike. This was extended in 1894, so that
by then it included a main schoolroom which could hold a hundred, classrooms, a Chemistry
laboratory, and a completely equipped gymnasium. The total cost was £3,500.
(part n of this history of Newchurch Grammar School will a~)pearin the next edition of the
B.R.G.S. Associate.).

ROLL OF HONOUR
After publishing the 1939-45 Roll of Honour in Newsletter No 3 we have received a
numberof letters giving information about some of the ex-pupils who gave their lives in the war
effort. The following is a start, please let us know if you can add anything further.
FULL LIST
Jack Ashworth
Kenneth Ashworth
Terence Ashworth
Tom Ashworth
Dorothy M. Burslem
Colin Butler
Trevor Carr
Herbert Cook
Stanley Counsell
Albert E. Davies
Frank Day
Max Disley
Jack Fenton
Albert Fox
WilliamGreen
Robert J Hardman
George Hargreaves
Ronald M Heyworth
Frank F Hicks
Herbert T Holme
Ronald Jackson
Earnest B Kershaw
Donald N Law
James Law
Jack Lees
Neville S Mitchell
John A Mochan
Malcolm Ord
Patrick Purcell
Leslie Rawson
Robert B Seddon
Alan R Taylor
John A Taylor
Arnold Turner
:tv1arshallWilding
Kenneth Williamson
Donald Windle
of Waterfoot
of Stacksteads
of Newchurch
of Stacksteads
of Stacksteads
of Bacup
of Rawtenstall
of Ramsbottom
of Stacksteads
of Rawtenstall
of Cloughfold
of Waterfoot
of Crawshawbooth
of Waterfoot
of Bacup
of Bacup
of Rawtenstall
of Waterfoot
of Stacksteads
of Rawtenstall
of Crawshawbooth
of Newchurch
of Shawforth
of Bacup
of Stacksteads
of Rawtenstall
of Bacup
of Rawtenstall
of Waterfoot
of Bacup
of Ra~1enstall
of Bacup
of Waterfoot
of Waterfoot
of Ctawshawbooth
of Waterfoot
of Waterfoot

INFORMATION
Dorothy M. Burslem lived in Heathhill Avenue, Stacksteads. She had a sister Phoebe who taught at
Tunstead C of E school. She went to Christchurch, Hampshire as a headmistress and had a brother, Bill.
Her father, Walter, was a foreman at Killholme. Dorothy was a nurse and was killed in an air raid on
Manchester. She had been home that day and returned for night duty when a bomb hit a place of work.
Colin Butler was one of the first pupils from Britannia to win scholarships to B.R.G.8. Colin's parents had
to struggle to meet the;~xtra costs involved in the scholarships but Colin repaid them by excelling at
B.R.G.8. and usually came in the top three. He got his matrix at fifteen and left to supplement the family
income by getting a job as a clerk in the Borough Treasurer's office. He continued his school studies at night
school and came top in the exams for the Lancashire and Cheshire area. In 1940 he volunteered to join the
Royal Air Force initially as a Wireless Operator but in 1941 he was accepted for training as a navigator. He
did his training in Canada and on his return he was posted to the Far East. In 1945 the Beaufighter which
he was flying crashed and caught fire on landing. His death was a great tragedy to his family because if he
had survived he would have passed his exams and achieved a very high position in his chosen profession of
municipal finance.
Albert Daviesand Frank Day were Air Force pilots who were killed in the Battle of Britain. (Frank Day
was remembered at school for his brilliance at maths).
Alfred (not Albert) Fox was an RAF aircrew navigator. He was killed on the 7th March 1944 near
aerodrome in Lincolnshire in an air accident. Polish pilot of flighter aircraft in collision with larger plane.
His name is in the RAF Roll of Honour in York Minister.
Robert Hardman - 'Bob' lived in Industrial Street Bacup and was a director at Hardman's Foundry, a
family business. He waS a well-known musician and keen member of the Bacup Ambulance Brigade and a
naval reserve. Re was 'called up' when war broke out, presumed lost on a ship transporting troops. Bob left
a wife and two children Cynthia and Douglas.
Frank F. Hicks went into the Treasurers office straight from school. In those days it was an ambition for
any parent for their son to get a job in the Treasurer's office. The initial pay was 15/- per week (75p)
although it doesn't sound much for the job had a pension with it: Shortly after the war started Frank
volunteered for training as an observer in the Fleet Air Arm. The observer flying school was situated on
south coast but following the blitz of the airfields during the Battle of Britain the navy decided to move the
whole school to Trinidad in the West Indies. Frank was on the second course to be sent to Trinidad,
unfortunately the convoy including the ship on which the course was taking passage suffered severe
casualties and the ship sunk with no survivors.
Ernest Kershaw was in the British Army before being taken prisoner of war in a Japanese prisoner of war
camp.
Neville S. Mitchell was killed in a flying accident in North America.
Johnny Mochan was in the RAF.
Malcolm arm was always known as George. He was in the RAF. When he was training as a pilot he
visited a friend and was astonished to find that an aircraftsman was only issued with a blanket and no
sheets.
Patrick Purcell was a member of a large family from Waterfoot. His father and later brother and sister
were all doctors. He won a place at Cambridge but was too young to go so he took a course in Manchester to
be a Radio Officer. From this he went into the Merchant Navy as a Radio Officer. Just before his 21st
birthday, his ship was sunk by a submarine in January 1942 on its way back from South Mrica. His father
was a doctor in Waterfoot. His brother Edward was also a doctor in Waterfoot. His sister Patricia Barnes
lives in Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall and another brother was a vet in Ilk1ey -now retired.
Robert Seddon is recorded in the War Memorial at Longholme Chapel, Rawtenstall.
Arnold Turner -parents owned newsagents in Waterfoot and was employed at Tattersall shoe and slipper
factory on Bacup Road. Associated with Bethel Baptist Church and member of the choir and involved in
amateur dramatics. Probably the first Rishton pilot from Waterfoot, he was believed to have crashed in to
the Channel in February 1941 aged 23.

