Wednesday, January 31, 2018

PLANS TO CELEBRATE 350 YEARS' EDUCATION IN BRIGG


There's an important milestone coming up for education in Brigg - and there are plans to celebrate the achievement.
Sir John Nelthorpe made provision in his will, in 1669, to found a school - later to become Brigg Grammar and now - grade one listed - forming part of Sir John Nelthorpe School's 'upper'  complex.
The Briggensians' Association, representing former pupils of SJN, Brigg Grammar, Brigg Girls' High and Brigg Sixth Form College, is asking members across the world to be aware that 2019 "is a very special year" and informing them that "there will be celebrations to mark the 350th year."
The annual Newsletter stresses: "The Briggensians' Association needs to reflect this milestone in its activities."
Ex-pupils will be kept informed about planned events and are being asked to tell the association of any they may have in the pipeline.
Keep an eye on the website www.briggensians.co.uk and  Facebook page The Briggensians Association.
Those of us who were pupils at Brigg Grammar School almost half-a-century ago, in 1969, well remember the 300th (tercentenary) celebrations.
They reopened the school's original door and refurbished the swimming pool - heating being provided for the first time. We were all very grateful for that, especially in September!
There was also a grand dinner at either the Angel Hotel or the Corn Exchange. But we were then much too young for such events.
Nor would there have been time with all that evening homework to complete!

Very senior pupils also made a cine film about 300 years of the school, The House That John Built - released much later in DVD format. Some images from the cover can be seen above and give a flavour of how things were in the late 1960s. 
Top left we see senior masters Vernon Atkin (French) and Harold Stinson (Maths); top right is headmaster H. B. Williams tending the garden adjoining his house 'on the premises'; bottom right are the brick-built refectory, dating back to the 1890s, and the wooden cricket pavilion (circa 1929), both since demolished; bottom left, first year boys- caps firmly in place-  being taken down the drive onto Grammar School Road on their way to Speech Day at the Corn Exchange, we think. You can tell they were first years because only the 'rookies' had to wear short trousers. 
  • Brigg Girls' High School was founded in 1919 - so ex-pupils of that establishment also have a milestone to mark next year. It moved to the familiar site off Wrawby Road some years later. Those buildings now form the lower school site of Sir John Nelthorpe School, which was created in 1976.

The original school door was reopened in 1969 as part of the 300th anniversary celebrations.


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