'A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing is a very great thing'
Early 1870's when the school was the Boys Grammar School
The school was built originally for a Boys Grammar School in Trafalgar Road; the corner stone of which was laid by the Mayor on 28th August,1869. It was officially opened by Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, on 6th June 1872. He stayed at Shadingfield Lodge.
On 21st September 1910, the Boys Grammar School building became the Girls High School and continued until 1957 when the new High School for girls opened in Gorleston.
The Building continued as Styles Secondary Modern School until 1982 when it closed down, and in 1983 it was demolished completely to build flats.
Information taken from "A Diary of Great Yarmouth" by John McBride.
On 21st September 1910, the Boys Grammar School building became the Girls High School and continued until 1957 when the new High School for girls opened in Gorleston.
The Building continued as Styles Secondary Modern School until 1982 when it closed down, and in 1983 it was demolished completely to build flats.
Information taken from "A Diary of Great Yarmouth" by John McBride.
Great Yarmouth High School for Girls
An outstanding feature of school life from 1960 onward was the development of drama, and this was owed entirely to the talent and energy of Miss Jeannie Robertson. Miss Robertson was a young science teacher, but her passion was the theatre. It seemed that nothing daunted her. She produced a highly professional school play each autumn term, arranging a detailed schedule for lunch-time and after-school rehearsals, then full-scale rehearsals on Friday evenings, where everyone brought sandwiches to the cookery room and drank tea to keep them going. Other teachers and pupils were conscripted to create sets and costumes, to take charge of music, and lighting, and ticket sales for performance in early December.
Knowing how difficult it is for girls to convince in male roles in modern dress, Miss Robertson chose very challenging pieces either written or set in times past, and included some European writers. The school plays, from 1960, were Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’; Anouilh’s ‘The Lark’; ‘Mary Stuart’ by Schiller; ‘As You Like It,’ Shakespeare again; ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ by Carlo Goldoni; Ondine by Jean Giraudoux. In 1968, there was even a joint production with the boys’ Grammar School of Thornton Wilder’s play ‘Our Town’, which was performed twice at Lynn Grove and twice in Yarmouth.
Through the 1960s Miss Robertson also organised an annual Inter-House drama competition. A producer was appointed from the lower-sixth in each House, and this girl chose from a selected list of options: short plays or extracts from full-length plays. Then began the task of auditioning and rehearsing a cast, and managing all the elements of a performance. There was so much to learn, not least problem-solving and leadership. The competition was played out over one day before the whole school and a guest judge. It was a day of great excitement, and every girl in the school was exposed to plays and playwrights they would never have known of otherwise. Individual pupils were also entered into the annual Norfolk verse-speaking festival at the Assembly Rooms in Norwich, and one was chosen to represent GYHS in the county’s yearly Shakespeare competition, involving a dramatic piece and recitation of a sonnet.
As if that were not enough to organise, we were also taken regularly to the Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich, and one year by train and coach to Stratford-upon-Avon to see the RSC in a memorable performance of Henry IV part 1.
Being involved in full scale productions, especially the commitment and teamwork they required, and the learning this involved, was a huge privilege. Similarly having the chance to take part in competitions and take speech and drama exams. A handful of girls went on to study drama in higher education.
After Miss Robertson left the school she returned to judge the Inter-House drama in 1969.
Judith Condon
An outstanding feature of school life from 1960 onward was the development of drama, and this was owed entirely to the talent and energy of Miss Jeannie Robertson. Miss Robertson was a young science teacher, but her passion was the theatre. It seemed that nothing daunted her. She produced a highly professional school play each autumn term, arranging a detailed schedule for lunch-time and after-school rehearsals, then full-scale rehearsals on Friday evenings, where everyone brought sandwiches to the cookery room and drank tea to keep them going. Other teachers and pupils were conscripted to create sets and costumes, to take charge of music, and lighting, and ticket sales for performance in early December.