LEAVERS DAY 1996
The now traditional fancy dress leavers day brought a
colourful array of costumes to adorn B.R.G.S. and the streets of
Waterfoot on May 15th 1996. Staff adopted a medieval theme,
whilst students turned up as jesters, rejects from Star Trek and
the customary pantomime horse ( or was it a cow? ). Scantily clad
females below collectively adopted a male fantasy theme -my, how
times are a changing! A very happy leavers day was followed
some days later by students and staff enjoying a meal and disco at
Scaithcliffe Hall in Todmorden. Goodbye 'Class of '89', we wish you
well.
Sixth
formers'
seven
year itch
MARILYN
Monroe-lookalike
Natasha Litwinenko
took centre stage when
these self-styled male
fantasy girls (their
description, not ours!)
sixth-formers said
their farewells at
Bacup and Rawtenstall
Grammar School.
In what has become
a traditional final fling,
the departing pupils let
their hair down for a
fancy dress dash
through the school.
And true to form,
they made sure that
the last day was one to
remember.
Staff joined in the
fun as well, dressing in
medieval costumes,
ranging from
princesses to knights.
Mr Trevor
Elkington, head of the
sixth form, became a
medieval peasant for
the day.
He said: "Although
the leavers were in
high spirits they were
all a credit to .
themselves and the
school."
I

ABOVE:
L to R Arfan Nazar;
Rachael McNulty; Imran Tabir;
Catherine Kitchen; Abdul Gani;
Terrie Heyworth
RIGHT:
Stephanie Harrison &
Matthew Bedford
LEAVERSDAY 1996

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CLARE CARiER ot Daffodil Close, Helmshore, has
been awarded a BSc honours degree at BoltOn
InstitUte.
Mrs Carter now plans to stUdYat teacher-training
college and Quality to become a primary school
teacher.
Wite ot David, she has titted-in her stUdies while
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Rebecca, 15. .
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S,TEPHENCraigOldfield gained afirstclassBEd
honours degree from Manchester Metropolitan
University and takes up his first teaching post at
Northern County Primary School
in September. - -,
He is the-son ofBrian ami Edna
Oldfield of FairfieldAve'riue,
Edgeside, ancl is married with a
one-year-old daughter.
Mr Oldfield (27), of laurel
Street, Bacup, is a keen amateur
naturalist whose hobbies include
writing and illustrating children's
books. He aims to become a -
successful children'sauthor and would like to go on to
take a Master's degree.
He was educated at Waterfoot Primary School,
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School and Burnley
College.
f Robe"t Clegg
BSc Ecol1o'," -
.EJONATHAN NO.RMAN has been awarded a
ISc hon.ours degree in medical science in cell and
!cular pathology from Birmingham University. In
:ember he starts a 12-month teacher-training
seat ManchesterUniversity. -
le (22) of Bridleway, Waterfoot, is the youngest
If Mrand Mrs R Norman, He attended Waterfoot
t and Junior School before going on to Bacup and
tenstall Grammar School.
\
'

