Everest conquerer visited Grantham school

john.burgess@granthamjournal.co.uk

Published: 17:35, 04 February 2020

Sir John Hunt, a British Army officer who was best known as the leader of the successful 1953 British Expedition to conquer Mount Everest, is pictured here at Grantham Boys’ Central School in 1961.

He was visiting the school, now Little Gonerby School, on Hill Avenue to present boys with their Duke of Edinburgh awards.

He is pictured walking up the school’s ‘quad’, as it was known.

News of the Hunt expedition’s success reached London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

Swimmers took on bowlers

Swimmers v bowlers in the park. (28359593)

This photo was sent in by Journal reader Nick Craft.

He says it was snapped in the ‘Park’ after some teenagers, who were regulars at the swimming pool, challenged the bowls club to a match.

Event organiser was Lionel Pinchbeck (far left).

The teenagers included Ray Morris, Julian Farmer, Ken Bean, Nick Craft and ‘Spud’ Taylor.

Town MG spotted by Australian readers

This1950s photograph was brought into the Journal offices by Barrie Cox. It shows a view at the top of Fred Batess yard, off Wharf Road, where Palmers Printers was situated after the business moved from Vine Street. Barrie was a printer with the company. The MG saloon car shown belonged to Joe Griggs who was the newspaper press operator. His press was installed in the building in front of the car. A woman can just be seen looking out of the bookbinding department window (left of picture). The printing companys paper store was situated further down the yard and was run by a chap called Fred Pinchbeck. Opposite the paper store were the compositors and Monotype room which Barrie described as being cathedral-like in size. Barrie said that the building behind the Riley (with the ladders on the roof) was Fred Copes decorating business. (28359607)

Australian Grantham Journal reader Michael Bradshaw informs us that the car pictured in this photo from our nostalgia section is, in fact, an MG SA, built between 1936 and 1939.

Michael’s friend in Oz, Peter Shipside, supplied the information and also thought the car may have been supplied by his father’s dealership in Nottingham.

Looking back . . .

10 YEARS AGO

Four Grantham-based firemen returned home from Haiti where they had spent 11 days searching for survivors of the horrific earthquakes.
Four hooded burglars smashed their way through the window of Blockbusters, London Road, and made off with more than 1,000 DVDs and games.
SKDC agreed to contract out parking enforcement.

25 YEARS AGO

SKDC backed a new security lighting system to be installed at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, following national terrorist bomb threats.
The new WH Smith shop in High Street was due to open its doors at the end of February.
Grantham MP Douglas Hogg's wife took the title of Lady Hogg of Kettlethorpe after she was named in the New Year Honours.

50 YEARS AGO

A King’s School pupil was due to attend a final trial to play for England under-15 rugby team against Wales.
Workers at British Leyland's factory Aveling Barford were assured there was no truth in rumours that work might be taken away from them.
Eminent author and railway expert Cecil J. Allen was to give a lecture in a town church.

100 YEARS AGO

Grantham FC were making a recovery in the Central Alliance, taking seven points out of a possible eight, with 13 goals for and just three against.
Moulders employed at Spittlegate Ironworks brought their protracted strike to a close by returning to work.
Grantham Liberal Club's AGM was very well attended.

Nostalgia John Burgess