Knowing how difficult it is for girls to convince in male roles in modern dress, Miss Robertson chose very challenging pieces either written or set in times past, and included some European writers. The school plays, from 1960, were Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’; Anouilh’s ‘The Lark’; ‘Mary Stuart’ by Schiller; ‘As You Like It,’ Shakespeare again; ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ by Carlo Goldoni; Ondine by Jean Giraudoux. In 1968, there was even a joint production with the boys’ Grammar School of Thornton Wilder’s play ‘Our Town’, which was performed twice at Lynn Grove and twice in Yarmouth.
Through the 1960s Miss Robertson also organised an annual Inter-House drama competition. A producer was appointed from the lower-sixth in each House, and this girl chose from a selected list of options: short plays or extracts from full-length plays. Then began the task of auditioning and rehearsing a cast, and managing all the elements of a performance. There was so much to learn, not least problem-solving and leadership. The competition was played out over one day before the whole school and a guest judge. It was a day of great excitement, and every girl in the school was exposed to plays and playwrights they would never have known of otherwise. Individual pupils were also entered into the annual Norfolk verse-speaking festival at the Assembly Rooms in Norwich, and one was chosen to represent GYHS in the county’s yearly Shakespeare competition, involving a dramatic piece and recitation of a sonnet.
As if that were not enough to organise, we were also taken regularly to the Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich, and one year by train and coach to Stratford-upon-Avon to see the RSC in a memorable performance of Henry IV part 1.
Being involved in full scale productions, especially the commitment and teamwork they required, and the learning this involved, was a huge privilege. Similarly having the chance to take part in competitions and take speech and drama exams. A handful of girls went on to study drama in higher education.
After Miss Robertson left the school she returned to judge the Inter-House drama in 1969.
Judith Condon
We would be very grateful to get hold of any photographs of the productions mention above
Roma Zierler (Nee Cooke) remembers Miss Robertson well. She sent this to us;
Please can you thank Judith Condon for the piece she wrote about Miss Robertson. It brought back a lot of happy memories and I would like to share them. I have always felt that I had a lot to thank her for ---- I really regret that I never did.
My years at school were 1956-1963. I had one year in the old building and the rest at Lynn Grove. Miss Robertson arrived when we moved in 1957, we had her for one year for General Science and jolly good she was too ----- experiments turning sugar into lumps of carbon and making a battery using potatoes ----- exciting, and the only year I got an A for science. In my mind she was the best sort of teacher, you certainly did as you were told but she could be a lot of fun too.
It was Drama though that I best remember her for, “ The Taming Of The Shrew” was the first Shakespeare play I ever saw. Linda Traill was Petruchio and Maureen Jones was Sly, it made such an impression, like a window opening on a new world. All the productions that were put on whilst I was there were memorable, I think I remember Shaw’s “Arms And The Man” too.
The House Drama Competition was a high spot of the year. I was Sandra Clay’s general factotum/stage manager when we did it In the Lower V1th for Ferrier, I don’t remember the name of the play but the whole experience was great fun.
I was lucky enough to be one of the girls along with Corinne Haylett and Lesley King who took part in the Verse Speaking Festival at Norwich Assembly Rooms. Sonnet 60 and a speech from “The Lady’s Not For Burning” were my offerings. John Laurie (Private Fraser from Dad’s Army) was the judge. I kept the critique he wrote for years but can’t find it now. It was terrifying but worth it, I have never been so scared. Valerie Woods from the year above us gave a breath taking performance of Lady Anne’s speech Act 1 Scene11 (I just looked it up) from Richard 111rd --- yes it was that good, I still remember it.
When I was in the 6th form we went to see Brecht’s “Mother Courage”, Arnold Wesker’s “Roots” and “Romeo and Juliet” at the Maddermarket. Ballet Rambert twice ----- “La Boutique Fantasque” and “Coppelia”------ and “Macbeth” at the Theatre Royal, and those are just the ones I can remember. The coach journey and tea and biscuits in the interval at the Maddermarket were memorable too. It was more than just about the culture, it was a social event and being shown what was out there to enjoy. Gorleston was a magical place to grow up in but apart from The Floral Hall and the occasional trip to a summer show, there wasn’t a great deal going on, so this was all heady stuff.
Generally speaking I was very happy at the High School, Miss Robertson was the source of a lot of my best memories, I certainly appreciated it all.