UVIth 1994 -6 UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS
NAME UNIVERSITY CO URS E
KRISABBOTT WOLVERHAMPTON TOURlSM
DAVID ALLONBY MANCHESTERtv1ETRO I SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
AMBAREENARIF LEICESTER PHARMACEUTICAL/ COStv1ETIC SC
CATHERINE ASHTON CAMBRIDGE (Clare) NATURAL SCIENCES
DAMIANBELL STAFFORDSHIRE COMPUTER SCIENCE
KAREN BIRCH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGLISH/GERMAN
BEN BLOMERLEY SHEFFIELD CHEMISTRY
EMMA BRIDGER LONDON (Kings) RELIGIOUS STUDIES
MICHAEL BROWN HULL ECONOMI CS/GEOGRAPHY
MARKBURY CAMBRIDGE NATURAL SCIENCES
LORRAINE COCKRAM LANCASTER BIOCHEMISTRY
ANDREWCORMACK CHICHESTER INST of HE GEOGRAPHY
JON DOYLE LEEDS PHYSIOLOGY
NOVAKFARRINGTON LEEDS ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
SADIE FARRINGTON DURHAM JAPANESE/POLITICS
JOANNA FENNEY LEEDS tv1ETROPOLITAN EDUCATION
CHRISFORD WOLVERHAMPTON ENGLISH
ABDULGANI WOLVERHAMPTON GEOGRAPHY
SARAH GARBUTI YORK SOCIAL POLICY
PATRICK GOSS SHEFFIELD JOURNALISM
DARREN GRAY LEICESTER LAW
TAMARISK GRUMMITT MANCHESTER tv1ETROP GEOGRAPHY
CORRIE GUY SHEFFIELD HALLAM: ENGLISH/PSYCH
STEPHANIE HARRISON DE MONTFORT ENGLISH/HISTORY
LUCY HARfWELL
CLAlRE HEMSLEY NOTTINGHAM ANIMAL SCIENCE
NATASHA HORSFALL WORCESTER COLLEGE SOCIOLOGY/DRAMA
CLARE HOULISTON READING Atv1ERICANS TUDIES
STEVEN HOWORTH NORTHUMBRIA TRAVEL/TOURlSM
ANGELA HOYLE MANCHESTER SOCIOLOGY
CAROLINSLEY ST MARTINS LANCASTER ENGLISH/EDUCAnON
EMMA ISAACS LANCASTER LAW
BETHJACKSON LEEDS GEOGRAPHY/HISTORY
KARlNJOHNSON SHEFFIELD HALLAM PHYSICAL EDUCAnON
CATHERINELIVESEY LOUGHBOROUGH ENGL/HIST OF ART & DESIGN
DAYID McGUlNNESS LSE ECONOMICS
lAIN MEADOWS LANCASTER ENGINEERING
STUARTMILLS LEEDS METROPOLITAN SPORT & RECREATIONAL DEV
DONNAMULLIGAN MANCHESTER METROP EDUCAnON
ARFAN NAZAR HUDDERSFIELD CHEMISTRY
JOHN ORMEROD BIRMINGHAM SPORT & RECREATIONAL STUDIES
DAWN PHYTHIAN BANGOR BIOLOGY

