Gravesend Grammar School for Boys, in Church Walk, Gravesend, Kent, UK, has an old boys association and several groups of past pupils who keep in contact.
COFOC is a club for those who joined the school in 1951. This is a way to contact each other, correspond, keep up with news, and arrange occasional meetings or reunions.
Pictures from GGSFB Website used by permission
ABOUT THE CLUB
It all started when Roger Smith and Bill Bradshaw, who both joined Gravesend Grammar school in Septemner 1951, signed on to www.FriendsReunited.co.uk in the spring of 2001, and established contact. Others signed onto the site, one by one, and more were contacted via the current School Secretary, Sharon Bolton.
Bill Bradshaw took up the task of finding as many pupils as possible from the same intake year, founded COFOC and acted as Secretary. Horace Gillis was a contact made by Sharon Bolton and was in Gravesend in early 2002 when he was able to find some names, including John Neads and John Foster in the local phone book. This led the Secretary to write to them.
Arley Bushill joined the Friends Reunited Website in February 2002. He was contacted by Bill Bradshaw and became responsible for building the original versions of this COFOC website. Arley moved house in 2004 and handed over this website responsibility to Roger Smith.
COFOC has grown steadily and new members join regularly, the most recent having heard of us by word of mouth!
The school has been able to complete our set of “Miltonians” from 1951 to 1958; several photographs have been scanned from these magazines and distributed to members or added to this website. Other photos have been submitted by members so that we now have a good library of shots covering this period.
Our letterhead bears the motto “Non Passeverunt” – literally “They shall not pass” – which seems appropriate, bearing in mind some members’ exam results! The following legend appears at the foot of the notepaper:
The GGSFB Class of 51 Club came about as a result of contact via www.friendsreunited.co.uk, and has grown through continued research by current club members Brian Bradshaw, Bill Bradshaw, Frank Broad, Ken Burchfield, Arley Bushill, Mike Chadwick, Francis Copeman, John Foster, Horace Gillis, Paul Mitchell, John Neads, Ian Raymond, Terry Richens, Don Rutherford, Roger Shade, David Shaddick, Roger Smith, and David Thomas; with valuable assistance from Sharon Bolton and Deborah Nurdin at the Gravesend Grammar School for Boys.
Names of new members are added to this list as they join up, since everybody seems enthusiastic in their search for old associates and reminiscences.
Brian Marrison says
Brian Marrison. 1948-53
Remember (Little)Jimmy Hall the PT guru..
Charlie Chipchase. Maths. .
Form room prefab nr canteen and biology garden..
Smitty says
Hi Brian
I too have clear memories of Jimmy Hall, was always a little wary of him for some reason. Also Mr Chipchase who was very fair and a good teacher. He used to arrive on his BSA bantam (I think) with leather pannier bags. In autumn they were stuffed full of apples from his garden.
I was also housed in a hut overlooking the field in 1951 and then later in the huts you mentioned.
Mixed memories but mostly good to recall.
Roger Smith 1951-56
John Worthy says
I’m a bit younger than some of you gents, having joined the Grammar School in 1953, but I remember some of your names. I clearly remember language lessons with Froggy Gower and JET Travis.
Smitty says
Hi John,
I remember you, still have a vague image in my mind of you. I think we used to chat on the school field occasionally. Did you also know Wilkins? (Cant remember his first name).
Regards
Roger Smith
John White says
I attended Gravesend Grammar School from 1948 to 1953, & am in contact with four other school mates.
Our form master was Froggy Gower who taught German. Our form room was one of several prefab, due to bomb damaged section of school not repaired until 1952.
Manager says
Great to hear from you John.
I was there from 1951-56. In forms 4G & 5G my form master was also Froggy Gower. I also had the dubious honour of occupying three of the huts during the years there.
As you can see from this website, there are several people from the 1951 intake; maybe you knew some of us.
Do feel free to publicise this website to your contacts, any contributions by way of comments or suggestions are always welcome.
Best regards
Roger Smith
(Webmaster)
Ian Raymond says
I seem to remember that Howcroft’s first name was John – and I met a John Howcroft working for Gravesend Council in the 1970s – possibly the same guy?
Roger Smith says
Thanks Ian. I think his name was John. His father was Mayor of Gravesend at one time so it wouldn’t surprise me if John had local council interests. As I remember he was quite tall and slim – much taller than me anyhow!
Angus says
Every now and again another name pops up in my mind for no particular reason other than a cofo email arriving. What are Micky Wilson, Brian Johncock, Morris Wright, Roger Butler, Howcroft (did he even have a first name?), Mickey Brooke doing these days. All fondly recalled
Geoff Ellis says
Hi
Just been having a browse through the new website. Lots of effort – well done! Not quite sure where I have to join, but grateful if you could add my name please. September 1951 seems a long time ago! I actually have a decent class photo of that period and happy to post it on here- in fact I mailed it to the School Archivist last year, but no idea where it ended up!
best
Geoff Ellis
Bill B says
Many thanks Roger – good to see that you’re keeping the ball rolling. In the early days, Janet thought we ought to use roman numerals, and rename us COLIC, as getting in touch with more reluctant old boys was sometimes a bit of a pain.
Having during my retirement rebuilt most of the classic car engines in the North West, I’ve finally retired from that, and using the vast store of old engine parts in my garage, have embarked on ‘dynamic engine art’, just to keep myself busy.
Best regards, Bill
Ian Raymond says
Pleased to see that CoFoC lives on, despite the passing years.
Ancient we may be but not done yet – Elizabeth and I are about to move to a larger house and no doubt carry out renovation work….
Michael Box says
Thanks for this Roger!