The pupil lists contain confidential information and so have not been included in this document.
They are available as a CSV file to anyone who features in them, and any close relative or spouse of anyone in them, by request, to Robin Hodson. This file was typed in (largely by a computer) from the 1987 Year Book, probably originally published by Focus. The photographs were taken by a specialist photographer, and although technically speaking the copyright still resides with them, technically speaking we don't know who they are. Enhanced versions of these photographs are available free of charge online. Technically speaking, Robin Hodson owns the copyright of the enhanced versions as a derivative work, but he has chosen not to claim this right.
All the text in this document is in the original format as far as possible, with the glaring mistakes and repetitions edited out. When displayed in a browser, some document conventions may be lost, however they can be viewed ver batim in the source of this document.
For clarify of reading, some sections have been enhanced with bulleted lists ("Do You Remember?" and Work Experience 1987).
For accessibility reasons (mainly search engines and speech synthesisers), the headings (and Lucian Hicks' poem) appear in the source title-caps, but were originally fully capitalised. A CSS-aware browser will show them in the original capitalised form.
For legal purposes, the publishers of this document are the reunion organisers of the first reunion, ie 23 years on, for 2010 "and before we all turn 40". These are Rachel Hall, Jacqui Stubbs neé Workman, and Robin Hodson.
Status: This document is currently under test, and additional photographs may be included within it as time goes on.
The actual first reunion: A completely unsuitable venue with no other considerations has been booked for May 2010, but that does not rule out another one being formulated. Some invitations have already gone out by word of mouth and facebook, but no proper advertising or announcements or Press Releases have been made, and the organisers' meetings have not properly begun either. On the plus side, virtually all of the data is now ready.
R.J. Alderman
You will be leaving Hardenhuish today, many of you, after being with us for five years - I am told this adds up to 15,000 hours of secondary education! Some of you will be coming back in September to join the Sixth Form, others will only be returning after half term to take exams. On behalf of the school community, I would say to you all that it has been good to have you during such a vital stage of your lives and we wish you well in your future lives wherever that may be.
I have always worked with my teaching colleagues here to make Hardenhuish a caring school and I hope you have found us so. We have often emphasised the importance of caring for each other and whenever we have appealed to you for support for others you have always responded generously, whether it has been for the elderly in Chippenham or the starving in Ethiopia (your recent 24 hour sponsored hockey for Burton Hill House was typical of your generosity toward others.)
May I take this last opportunity to congratulate you on being a splendid year and to encourage you to go on being caring people. Perhaps, even more important, to care for and believe in yourselves and to value your own contribution to society whatever it is. We have valued having you with us and will miss you when you are gone. Value yourselves and you will add enormously to whatever community you become part of.
Every Best Wish. R.J. Alderman
One of the most spectacular achievements of the fifth form as Hardenhuish this year has been the efforts made in developing FOCUS, our school newspaper. Now a well established feature of the school, FOCUS owes its popularity and quality to a large number of students whose commitment and energy have become hallmarks of our production team.
The important quality of FOCUS is the central part played by students in the organisation, editorial contents and technical and production work which is involved in bringing out an eight page newspaper.
FOCUS has not, exclusively been the work of just a few students. During the year, well over fifty pupils have contributed in one way or another to its production. I would, however, like to pay a special tribute to a number of fifth formers whose contribution has been invaluable. In the editorial department, Roland Alford, (who is also chief photographer) Tim Smithers, Lucian Hicks, James Waring, Crispin Lilly, Peter Stone - helped by Andrew Cook-Welling, Howard Alcock, Tracy Oldale and Lorraine Burgin - have stamped their style and enthusiasm on the paper which will be difficult to follow.
Sarah Phillips and Helen Wood as well as reporting have been central in designing the layout, which has attracted praise not only from our readers but also from professional journalists outside the school.
Finally Dev Dew and Fiona Dow provided the technical expertise on the word processor and computers. Their energy and dedication was crucial in meeting our deadlines.
Many others, too numerous to mention deserve praise. Mrs Andrews and I, as well as the school in general, owe a debt of gratitude to the fifth year of 1987.
Mr C. Smith.
There follows a few extracts from the previous three editions of FOCUS of some of the activities fifth formers have been involved with over the last year.
Hardenhuish Fifth Formers had another opportunity to visit an Art Exhibition. This time they set off for Bristol, c/o
Hatts Coaches with a sandwich lunch packed in their bags, to see the National Children's Art Exhibition, sponsored by Cadbury's. This exhibition was held at the Royal West of England Academy, Queen's Road and featured a wide variety of materials and techniques, styles and ideas. Some of the finest art work by British youngsters was seen, with some exhibition winning awards to travel to Italy to study.