NAME UNIVERSITY COURSE
SARAH REID LANCASTER PSYCHOLOGY
KELLY RESTON CENTRAL LANCASHIRE LANGUAGESrrOURISM
CATHERINE SAGAR SUNDERLAND
ANTONY SAUNDERS LANCASTER MATHEMATICS
SARAH SHEPHERD LANCASTER HISTORY
ABIGAIL SOWERBY COLLEGE OF RIPON & AMERICAN STUDIES
YORKSTJOHN
JAMES STUART NOTTINGHAM OMPUTER SCIENCE
IMRAN TAHIR ANGLIA PSYCH/COMPUTERS
MARTYN TAYLOR LEEDS PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PETER TAYLOR SHEFFIELD FRENCHlLINGUISTICS
SALLY TRIPPIER NOTTINGHAM LAW
BETHANY WALLER COLLEGE OF RIPON & THEOLOGY fEDUCATION
YORK ST JOffi.-.r
NICOLA WALMSLEY YEAR OUT
KATHRYN WALTON BANGOR UNIVERSITY ENGLISH LITERATURE
RACHEL WARING L/POOL JOHN MOORES HOME ECONOMICS
MARTIN WILKDl S L/POOL JOHN MOORES BIOLOGY fE}TVIR.ENGINEERING
PETER WILLIAMS KEELE AMERICAN STUDIES & POLmCS
ABBYGAIL WILLS LINCOLN TOURISM
HEYS WOLFENDEN L/POOL JOHN MOORES HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY
SARAH WRIGLEY ST. MARTINS LANCASTER BAQTS PRIMARY TEACHING
PAUL YOUNG UMIST MATHEMATICS
Between them these six happy students gained 25 'A:. grades,
helping the school to achieve a 1996 pass-rate of 89%, the second
highest in the history of the school.
1 I
~

NEWSDESK
. ARTISTwith glass:AlastairCarterand some of the fine examples of his work. (03847)
By fAN PILKlNGTON
STUDENTAlastair Carter has
a unique talent and a vision
that one day it will be
recognised across the
Atlantic .
The young man with an
eye for detail and-beauty has
already made an impression
with his work.
Alastair, 24, is a glass artist
with a difference, producing
stunning pieces which have
helped him secure a
first-class honours degree in
3-Ddesign.
What the former Bacup
and Rawtenstall Grammar
School pupil does is complex
and time-consuming, but the
end result is worth the effort
Student reflects on 3-D talent
that could earn him a fortune
and the wait.
It involves sandblasting, or
drilling, layer after layer of
glass and then fusing them
together in a kiln to form a
block with a shape or figure
suspended inside. It can take
up to two weeks to create one
masterpiece.
The next process is to
create functional
masterpieces: candlesticks,
lamps or perfume bottles are
on his list.
Alastair, of Oaklands
Drive, Rawtenstall, has just
Ilollers10pull for more glory
wo young golf fanatics swung
Ilto action to taKe some of the top
onours at a m8,ior championlips.
And Nick Kennedy and Rob
atcliffe are now on par for big
rizesafter beating some ofLanc"
Ihire's best in the East Lancalire
Schools Championships.
...
Both !6-year-olds are pupils at
Bacup and RawtenstalI Grammar
School and did well to flnish in
second place, out of 45 teams.
When they returned to school
with their prize, Nick (pictured
left) and Rob teed-off with a btg-.
ger "b all" on th e school ste
.
(P9958)
.
. . ..2~ .
PS . ;1
r~ed from a successful
exhibition at the Design
Centre, London, where his
work was acclaimed. His
success there could lead to
bigger and better things.
Next month, he will be off
to the University of Central
Lancashire to study for an
MA degree course and that
will probably involve a year's
study in America.
At the end of it, he intends
to become a freelance glass -
designer with his own
business.
"I don't really know how it
all started," he said. "I
started off gla8s blowing but
thought I would be more
adventurous to try something
different.
. "It did take a few tries
before I achieved what I
wanted, and I still think I can
improve."
Some of his work is
currently on show in an
exhibition at Gawthorpe Hall,
Padiham, which runs until!
September.