I live in London, I have been to a few lunches but am not able to get up there as much as I would like to. They are always enjoyable.
Kind Regards
Roma Zierler (nee Cooke).
April 16th 2020
Please can you thank Judith Condon for the piece she wrote about Miss Robertson. It brought back a lot of happy memories and I would like to share them. I have always felt that I had a lot to thank her for ---- I really regret that I never did.
My years at school were 1956-1963. I had one year in the old building and the rest at Lynn Grove. Miss Robertson arrived when we moved in 1957, we had her for one year for General Science and jolly good she was too ----- experiments turning sugar into lumps of carbon and making a battery using potatoes ----- exciting, and the only year I got an A for science. In my mind she was the best sort of teacher, you certainly did as you were told but she could be a lot of fun too.
It was Drama though that I best remember her for, “ The Taming Of The Shrew” was the first Shakespeare play I ever saw. Linda Traill was Petruchio and Maureen Jones was Sly, it made such an impression, like a window opening on a new world. All the productions that were put on whilst I was there were memorable, I think I remember Shaw’s “Arms And The Man” too.
The House Drama Competition was a high spot of the year. I was Sandra Clay’s general factotum/stage manager when we did it In the Lower V1th for Ferrier, I don’t remember the name of the play but the whole experience was great fun.
I was lucky enough to be one of the girls along with Corinne Haylett and Lesley King who took part in the Verse Speaking Festival at Norwich Assembly Rooms. Sonnet 60 and a speech from “The Lady’s Not For Burning” were my offerings. John Laurie (Private Fraser from Dad’s Army) was the judge. I kept the critique he wrote for years but can’t find it now. It was terrifying but worth it, I have never been so scared. Valerie Woods from the year above us gave a breath taking performance of Lady Anne’s speech Act 1 Scene11 (I just looked it up) from Richard 111rd --- yes it was that good, I still remember it.
When I was in the 6th form we went to see Brecht’s “Mother Courage”, Arnold Wesker’s “Roots” and “Romeo and Juliet” at the Maddermarket. Ballet Rambert twice ----- “La Boutique Fantasque” and “Coppelia”------ and “Macbeth” at the Theatre Royal, and those are just the ones I can remember. The coach journey and tea and biscuits in the interval at the Maddermarket were memorable too. It was more than just about the culture, it was a social event and being shown what was out there to enjoy. Gorleston was a magical place to grow up in but apart from The Floral Hall and the occasional trip to a summer show, there wasn’t a great deal going on, so this was all heady stuff.
Generally speaking I was very happy at the High School, Miss Robertson was the source of a lot of my best memories, I certainly appreciated it all.
I live in London, I have been to a few lunches but am not able to get up there as much as I would like to. They are always enjoyable.
Kind Regards
Roma Zierler (nee Cooke).
April 16th 2020
ANDROCLES AND THE LION, 1965
The photo shows the cast of Androcles and the Lion by George Bernard Shaw with its producer, Miss Robertson. The play was acted by VI formers at the end of the summer term in 1965.
Thanks to Judith Condon and Mrs Jeannie Gunn (Miss Robertson) for their help with those details.
Did you have a part in this play?
Can you name the girls in the photograph?
Were such productions put on every year at that time?
Do you have memories of that production or others that you can tell us?
Do you have photos of this or other productions that I could copy for the website and then return via the Post Office Signed for service? If so, kindly let Pauline Dodd know and she will put you in touch with me.
CAROLE OWEN
.
The photo shows the cast of Androcles and the Lion by George Bernard Shaw with its producer, Miss Robertson. The play was acted by VI formers at the end of the summer term in 1965.
Thanks to Judith Condon and Mrs Jeannie Gunn (Miss Robertson) for their help with those details.
Did you have a part in this play?
Can you name the girls in the photograph?
Were such productions put on every year at that time?
Do you have memories of that production or others that you can tell us?
Do you have photos of this or other productions that I could copy for the website and then return via the Post Office Signed for service? If so, kindly let Pauline Dodd know and she will put you in touch with me.
CAROLE OWEN
.