The visit was inspiration indeed for our Fifth Formers who are about to sit their public examinations!
Miss M. Hill (Head of Art)
Wednesday 17th December, 1.50m - Hardenhuish School was about to fall victim to.....The Fifth Year! Unlike most other years, they remained at school to take art in activates ranging from rugby to computers.
On the school fields those with more sporty natures were playing hockey or mixed rugby in the drizzling rain. A prize was waiting for the most unsuitably dressed person. There was some bizarrely dressed players, i.e. Fairy, baby twins, 'Rambo'- the list goes on. despite the rain they continued to play for one and a half hours, the scorelines ending up in a confusing state.
For those of us who preferred a less strenuous afternoon, dotted around the school were various other pursuits. Sitting in D9 and west wing video rooms were over 100 pupils (and quite a few teachers) mesmerized by the antics of Michael J. Fox and Harrison Ford on video in "Back to the Future" and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom".
And so to west wing L10, in fact -where a further 10 pupils were again staring at a screen, but this time playing assorted computer games. In S9, Mr Bracher was engaged in a chess match with a pupil - Chess was unfortunately, ill-attended! Two teams answering questions on popular music fired at them from the direction of Mr Wikeley and Mrs Glueck in the Pop Quiz (appropriately held in the Music Room). Another small group, under the supervision of Miss Hill were busily painting and drawing to their hearts' content in her Art Room.
Many thanks to Mrs Hunt and the Fifth Year and to everyone who made the afternoon run so smoothly.
By Sarah Philips and Helen Wood.
During half term three members of school stepped out of an aeroplane ........... travelling at a speed of 80 mph at an altitude of 2500 ft. Why?
As most of you are aware "Contact" is a school based charity, which is in almost constant need of help, both personal and financial, for their crucial work in and around the community. Matthew Garlick, Roland Alford and Mrs Lilley decided that it would be a good thing to do a sponsored parachute jump, the proceeds of which would go to Contact.
In this way they could not only raise the much needed money for Contact, but also fulfil a lifetime's ambition to jump out of an aeroplane.
Most of the real work, producing sponsor forms, booking places on the course and generally all the arranging was done by Mrs Lilley. Eventually a date was fixed for the jump and training began...
It may seem ridiculously little but the training, held at Colerne Aerodrome, consisted of only six hours of instruction, both practising those all important landing rolls and in theory how to steer when you're up there! Spread over two evenings, this somehow managed to stay lighthearted, and the four 'students' were still responding to Taffy's jokes. But in the back of everyone's mind was the thought of what was to come.
On the day of the jump, after a short delay because of bad weather, the all important call came through .. "We're on!" within the hour everyone had arrived at the aerodrome. We practised for the first time how to actually get out of the plane onto the all too small footplate. After a couple of practice exits it was back to get our parachutes on.
Ten minutes later: "EXIT !" and one by one tiny figures were jumping off the step into nothingness. For two and a half minutes, they floated gently down to the ground, with someone below shouting instructions and then it was into those rolled landings that we had practiced in the hanger.
The money will be used to further Contacts work with the elderly in buying small items eg. Magnifying glasses etc. We raised over 400 pounds and all of us involved would like to thank everyone who sponsored us and gave us their support.
By R. Alford.
Given the choice, most people would refuse adamantly, but six fifth year pupils did choose to go on a three day residential intensive French course. The course was held at Braeside, the county centre for education courses in Wiltshire.
Nobody knew quite what to expect, and it was with mixed feelings of horror that we learned what we had let ourselves in for: French lessons beginning at 9.30am and ending at 3.30pm, for three days!
Still slightly shocked the first session started, and to our sunrise it wasn't nearly as bad as we had initially thought, and soon everybody had settled down, and were getting to know each another, in french, of course!
Everything was supposed to have been spoken in French, but it must be said that at times this became too hard, but certainly by the end of the three days this became much easier. We also found lessons far more easy going than any of us were accustomed to. Mr Bird, the organiser of the course had "the infamous sheet of famous French tongue twisters", which, much to the embarrassment of everyone, he kept springing on unsuspecting students (and teachers)!
We were all split up into groups, in which, among other things, we had to recite on tape, a French poem, produce a display of work on Devizes and finally the ultimate test, each group had to perform a play, with puppets, written by themselves.
