May - Old Scarborians

30trumpet, Frank Leppington and Dennis Hitchon clarinets, Mick O’Neill and Mike Barmbypiano, Mat Moore banjo, and myself ondrums. We even made a couple of LP’s overthe few years we played there and individualsstill remind me of the club. Not every parentwould have allowed fifty or so kids to congregatedownstairs with the accompanying dinand I am eternally grateful to them.After leaving the High School, I attended AlsagerTraining College with Pete Simkin andBern Lake, then went on to teach in Leeds forfive years, playing in most of the jazz clubs atnight. I studied for a further year at WorcesterTraining College, then stuck a pin in theTimes Educational Supplement and appliedalong with my new wife Ann to a place calledForemost, in Alberta ,Canada.At the end of eight days on the liner fromLiverpool and a further three days by train,we finally arrived in Foremost. This townboasted 500 inhabitants, had mud sidewalks,tumbleweed bowling down the main streetand a temperature of 95 degrees. Quite achange from Leeds. We really enjoyed ourtime there in a beautiful modern school. Thecatchment area stretched down to Montana inthe States. Over the ten years that we spentthere, I became vice-principal and took twodegrees at the University of Lethbridge, a cityseventy miles distant. We returned to Scarboroughso that our two children could spendmore time with family.We spent the next five years in Scarborough,and although we had wonderful friends wefound we were unable to settle. We returnedto Canada where I taught for two years thenundertook post-graduate studies at the Universityof Alberta.I decided to enter private business and althoughI had vowed never to become involvedin the catering business I took ownershipof Mr. George’s Submarine, a fast foodbusiness in Red Deer. We became well knownfor subs and periodic jazz sessions.(Editor: See Vol. 39 page 62)Two years ago the business was sold and Ireturned to teaching university entrance biologyin a private school. Presently I am enjoyingwork as a rehabilitation practitioner forCatholic Social Services. I still play at the localjazz club, The Vat, and enjoy restoring AustinHealey 3000 sports cars. My wife still teachespart time . Our son Robert works as a telecommunicationstechnician. Our daughterClaire is a teacher.I would like to thank David Fowler and allinvolved in producing Summer Times, as Iknow that this has brought such a lot of happinessto Old Scarborians around the world.(Editor: Derek phoned when he arrived inScarborough and we arranged to meet – only48 years since the last time. “I’m in a rush.I’ll only be with you half an hour”, he said.At least two hours later we were still reminiscingbut had to break off as Derek’sbrother-in-law was waiting to collect him.One name which cropped up was that ofChris Yates who was last heard of in Gatesheadin the late 1970’s. Does anyone knowwhere Chris is?Derek then passed me a Christmas Card hehad received from a (non OSA) friend.I quote from the card: “I attended a reunion.We were sitting on a table with a senior Silkand it emerged that he was brought up inScarborough, so you can obviously envisagethe ensuing conversation. “Did you evercome across this bloke from Manor Road...” Isaid, “who played drums?”“Did his Mum let him run a Jazz Club in thecellar?” he said.It turned out he knew you well. A smallworld! Steve Williamson wishes to be rememberedto you. He spoke very favourablyof you – and the Jazz club.”)