Old Henricians Visit PHHS

OLD HENRICIANS’ VISIT TO PRINCE HENRY’S

We were delighted to welcome back to Prince Henry’s some former pupils who attended the school at various times between the 1940s – early 1960s, when it was known as Prince Henry’s Grammar School.  Included in the party was Mr Ian Parkin, who some parents may remember as Careers Master and Economics teacher from 1953 until his retirement in 1985. Although several of them have retained strong connections with the school, with their own children and grandchildren following in their footsteps as pupils, for most of them it was the first time that they had revisited the main school buildings for 50 or 60 years.

The visit provided our visitors with an opportunity to look around the current school buildings and provide us with a wealth of anecdotes regarding the school as it was in their time, as well as their memories of former teachers and fellow pupils. The school is lucky to possess an extensive archive of old photographs, documents and a full set of Henrician magazines (which date back to the first edition published in 1924), and our guests were able to put names to many of the faces (including their own) in those photographs, as well as taking great delight in finding references to their own school achievements in the Henrician.

The deep affection which these Old Henricians still have for Prince Henry’s after all these years was clear to see. What was especially important for us was their recognition that the values and atmosphere within the school that they recalled so vividly still live on, even if the uniform has changed and the Grove Building and Abbey Block now sit on top of the tennis courts and the grass bank that they remembered rolling down.  Once again, it reminded those of us who had the pleasure of meeting these former pupils of just how special a place Prince Henry’s is. 

Dr A Evans & Mrs N Barker
14^th April 2016

Featured Photo (left to right):
Dr Bob Davis, Mrs Pat Goldstraw (née Barnard), Mr Hugh Edwards, Harry Howells, Dr Evans, Molly Hardwick, Mrs Pat Chilver (née Dyke), Mr Ian Parkin, front: Mrs Pixie Keyte (née Harrison), Mrs Maureen Edwards (née Edwards)