. ARTISTwith glass:AlastairCartenrndsome of the fine examples of his work. (Q3841)
By !AN PILKlNGTON
STUDENT Alastair Carter has
a unique talent and a vision
that one day it will be
recognised across the
Atlantic.
The young man with an
eye for detail and-beauty has
already made an impression
with his work.
Alastair, 24, is a glass artist
with a difference, producing
stunning pieces which have
helped him secure a
first-class honours degree in
3-Ddesign.
What the former Bacup
and Rawtenstall Grammar
Schoolpupil does is complex
and time-consuming, but the
end result is worth the effort
Student reflects on 3-D talent
that could earn him a fortune
and the wait.
It involves sandblasting, or
drilling, layer after layer of
glass and then fusing them
together in a kiln to form a
block with a shape or figure
suspended inside. It can take
up to two weeks to create one
masterpiece.
The next process is to
create functional
masterpieces: candlesticks,
lamps or perfume bottles are
on his list.
Alastair, ofOaklands
Drive, Rawtenstall, has just
reiurned from a successful
exhibition at the Design
Centre, London, where his
work was acclaimed. His
success there could lead to
bigger and better things.
Next month, he will be off
to the University of Central
Lancashire to study for an
MA degree course and that
will probably involve a year's
study in America.
At the end of it, he intends
to become a freelance glass -
designer with his own
business.
"I don't really know how it
all started," he said. "I
started off gla8s blowing but
thought 1would be more
adventurous to try something
different.
"It did take a few tries
before 1achieved what 1
wanted, and 1 still think 1can
improve."
Some of his work is
currently on show in an
exhibition at Gawthorpe Hall,
Padiham, which runs until!
September.

. FINGER on the trigger... Maurice Rawstron tests his shootiiiiT
skills.
.THE drawing finger which once
steered pencils and paint
brushes became a trigger finger
for Maurice Rawstron (22) when
he joined an army spearhead
regiment - the Paras.
For the Lumb lad who also studied
music has swapped soaring
notes for dropping zones with the
crack 1st Battalion the Parachute
Regiment.
His association with music lingers
on. He is at present 4,500miles from
his Aldershot base in the Pacific
Northwest of America taking part in
tough six week war games - Exercise
Trumpet Dance.
The new recruit to 1 Para was
thrilled that his first military exercise
with 700 fighting men would
take him 10 the wilderness around
Fort Lewis, Seattle.
. Thelong hikes areall part of becoming asoldier.
The exercise is designed to test
every aspect of their weapons in different
terrains, culminatil)g with a
dramatic live-fire battle in the Cascade
Mountains and the upland desert
ofYakima in Washington state.
Like his comrades, Private Maurice
had to reach peak fitness to
tackle an American assault course.
He said: "It is certainly the most
challenging course I have ever done,
but it makes it easier if you think of
it as a big grown-ups adventure
playground.
"I enjoy parachuting and one day
hope to join the Pathfinders platoon
which is the elite of the elite."
Maurice enjoys playing the guitar.
He will get four days leave in
Seattle from where he aimed to
write to his parents, Michael and
Joan Rawstron,in Ros~~nd~ I
i
.~-
.-;
~
Maurice Rawstron
(1986 -94)
"".'.
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,...,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,."""""""""""""""""""".'."'.'.'.'.'"""""""""""""""""""""""""'
"".,.,.,.,.",.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.",.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
. Members of the battalion areput through their paces at Fo
Lewis. .
---'-'
8

HISTORY MODELS - still going strong in 1996, but
when did it begin?
Model pupils in Roman
timewarp
LIFE in the days when the Romans ruled were
brought back to life by young pupils at Bacup and
Rawtenstall Grammar School.
The annual history models- exhibition featured
everything from Roman aqueducts
to mosaics and tapestries-
Some of the 150 youngsters
even turned their attentions to
medieval times, the Norman
Conquest and the murder of
Thomas Becket.
The pupils had four months
to prepare the models and Mrs
Sandra Holt, the head of his-
tory, said: "We are no longer
surprised by the imagination,
enthusiasm and the high standards
displayed by the pupils.
"Clearly a lot of thought, time
and care has gone into making
many of these exhibits and all
those who took part deserve a
lot of credit. ..
Parents who visited theexhibition
were also impressed by
the high standard.
Headteacher Martyn Morris
said: "This is a great tradition
of BRGS and I am sure that
both parents and pupils enjoy
the challenge."
. MODEL pupils
Daniel Bower, Lauren
Mannion, Rachel
Whittaker and Philip
Hargreaves with some
of their own work.
(Q2705)
A delight to thousands of BRGS pupils, if not to their parents,
we would like to track down the history of the History l\10dels
Exhibition. Please let us know if this BRGS tradition existed in
your day and, if so, what did you make?