Despite initial indications, the course proved to be extremely enjoyable, as well as an informative experience. This was the case even for those people who were not especially good at French, and I found it safe to say everyone left with a sense of accomplishment, confidence in their attitude and less afraid of making fools of themselves.
By Roland Alford.
Slap bang in the middle of the fourth year exams, the school decided to take the geography students on an excursion to South Wales: The main objective of the trip was to reach the 'Big Pit' mining museum near Blaeravon. Great, we thought, a nice break from revision and exams. Even if we did have to work at the museum the journey would be fun. Oh no! - the moment we stepped on the bus, worksheets were handed out and every 'cats eye' on the M4 had to be observed and noted.
We stopped for the first time at Avonmouth Services and gingerly stepped, foot to tarmac on the Severn Bridge. After studying how little was actually holding us up, and after our teachers were perfectly sure that we were drenched to the skin by driving rain we were allowed to return to the warm safety of the coach. Then we were off again. Turning off the motorway at Newport we started the long climb through the valleys.
I think we arrived feeling fairly depressed after seeing towns like Pontypool ravished by mass unemployment and dereliction. But we had arrived. We quickly dismounted and entered a campus containing a few rather dreary buildings set ort a hill exposed dramatically to the elements.
Overlooking the pit head held we attacked our lunches and then descended in groups of sixteen with a guide who possessed such a broad welsh accent that he was extremely difficult to understand.
The trip underground was extremely good. We saw fungi which looked like meringue, machines which looked (and were, we were told) extremely vicious and heard about how hornets four inches long had been found down here. The only thing that was artificial, apparently, was the height of the tunnels we travelled through which were approximately 5 feet, when they were normally 2ft 6in. I had never experienced such darkness as when we all turned our small helmet Lights out. It was so easy to imagine being trapped down there and no one could possibly blame you for panicking. We stayed underground for around half an hour.
Upon the surface again we guided ourselves around the different buildings of the pit and filled in yet more work sheets. Buildings ranged from the forge to the pit-head and there was also a photographic exhibition. We studied the inside of those buildings extremely well, as outside it was tipping down with rain.
On the journey home we followed the river Wye and it's valley, stopping only to look at some geographical marvels. Amazingly we were reprieved from work on the way home thus ending the day perfectly.
By Crispin Lilly.
"Girls are better than boys" That's the claim made by Hardenhuish motorcycle Instructor Mr Malfoy. He says, "Girls can listen and take instruction, Instead of showing off like most of the lads do."
Recently, Fifth Year T.V.E.I. students have been taught basic motorcycle skills by Mr Malfoy on bikes ranging from mopeds to larger 100cc machines. the end result hopefully, will be a part one certificate.
So far, he has had some great success with Hardenhuish pupils - on last term's course a pleasing seven out of eleven passed.
Mr Malfoy is also the proud owner of the Quasar, the peculiar bike often seen on and around the campus. His economical vehicle, which can do 75 mpg, is one of only twenty-one ever produced. It is very heavy for a motorbike weighing 700lBs and cost him 5000 pounds in 1982.
By Lucian Hicks.
One fine June Saturday a group of 50 fourth year pupils and three willing teachers, all set out on a day packed full of fun and adventure.
It was a trip to Alton Towers, one of Britain's biggest tourist attractions, with over 100 rides and attractions, set in thousands of acres of Staffordshire countryside.
The thrills of rides such as the world famous Corkscrew, the Enterprise, the Black Hole, a sensational Journey Through Space, the worlds longest Log Flume and the Grande Canyon - the worlds largest rapid ride, were enjoyed by many.
The less adventurous or mad looked around the sheer beauty of Alton Towers' magnificent and splendid gardens and stately buildings, that form an unequalled setting for Europe's premier leisure park.
At the end of a long day, everybody had enjoyed a successful and breathtaking day out.
By James Waring.
The love of the T.V. Series "Robin Of Sherwood" started a whole new project for Lisa Wrench.
It began in May of 1984 when she started to write a book based on the T.V. series. The book called "A Legend Alive" is 334 pages long containing thirteen chapters. Many of the chapters are written to the storyline of the series but Lisa added a few Chapters of her own happenings. As well being a very talented author, Lisa is a first rate artist, so she chose to accompany her work with a few dozen illustrations in pencil of various scenes in the book.
Lisa had no intention of trying to have it published until a friend of the family, who is an extra in the programme read her book. He advised her to try to have it published. So he took it to Manchester Polytechnic and two publishers, one in London and the other more local in Melksham. They told Lisa they were interested in the book and they would be pleased if Lisa would illustrate other children's books for them.
