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OLs go back to school for a day

Wednesday 6 May 2015

WEB Peter Jolly at Back to School day

Old boys took a trip down memory lane when they went back to school for a day at Moorland Road.

Around 100 OLs, who had attended Leeds Grammar School from the 1940s to the 2000s, re-lived a typical school day, including assembly, the school song, a ticking off from Peter Jolly for being late, lessons with their old teachers, a prize-giving for the best and worst performers – and green custard for lunch!

The event took place in the former LGS buildings, now Leeds University Business School, and OLs had travelled from far and wide to be there including Andrew Greenwood (OL76) from Sweden and Richard Naylor (OL90), who had flown 6,000 miles from Manila.

The day started with the ringing of the school bell to summon everyone to a typical assembly taken by Peter Jolly. After the school song Carmen Leodense, there was an entertaining demonstration of a gyroscope by Peter and some volunteer OLs, plus a moral message (as was the custom). The assembly ended with Peter’s rendition of the Tennyson poem Lady Godiva and then it was off to ‘lessons’.

Teachers on the day were Tony Wightman, former head of geography, now retired; John Davies, retired Junior School deputy head, now GSAL archivist; Roy Leinster, retired economics and business studies teacher; Steve Field, retired deputy head and Paul Lunn, current deputy head at GSAL.

There was also a chance to tour the old school buildings and attend a talk on the history of the school by John Davies.

So how did it feel going back to school? A selection of comments from the day suggested that it brought back many happy memories.

Very many thanks for such a splendid day yesterday. Peter ringing that bell took us all back to our school years! What a joy to see so many pupils and staff and I am sure that we all feel justifiably proud and very fortunate to have been to such a fine school.” Nigel West (OL78).

“A great chance to see some familiar faces, reminisce about old times and find out what everyone is up to now – as well as to give PJ another opportunity to confirm his ‘living legend’ status which I am sure he enjoyed delivering as much as we did viewing.” Grenville Allman (OL90).

“Just to say how brilliant the event on Saturday was.  It brought back almost too many memories. I would not have missed the opportunity to return for anything.” Jonathan Mortimer (OL87).

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