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Brian "Abo" Jones
For those of you who remember "Abo" who attended G.P. from 1955 to 1960, there is a chance to meet up with him again at this year's Golf Day and Re-Union Dinner. He now lives in Spain but, on receiving his invitation, immediately booked his flight! That shows how much the OWs mean to some people. We hope that many others will follow his example and make an effort to attend.
The Renegades
I know that it is hard to believe but May 4th will see the FIFTIETH anniversary of The Renegades' first "gig". This was at Meadowslea Hospital, Penyffordd, where the band were playing in a concert arranged by "Toc H".
Dr. Mervyn Bull 1915 - 2008
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Mervyn Bull who died on November 19th in Llangollen Hospital. Although born in Plymouth he was brought up in Wrexham. After leaving Grove Park he went to Liverpool University to read medicine. He served with the R.A.M.C. in the war being stationed, mostly, in India. Post-war, after briefly working in Birkenhead, he took up practice in St. George's Crescent, where he was a hard working and very much appreciated G.P. as I can, personally, testify.
We have much for which to thank Mervyn Bull , as he was one of the founders of The Old Wrxhamians Association and was, for many years, its chairman. It was the efforts of Mervyn and his colleagues which resulted in the building of the pavilion on the "Nine Acre" in 1960.
Our sincere condolences go to his family and friends, especially his son, Dr. Peter Bull.
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We are indebted to Wendy Preston who sent these items which relate to her father and grandfather (both named Robert Roberts!):
One dignitary the Wrexham Leader failed to spot was the tall fellow in the back row. However, they were not to know that Martin Thomas would become Lord Thomas, Q.C.
Now the question which needs to be asked is: "Should we re-instigate an annual Old Wrexhamians's Dinner?" Your views would be appreciated.
We are considering publishing an occasional newsletter, via e-mail. If you would like to be a recipient please send an e-mail to: [email protected] In order to test the viability of a newsletter we would welcome any suitable items whether they be: news: anecdotes: obituaries (sadly): memories: information on "missing" people etc.
October 2008: I received, this week, an e-mail from the daughter of an Old Wrexhamian. I make no apologies for re-printing it in full. For me the last paragraph sums up precisely what Grove Park means to most of us. With it came a photograph which I also re-print.-
"My mother, Irene Dennis, nee Prydderch, died on Saturday 27th Sep 2008 after a long illness, in Welshpool Hospital. She was an old girl of Grove Park School and I would like her memory honoured in some way.
Irene was born in the Ffrwd, daughter of a miner firstly at Gresford Colliery and then at Llay Main Colliery, one of seven children with no running water, it being brought from a well.
She was born on 16 Sept 1921 and attended Abermorddu Primary school where she was taught by a gifted teacher. One of her classmates was David Lord V.C. ( I took my mother to Arnhem cemetery, some time ago, to see his grave)
My mother was a brilliant student from a poor background and she passed the scholarship for Grammar School. Her father, Bill Prydderch, supported education for girls but because he did not have the bus fare to Wrexham she had to walk from Ffrwd to the "top road” at Cefn-y-Bedd because it was a penny cheaper! Can you imagine a child doing that today? She also had to walk home from there in all weathers, summer and winter.
She wanted to be a Doctor but it was made clear to her that at that time a woman from a poor background could not enter medical school despite being very clever. She therefore became, after three years study, a State Registered Nurse, working in Newcastle, Wrexham, Liverpool, and then back to Wales at Meadowslea Hospital where she was a Staff Sister.
She was widowed at 43 , never re-married and brought up four children , all with a massive emphasis on education.
Grove Park should be extremely proud of nurturing this wonderful, proud and intelligent woman. She constantly mentioned her Grammar School Education , not in a superior way but with gratitude for the opportunities it gave her. Please ask old girls to remember her".
Grove Park Girls' School, Form V, November 1937.
From left, back row: Audrey Barratt, Margaret Price, Melza Davies, Moira Griffiths, Mary Roberts, Muriel Ellis, Peggy Bernard.
Third row: Mary John, Ethel Stuart, Mary Quick, Rosina Jones, Dorothy Williams, Elsie Pierce, Betty Williams.
Second row: Vivien Roberts, Megan Roberts, Betty Thomas, Peggy Williams, Beryl Roberts, Betty Jones, Irene Taylor.
Front row: Lydia Harding, Irene Prydderch, Enid Jones.
May 2008: Grove Park mentioned on "Sounds of the Sixties"!
On Saturday 19th May, Grove Park was mentioned by Brian Mathew. A request was sent in, by Roy McMahon, for the 40th wedding anniversary of Kevin Hughes and his wife, Rhona. Roy had written to Brian explaining how The Renegades was formed by friends at Grove Park in 1959 and how, later that year, they had entered a competition at The Soho Fair, in London. The competition was won by Emile Ford & The Checkmates singing "What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For". They were signed up by Pye Records and the song released as their first single. It went to the top of the charts in December and stayed there until January, making it the first number one of the sixties!
The version that you are hearing is by Roy McMahon.
April 2008 : Destruction at its worst!
Wrexham County Borough Council are, it appears, pressing ahead with plans to demolish the Girl's School. Having made a complete hash of the "Super-School" idea by housing it at St. David's High School, where the 1950's buildings required many more millions spent on them than was anticipated, they now want to recoup some of the huge losses by selling the Chester Road/Powell Road site for building. Compare this attitude to that of the enlightened councillors of St. Helens where they have turned the former Cowley Girl's Grammar School building into much sought-after luxury apartments, and, in doing so, maintained the external appearance in its original form.
March 2008: Grove Park Girls in London - the year of '55
At the September Lion Quays lunch *, now a regular feature in the diaries of Wrexham based 'Old Girls', it was suggested that those living in the south east could meet up in London. As a result a group met for a very long lunch in November at the National Portrait Gallery Trafalgar Square. We all had such a good time that a second date was put in the diaries - Wednesday 16 April - lunch and maybe a theatre matinee have been proposed but details have yet to be finalised.
So far the following have joined the group - Jean Payne (Tilston), Ruth Lamb-Hughes (Mills), Ann Fisher (Kendrick), Christine Vaughan-Jones (Edwards), Meryl Scott (Jones), Norma Bethell (Kenyon) and Helen Botfield (Marwood). Ruth Pickworth (Hamlet) and Olwen Williams (Davies) were unable to make the date. It would be good to hear from other old school friends now living in the south east. Please contact Ruth Lamb-Hughes ([email protected]) or Helen Botfield ([email protected]) if you would like to hear more about future plans.