Month: July 2017

Jason Liversidge, (Pegg, 1989-1992), was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013 and now is unable to do anything independently and needs 24 hour care. However, undaunted by the challenge, he climbed the 1,085m peak of Snowdon in his 4×4 terrain hopper wheelchair with his wife Liz and friends. Jason said: “It was a huge personal challenge for me and a great way of raising awareness of motor neurone disease and disability in general.

“I thought it would be a unique challenge and a good way of raising money for charity. It is an amazing feeling. It hasn’t been done before, so it was an unknown quantity and I didn’t know whether me or the wheelchair would make it.”

Jason has already tackled the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe and driven a Formula One race car around Silverstone, but admitted this was his biggest challenge yet. The father of two is hoping to raise around £5,000 for Dove House and Marie Curie as a thank you for all their help and support since his diagnosis.

Liz said: “I’m completely in awe of Jason. He has gone from a fit and active man to someone who is completely dependent on others, but he doesn’t let that stop him. He is an inspiration to us all.”

You can still donate at http://bit.ly/2tBub3r

A mini reunion, of the 5th Form of 1986 took place on 8th July. Rob Harrop, now living in New Zealand, returned to the UK on holiday and with help from Zoe Harrison put together a plan for a catch up. Some (Richard Dunn, Ken Goddard, Rob Harrop, Neil Holliday, Max Morrison, and Richard Watts, later joined by Phil Wilson) turned up at College for a tour of the school with John Rowlands and Cath Lucas – an opportunity for a trip down memory lane. They then met up with others at the Cask, before moving on to the Hayburn Wyke for food, drinks and plenty of chat and laughs.

Phillip Mann (Pegg, 1954-62) has been awarded an MNZM (Member of New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to Literature and Theatre.

He won an Open Scholarship to the College which proved to be a good choice for, apart from introducing him to Latin and French, English Literature, History and the sciences -all of which he enjoyed,  it allowed Phil’s love of theatre to be given full rein. Under directors as inspired as Peter Burton, who taught English and John Lane who taught Art, the school embarked on annual productions of Shakespeare. He was able to take roles as varied as MacDuff, Bolingbroke in Richard II,  Antonio in The Tempest and the greatest challenge of all,  Hamlet.

After College, he studied Drama and English at Manchester University. He has worked extensively in Theatre in Europe and America and established the first programme of Drama Studies at Victoria University of Wellington in 1970, where he was later made Professor of Drama. He takes a special pleasure in directing new plays and in finding ways of making Greek Classical Drama available to modern audiences. In addition to his theatre work, Phillip is a freelance writer and has published eleven Science Fiction novels as well as essays, plays and works for younger readers. Phillip states that two main external influences on him were the North Yorkshire Moors and the North Sea and drew on memories of these areas in his writing.

Gordon Boot (1929-37), aged 97, accompanied by family members spent an enjoyable afternoon visiting College. He was shown around by Head of School – Oliver Beckett, OSA secretary Pippa Harker and Zoe Harrison. He enjoyed looking at the magazines from his era and brought in a number of pictures for the OSA to copy.

Gordon sent us the following observations:

Eighty years after leaving Scarborough College as a border in 1937 I was fortunate enough to be granted a visit to look around my old school. As I arrived I was delighted to see that the front of the school had not altered but, once inside, I noticed many changes. Firstly, the atmosphere was far more relaxed. In class, we were expected to stay “on task” no matter who entered the room. However, as I entered my old classroom the pupils turned to see who had interrupted their lesson.

The old assembly hall had been completely redesigned but I was sorry to see that the old Honour Boards had been replaced by new ones which only displayed one or two names. The room below the hall, which is now the Sports room, was where we were allowed to store our personal tuck boxes. It was always a treat to visit that room.

A Little Owls pre-school building has been constructed on the far side of the old playground and over the road that was used by the tradesman to make their deliveries.

My Prep school was on a different road and this is where we slept and had our breakfast. We were not permitted to sleep in the main school until we were 13. The Pavilion and grounds outside are virtually unchanged from the 1930s.

My visit brought back many memories – particularly of all the different sports that the school had to offer. I am so grateful to the Head boy – Oliver, secretary  – Pippa and Zoe for taking the time to give me such an enjoyable and interesting visit.