From the 1965 School Magazine
THE 1960 SCHOOL TRIP TO SCHWÄBISCH-GMUND
In the Easter holiday in 1960 Mrs Jean Morris, the German teacher, took a party of 18 girls studying German on an exchange trip to Schwäbisch-Gmund, a town in southern Germany roughly the same size as Great Yarmouth, but very different in character.
Did you go on that trip? If so, we would love to hear your story. Tell us your impressions of the journey, of Schwäbisch-Gmund, and what you did during your stay, the German girls, their homes, German food, their school, the school day, the atmosphere in class, what surprised you, what you particularly liked or didn't like, etc.
Then tell us about the German girls' visit to England in July 1960. What did they think of Great Yarmouth? Were the friendships forged in 1960 kept up? I know that Janet Monger kept in touch with her pen friend Annagrethe all her life. I think that they visited each other when they were adults.
Ann Brock (Now Ann Russell) has kindly lent her photographs of the trip for copying on to the website and Facebook page. Perhaps you can help with the keys to the photographs.
If you have any other photos, it would be nice to put them on,. If you are able to scan them, do it at as high a quality as you can, preferably at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) and save them as high quality (12) JPEGs. And, then, what about the second exchange in 1962? Did you go on that? Would you be willing to lend any photos that you have for us to copy? CAROLE DANE OWEN
SG1 KEY by Carole Dane Owen
1 Janet Payne 2 Madeleine Gooch 3 Virginia Killington 4 Maureen Bottomley 5 6 Susan Boon 7 8 Elizabeth Purling 9 Joan Howes
10 Jennifer May 11 Ann Watts 12 Maureen O'brien 13 Janet Shoobridge 14 Carol Webb 15 Mrs Jean Morris (German Teacher) 16 Mr Alan Morris
17 Frl.Dr.Lanz 18 Janet Monger 19 Jennifer Bransby 20 Jill White
1 Janet Payne 2 Madeleine Gooch 3 Virginia Killington 4 Maureen Bottomley 5 6 Susan Boon 7 8 Elizabeth Purling 9 Joan Howes
10 Jennifer May 11 Ann Watts 12 Maureen O'brien 13 Janet Shoobridge 14 Carol Webb 15 Mrs Jean Morris (German Teacher) 16 Mr Alan Morris
17 Frl.Dr.Lanz 18 Janet Monger 19 Jennifer Bransby 20 Jill White
English and German schoolgirls in Schwabisch-Gmund
SG2 KEY by Carole Dane Owen
1 Kathleen Lester 2 3 4 Ann Brock 5 Else Widmann, Ann Brock's pen friend 6 7 8 Ann Watts
SG2 KEY by Carole Dane Owen
1 Kathleen Lester 2 3 4 Ann Brock 5 Else Widmann, Ann Brock's pen friend 6 7 8 Ann Watts
1960 Schwabisch-Gmund exchange.Mrs Morris and girls on Boat.
SG3 KEY by Carole Dane Owen
1 Ann Brock 2 Maureen O'brien 3. Ann Watts 4 Mrs Jean Morris (German teacher) 5 6 Maureen Bottomley 7 8 9 Janet Shoobridge
SG3 KEY by Carole Dane Owen
1 Ann Brock 2 Maureen O'brien 3. Ann Watts 4 Mrs Jean Morris (German teacher) 5 6 Maureen Bottomley 7 8 9 Janet Shoobridge
SG4 KEY
1 Ann Brock 2 Maureen O'brien Ann Watts Mrs Jean Morris (German Teacher) 5 6 7 8 9 Maureen Bottomly 10 11
12 Janet Shoobridge 13 14 janet Monger 15 Jennifer Bransby
1 Ann Brock 2 Maureen O'brien Ann Watts Mrs Jean Morris (German Teacher) 5 6 7 8 9 Maureen Bottomly 10 11
12 Janet Shoobridge 13 14 janet Monger 15 Jennifer Bransby
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
At the Old Girls lunch on 14 November 2019 Pam Gilbert told me this story. On a lovely sunny summer's day in the early Sixties she and five others decided that they would bunk off school the next day and go to Gorleston beach with their swimming things instead. The word got round and a few more decided to join them. They had a lovely time. A man asked their permission to take some photographs of them and they said Yes. To their horror, the photographs appeared as the centre spread in the next edition of the Mercury and they were hauled in by the headmistress. Luckily for them, the head was then Miss Evans, and they got off lightly.