ORIENTEERING - BRGS' "NEW" SPORT
Pupils choose correct
route for more glory
ORIENTEERING at Bacup and
Rawtenstall Grammar School is
becoming almost as popular as
soccer, cricket and rugby.
Under the guidance of schoolteacher
Tom Gray, BRGS has made
great strides in the sport over the
past two years.
Notable success was achieved at
the British Schools Championships
in Northumberland where BRGS
picked up three silver medals in the
team competition while Catherine
Ashton had a bronze in the individual
event. I
Mr Gray said: "It was a fine performance
and we did extremely well
to finish sixth overall."
Alexis Knight, Becky Clayton and
Elizabeth-were second in the underl2's
girls event, Catherine Ashton,
Helen Ashton and Jocelyn Masser
were runners-up in the under-17's
girls while Chris Edwards, Mark
Ashton and Michael Winnick were
second in the boys under-13's.
Several pupils at the school are
keen to take up the sport having
their first taste of orienteering in
the Lancashire League.
The school is also hosting the
Lancashire Schools Championships
at Moses Gate, near Bolton this
April.
But Mr Gray hopes to see more
people taking part in orienteering in
Rossendale. I
Mr Gray said: "I would like to see
some permanent orienteering
courses established in the Rossendale
Valley. I believe one could be
established in Staghills Woods,
Staghills that would be suitable for
school events.
"Also I would like to see other
schools in the area take up orienteering.
..
Mr Gray believes that orienteering
skills can be very handy when
people venture out on to the hills.
He said: "It makes sure they are
competent with a map and compass.
Basically orienteering is competitive
navigation on foot where competitors
find their way as quickly as
they can between given points,
using their skill to choose the best
route. "
~ ON THE RIGHTCOURSE: Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School's orienteering team -
hack row from left to right Mark Ashton, Catherine Ashton, Jocelyn Masse" Helen Ashton.
( ' Alesl. Knlgh~-CIa~on, "lchaeI.wlnnlck, Ellzabe'h DIsney, Chri. Edw""'..

Ex-Pupil's Wembley Dream
by Amy Boyer
Ex-pupil of B.R.G.S. , Carlo Nash hoped to make it big at Wembley. Nash used to be the
goalkeeper for Rossendale United Football Club but moved on to Clitheroe a while ago. Nash who
is 23 years old work as a sales manager at FH Brown in Burnley.
On Saturday 23rd March 1996 the team played in the FA Vase Semi-Final and they won
the match and therefore Qualified for the final which was to be held at Wembley Stadium. They
had their doubts about the match but Nash insisted they just had to play like they did in the Semi-
Final against Mangotsfield.
When they arrived at Wembley just 24 hours after Manchester United had achieved the
historic double double Nash thought their team was in luck, especially when they were given the
same dressing room as Manchester United.
He said it was like a dream come true. Before the match they went out onto the field to
wave to the crowds. They were given VIP treatment Nash said.
Clitheroe were to play Brigg Town another non-league team. With high hopes both teams
went onto the field for the start of the match.
Unfortunately 90 minutes later Nash's dream had turned into a nightmare. Clitheroe lost
3 - 0 to Brigg Town, he and his were devastated.
Even though Clitheroe did lose Nash said he was still pleased with her persona;
performance. He has now signed a new 2 year contract with Crystal Palace and we wish him all
the best!
Carlo's sister, Anna, who goes to B.R.G.S. at the moment and is in the Sixth Form said
that she ands her family are really proud of Carlo but because he is away so much they also miss
him lots!
We will keep our readers informed of Carlo's progress.
.,
;..
"

