Product Information
The opening of the Percy Jackson Grammar School in September 1939 coincided with the onset of World War II, an ominous start for the life of his old school, which the author chronicles in this 'informal' history. It was a coeducational school (boys and girls) and with a light touch he considers whether school days are indeed the 'best days of your life'. He draws upon abundant recollections from former pupils, many of whom, like him, were the children of mining families and the first generation to attend grammar school. The first head, Mr Field, with the responsibility of establishing the new school, had to cope with the complications of a world war whilst his pupils decorated their gas marks and speculated on a romance between their teacher and the captain of a battleship. His successor, 'Chas' Elliott, was obliged to cram sardines into prefabricated buildings and to worry about high wages and rock n' roll diverting pupils from staying on in the sixth form. And the last head, John Atherford, was daring to impose the comprehensive system on the more privileged, more upfront generation of the Baby Boomers. Topics covered include war-time evacuee children, the school visit to the Festival of Britain in 1951, the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II, reactions to the conversion of the school into a comprehensive, a look at the social and cultural circumstances of the era, as well as the achievements of some of the school's alumni - from scientists to bandmasters, to an Olympic cyclist. This history is faithful to the facts and true to the sentiments.Product Identifiers
PublisherTroubador Publishing
ISBN-139781848764606
eBay Product ID (ePID)93317650
Product Key Features
Book TitlePercy Jackson's: History of the Percy Jackson Grammar School 1939-1968
AuthorKen Cooke
FormatHardcover
LanguageEnglish
TopicLocal History
Publication Year2010
Dimensions
Item Height234mm
Item Width156mm
Additional Product Features
Title_AuthorKen Cooke
Country/Region of ManufactureUnited Kingdom