Were you one of the girls involved? Would you like to send in your account of this escapade?
Can you help with the keys to these photographs?
Reports from other girls of other escapades are very welcome. We'll be delighted to hear from you.
Carole Dane Owen
Thank you to a very kind and clever gentleman called Callum Ruane who coloured this in for us.
1 2 Jean ?? 3 Margaret Walton/Weston/Welton 4 Pam Gilbert 5 Julie Pollett 6 Pam Taylor 7 Maureen Oxburgh 8 Mary Turrell 9 10 Marion White 11 Megan Davies
1 2 Jean ?? 3 Margaret Walton/Weston/Welton 4Pam Gilbert 5 Julie Pollett 6 Pam Taylor 7 Maureen Oxburgh 8 Mary Turrell 9 10 Marion White 11 Megan Davies
1 Maureen Oxburgh 2 Jean ?? 3 ?Megan Davies 4 Pam Taylor 5 Mary Turrell 6 Margaret Walton/Weston/Welton 7 Marion White
8 9 Julie Pollet 10 Pam Gilbert
8 9 Julie Pollet 10 Pam Gilbert
1 Maureen Oxburgh 2 Jean ?? 3 ?Megan Davies 4 Pam Taylor 5 Mary Turbella 6 Marion White 7 8 Julie Pollet 9 Pam Gilbert (Between 8 and 9 is Margaret Walton/Weston/Welton but can't see her face)
15 March 2020
Dear Old Girls,
Due to, and in response to Covid-19 meetings , the current guidelines and advice, we have decided to cancel the April Old Girls Lunch…we are sure you will agree that it is better to be safe than sorry.
The Health & Well Being of members & friends is of highest priority to us all.
We will go ahead with the Autumn lunch nearer to the date.
Wishing you all well
Stay Safe
Judith , Pauline.and Jane
REUNION OF 1953 INTAKE
Depending on what's happening with Covid-19
There will be another reunion of the 1953 intake on Thursday 1 October, at the Furzedown Hotel, 19-20 North Drive, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 4EN. Tel. No. 01493 844138. It will run from 11am – 4pm. The cost will be £18. Coffee will be available from 11am at extra cost, and tea during the afternoon. There will be a sit-down three-course cooked lunch with a vegetarian option.
If you started at GYHS in 1953 and think that you might like to join us, or if you taught us (free lunch!), please contact Carole (Dane) Owen via the Contacts page on this website. You don't need to make a definite commitment until mid-August.
Mrs Carole Owen
Depending on what's happening with Covid-19
There will be another reunion of the 1953 intake on Thursday 1 October, at the Furzedown Hotel, 19-20 North Drive, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 4EN. Tel. No. 01493 844138. It will run from 11am – 4pm. The cost will be £18. Coffee will be available from 11am at extra cost, and tea during the afternoon. There will be a sit-down three-course cooked lunch with a vegetarian option.
If you started at GYHS in 1953 and think that you might like to join us, or if you taught us (free lunch!), please contact Carole (Dane) Owen via the Contacts page on this website. You don't need to make a definite commitment until mid-August.
Mrs Carole Owen
OLD GIRLS LUNCH AT THE IMPERIAL HOTEL NOVEMBER 14TH 2019
49 ladies sat down for lunch. Many from far flung places such as: Switzerland, USA, Leicester and Grimsby. It was very nice to see some new faces among the regulars.
Jane was not able to be with us as she had managed to “double book” but sent her best wishes to everyone.
We were sad to hear of the death of Annette Stringer. Her Memorial was held on 21st October at St. Mark’s Church, Oulton Broad. She was a great supporter of the lunches and had attended our November lunch in 2018. Her Executor had donated items for our archives.
We also lost Molly Timby nee Junior. Our sincere condolences to her family.
Rose Beckett sent apologies. She was still recovering from a stroke earlier in the year.
Judith read out a letter from the Head teacher of North Denes Primary School, thanking us for our donation to the school food bank etc.
