'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 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 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.
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.
