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Our time at Farnham Grammar School started in the Autumn term of 1971. This term started on 7 September, with reports for the term issued before we broke up for Christmas on 17 December.

There was no vast school photograph until the following year, but one exists for Form 1P on the steps leading down to the field.

Prominent in the centre background is Paul Hobbs. Directly below him is Chris Stacey (who owns the original of this photo), and to his left is John Saunders. We don't need to worry too much about naming names as the December 1971 issue of the Farnhamian published a list of all new pupils. This includes everyone from Forms 1 and 1P.

The Editorial from the same issue of the Farnhamian lists the new staff who started at the same time as us: Mrs C E Knight "to teach English and look after the library"; Mrs I Gilbertson (German); Mrs B Morris (Biology), "to augment our female staff"; Mr G C Colley "joins us to teach Mathematics and Geology";

Mr R L Grogut (Physical Education); Mr J F Wells (English, History and Drama); Mr P W Cooper (Metalwork); and Mr H Thompson (Music).

According to the Form 1 reports, issued at the end of the Autumn term, our average age was 11 years 10 months; in the summer of 1972 it was 12 years and 6 months.

(Note that the year AD 1578 appears under the School crest.)

Our second term began on 4 January and lasted until 29 March 1972. This was followed by the Summer term, from 24 April to 21 July 1972 (all term dates on this website have been confirmed and verified by David Bathurst). The Farnhamian of July 1972 noted that "Owing to the industry and enthusiasm of Mrs Knight and her helpers great improvements have been made to the library. During the day it is a study-area for the sixth form, while anyone can come and borrow books at lunch-time. 500 new books have been added since September and it would be a pity if more people did not use the facilities offered."

The magazine also reported "We shall be sorry to lose several members of staff this term. Mr Cooper is leaving, Mrs Knight is leaving to teach at Alton Convent, Mr Darker is to become Head of History at Cheam High School, and Mr Ward is going to teach at Filton Technical College. Mrs Cole is leaving us after teaching the violin for over thirty years."

Here are some contributions from the December 1971 and July 1972 issues of the Farnhamian.

The Summer term included our first School examinations. According to surviving reports, the following are the average marks from Form 1

        Subject                Exam Average

English                       56

History                       48

Geography                 62

French                       55

Biology                      64

Chemistry                  53

Physics                       51

Mathematics              63

Art                            46

Music                       6.5

Additional information for this page is welcome!

Welcome: Janet Aitken, Jane Ashby, Karen Bellairs, Stephanie Bole, Alison Burrows, Julie Burrows, Shelagh Callaghan, Vivienne Clemesha, Helen Collett, Yvonne Cresswell, Bridget Crouch, Cathy Davies, Anne Dixon, Joanna Donald, Tina Dorling, Helen Douglas, Myah Edmonson, Sarah Egan, Karen Ellis, Jeanette Ellison, Susan Evans, Gillian Fox, Caroline Gooding, Rosemary Graham, Linda Green, Valerie Griffin, Carolyn Haines, Kim Hawkins, Theresa Hegarty, Marcia Jarvis, April Jobling, Judy Kimmis, Katy Long, Gillian Mansfield, Janine McKay, Heather Maclaren, Karen Noble, Linda Pearce, Sue Pickering, Barbara Pietrusiewicz, Lindsay Pilgrim, Lesley Powney, Helen Pratt, Debbie Preece, Susie Pringle, Sarah Randall, Maxine Renders, Alison Rowe, Fiona Ryder, Sarah Shattock, Sarah Shelford, Deborah Sherman, Amanda Skeggs, Wendy Smith, Charlotte Starmer, Susie Turner, Alison Ward, Alison Warren, Nicola Welbourne, Joanna Wicks, Anne Williams, Amanda Wood

Late Arrivals: Nancy Adams, Debbie Holder.

Welcome: (Form 1): D J C Bathurst, S J Bennett, N P Blackman, M A Bravery, J M Clarke, M M Collier, K J Desmond, F N Grant, C P Greentree, C M Kenny, J D Knight, C M Larby, A K Lawrence, S H Lucas,

B Lydiard, R McWilliams, I S Maxwell, M J Mehta, M J Neal, C G Nelms, J T O’Dell, I R Parker, M G Peters, R D Pullan, S J Scott, K L Smith, J Vernon, J R Walden, G N Whiting, C J G Wright.

(Form 1P): B P Bellars, D A Brewer, R S Christian, J M Cox, C R Ellwood, P C Gathercole, H S Gibbs,

A K Harding, I R Harnett, P S Hobbs, N A Howen, G N Hurst, D M Innes, C S King, G W Langridge, N W Martyn, S J S Oelman, M R Pratt, A D Probert, J P Saunders, A L Sayer, T J Scrivener, C J Stacey,

C J Tester, D R Titchener, A R Vincent, R M Williams, N S J Willis, J P Wilson, J T Young.

Late Arrivals: F Arnstein, I Richards.