Carole Owen and Judith Condon had discovered that Great Yarmouth Girls High School was not even mentioned in the Norfolk Record Office Archives. They have taken it upon themselves to put that in order! Carole and Judith will be sifting through all the records we have collected over many years,to be able to present NRO with a decent archive of our school. It will be a lot of work but we are very grateful to them for taking it on. If anyone has anything at all they think might need to be added please contact pauline@paulinedodd.com and it will be passed on to Carole and Judith.
Carole had been presented with yet another school photograph. This one was taken in 1935 and was given to us by Janet Youngs. Her aunt, Joan Youngs, is featured on it and is now 98 years old. As soon as it has been digitised it will be displayed on the website. Hopefully we will be able to fill in a few names.
Ann Ewels has taken both the 1947 and 1949 photographs to add many names to it. It was certainly a bit “thin on the ground” as far as names were concerned and we will be interested to see how many Ann can add.
Mrs Morris gave a vote of thanks. She was English/German teacher at the school about 1956-63.
Beryl Canwell thanked the “Old Girls’ team”
Judith thanked Paula and the staff of The Imperial Hotel for a splendid lunch and superb service. It was enjoyed by all who attended.
Addendum: Ann Ewels has managed to remember 43 names on the 1947 school photograph and 10 on the 1949. Thank you Ann, what an amazing memory!
NEXT LUNCHEON IS AT THE IMPERIAL HOTEL ON THURSDAY 30TH APRIL 2020
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Old Girls Lunch at The Furzedown May 9th 2019
Only 26 ladies attended the lunch but most enjoyed it. If any lady has a problem regarding the lunch arrangements please let us know so that we can do something about it.
Carole Owen had produced fine copies of the 1954 and 58 photographs. She was unable to attend as she was suffering from a very bad cold and didn’t want to pass it on to the rest of us. Thank you Carole for being so thoughtful!
Ladies were sad to hear of the death of Mr Newton. By all accounts he was a very special teacher. His full obituary is on our website http://www.greatyarmouthgirlshighschool.co.uk/obituaries.html
Jane informed us that the Church clock had been raised and was working well both chiming and keeping time. Our donation had been much appreciated.
Rose Beckett was unwell after a stroke and a stay in hospital. We had sent her a card.
Rosemary Watson suggested we might make a contribution to the Foodbank at North Denes Primary school following the documentary on BBC1 on the plight of families whose children attend the school. Several former Old Girls attended the school. It was agreed by all who attended that a cheque for £150 would be sent to the head teacher.
Only 26 ladies attended the lunch but most enjoyed it. If any lady has a problem regarding the lunch arrangements please let us know so that we can do something about it.
Carole Owen had produced fine copies of the 1954 and 58 photographs. She was unable to attend as she was suffering from a very bad cold and didn’t want to pass it on to the rest of us. Thank you Carole for being so thoughtful!
Ladies were sad to hear of the death of Mr Newton. By all accounts he was a very special teacher. His full obituary is on our website http://www.greatyarmouthgirlshighschool.co.uk/obituaries.html
Jane informed us that the Church clock had been raised and was working well both chiming and keeping time. Our donation had been much appreciated.
Rose Beckett was unwell after a stroke and a stay in hospital. We had sent her a card.
Rosemary Watson suggested we might make a contribution to the Foodbank at North Denes Primary school following the documentary on BBC1 on the plight of families whose children attend the school. Several former Old Girls attended the school. It was agreed by all who attended that a cheque for £150 would be sent to the head teacher.
Link to Honour Boards 1902 - 1974
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If you need to contact anyone you read about on these pages then please contact me on Pauline@paulinedodd.com and I will contact the person concerned and ask for their permission to put you in touch.
If there is anything on this website which offends or upsets you please let us know and it will be dealt with immediately.
We are not quite sure how to deal with this. We don’t sell anything and don’t give addresses or emails to anyone.
If you need to contact anyone you read about on these pages then please contact me on Pauline@paulinedodd.com and I will contact the person concerned and ask for their permission to put you in touch.
If there is anything on this website which offends or upsets you please let us know and it will be dealt with immediately.