LIZ - HOSPICE CHAMPION
Whilst at B.R.C.8 Liz Ratcliffe (1984 - 91) gained a reputation for being an
exceptionally gifted organiser. Well-organised, ruthlessly determined and firmly
courteous, Liz always achieved her aims. Now 'our Liz' has a new challenge - raising
funds for our much needs Rossendale Hospice.
£400,000 hospice
challenge for
charity cha.mpion
A CHAMPION charity cashraiser
has been appointed
full-time appeals director as
Rossendale Hospice nears its
December completion.
The dual role of Hospice administrator
and moneyspinner goes to Liz
RatclitIe (22) who will mount a drive
to coin in £400,000 needed to meet
running costs and a revamp of the
premises.
Cribden House and the Bungalow
in Rossendale General Hospital will
be merged at. Christmas into day
care and five-bed units which will
cost £7,500 a week to run.
It is a challenge which Liz, who in
four years personally raised £8,000
for other charities, and a further
£60,000in her last job, says she will
relish.
She lives in Bacup, has a university
degree in history and librarianship
and is also studying for her
Master's in Medieval Welsh History.
Liz said: "To raise huge sums of
money, the hospice has to have
someone working on a full-time
basis. Rossendale is only a small
community and we will have to
attract money from outside sources
as well. .
. Liz RBtcliffe: New challenge.
"I have jumped in at the deep end
but I have ideas. The hospice in
Rossendale is a good cause, a place
where patients can be cared for all
the way through after diagnosis.
"My job will also be to raise its
awarene'ss in the Valley and advise
the public about what we have to
offer."
A series of meetings for would-be
volunteers will be held at 7pm.at the
hospice in Rossendale General Hospital
on Thursday 23 (for Rawtenstall),
Wednesday 29 May (Bacup)
and Thursday 30 May (Haslingden).
. Liz was educated at BRGS and
can be contacted on 229854.
If you would like to make a donation to the Rossendale Hospice Appeal you can do so via
B.R.C.8. with gifts marked "Rossendale Hospice".

tJjrtor-Z
::r(J~c.oo
~(t)~~et:>~
(J """'(J01
!r

~TAI=I=INGCJ-{ANG~
_Last term we said goodbye to:
Mr Payne
Mrs McRobert
Mrs Travis
Mr Butler
Mrs Prince
Mrs Pickup
Miss Smith
Mr. Smith
We welcome this term:
in the maths department for 29 years!
also taught maths - 18 years at BRGS
a popular member of the chemistry department - with us for
16 years (and for 7 years as a pupiln
our finance manager .
who taught psychology in the sixth form and has now
moved to Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
music, but who will still visit us twice a week to continue
teaching General Studies
who has taken up a research appointment at Lancaster
University
our very musical lab technician
IntG the maths department, Mrs Kennedy (who has come- to us from Fearns), Mr.
Stansfield (from CRGS) and Miss Barker, who has been teaching in Wolverhampton.
Into the science department we welcome Mr. Haworth (from All Saints) and Dr.
Stewart (UMIST), Mr. Seymour (University of Durham) to teach music and Mr.
Sautejeau (a real Frenchman) as finance manager.
We wish them all a happy and successful stay at BRGS.
Mrs Chapman's maternity leave began at the end of last term, and baby Thomas was
born a fortnight ago. We send our good wishes and congratulations to all three of
them.
In Mrs Chapman's place we welcome back Mr. Lucas, an old friend of ERGS who has
quickly settled in again.
Healey -Chew
Picture: Trevor Adams
Photography, Accrington
ITALY was the honeymoon destination
for childhood sweethearts Undsay
Jane Chew and Andrew Healey
after their wedding at St Paul's
Church, Constablelee.
In a ceremony led by the Rev
Peter Heywood, the bride was
attended by matron of honour Sine'
Coolman (bride's sister) and bridesmaids
Rebecca Woods and Siobhan
O'Leary.
Best man was Kiru Rajasingam
and groomsmen and ushers were
Step hen Fidler, James Healey
(groom's brother), Robert Healey
(groom's brother), and Sam Chew
(bride's brother).
The couple, who work in engineering,
were featured in the Free
Press in 1992 getting their A-level
results together.
The reception was held at the
Grant Arms Hotel, Ramsbottom,
and the couple will live in Yeovil,
Somerset.
.~-'-- - ------
The Association extends its l
warmest congratulations to the
latest "ERGS Couple". Lindsay
and Andrew were both at
ERGS from 1986-92 and are
now working for Westland
Helicopters in Yeovil.
1