Now Lisa's book and her illustrations have been sent to David Ross, a publisher in Hampshire. So we wish her every success and hope to see "Legend Alive" in the book shops soon!
by James Waring.
From L to R, Front row: E. Powell 5H, K. Hulbert 5WY, E. Phillips. Middle row: S. Collett 5W, L. Bird 5WY, J. Allison (4th Year), M. Cole 5H. Back row: M. Garlick 5W, R. Alford 5G, A. Joad 5S, G. Squires 5H.
An excellent year in every aspect. The 5th Year Rugby and Soccer teams played many fixtures and gained some success.
Hockey 'Took off' in a big way, the 5th Year Boys team were joint winners of the wiltshire tournament held at The John Bentley School, Calne.
Indoor Hockey was played every Tuesday night in the Sports Hall (Sheldon) The 24 hour hockey event was a total success with £400 raised for Burton Hill House School and the P.E. Dept. The event was well organised by Howard Alcock and James Waring of 5WY.
The 5th Year games lessons have been a lot of fun this year. Mr Walton has been taught the rules of hockey by the 5th year, to which he is really grateful.
Mr Walton and myself hope that the enthusiasm and interest shown by the 5th Year in Sport will continue for years to come, and that maybe one day we shall see some of them as national sports representatives.
Remember "Sport is fun and a healthy activity"
Mr T.P. Wikeley
The under 16 Netball Team has been taking part in the National Schools Competition throughout the season. This is organised in a number of rounds with the two Winners of each round going on to the next The team has won the Mid-Wilts Tournament, The Wiltshire County Tournament, and now the Southern Counties Tournament. As winners they will be representing the Southern Counties Region - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, North Hampshire, South Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire - in the National Finals at Welwyn Garden City in March. This Tournament brings together the eighteen top schools in England (two from each region) to decide on who are the English School Champions.
This is a very great achievement and the girls deserve a lot of credit.
PLAYERS: Linda Bird, Julie Allison, Sharon Collett (Captain) Marina Cole, Karen Hulbert, Amandip Purewall, Sharon Hiscox, Emma Powell, Emma Phillips, Sarah Wakefield, and Alison Kilby.
Well that's it then - last year Of C.S.E., Last Year of C.S.E. orals.....
"A talk, What do you mean a talk, I can't do a TALK...."
"'Do you HAVE to bring a horse?"
"Is Bonsai better than Karate?" "For What? Depends." "For my TALK." "I can't do a talk... I don't know about anything...."
So what did they talk about?
Farming, The Girls Venture Corps, Horses (without the horse), the R.S.P.C.A., the N.S.P.C.C., Child Safety, Drugs, Dogs (and more dogs), Budgies, Snooker, Airguns, Golf, and C.B.
And there was cricket, Suen Hassel (who?), Game Sports, Tug of War, Karate (not Bonsai). Motor Bikes and Motor Scooters and being a Mod (same scooter). And there was another Dog and Drumming and Preparing a Vegetarian Salad (which the Drummer ate) and making Easter Biscuits (which we all ate) and making a cake (which was taken home again.....). Then there was Water Skiing (No demonstration), Keeping a Rabbit (starring Twinkie the Albino Rabbit with cayunchuihs). There Was Netball (three times actually) and chess. And Motor cycling and the Girls' Venture Corps' again. There was How to look after a Hamster (without Errol the hamster who stayed at home because it was a cold wet day and he's getting on a bit...) And there was another kind of Karate. Plus Dancing and Railways and Motor Cross (and early Motorcycles- and the history of Cycling.)
Fishing, of Course. There's always fishing. And Young Farmers. Canoeing, hairdressing, the Falklands War, three accounts of different illnesses and disorders thoughtfully explained. We had Sikhism. And dressmaking (with three models) We had a trip to Florida and another to San Diego Bay. Bellringing (oh alright Campanology) Nationality dolls and goats (with the dolls, without the goat) Electronics and this really old (80!) tortoise. A HUGE dog. An absent cat. Lacock Abbey and two months in Egypt. Darts (and Archery.) T.V.E.I. and running a playgroup. Snooker, snooker, snooker and Pool. Running. Archery. American (and English) Football. Liverpool F.C. Working in Presto. Diving. Powerboats. Records. Punks. My Dad's business. My Family. Computers. Radio-controlled Cars. Marilyn Monroe and the Red Cross (no, not together) Radio controlled model aeroplanes. Work experience at Leigh Delamere.
And we had a talk On Artificial Respiration with half a body With see-through lungs. And the design of an electronic aid to help a disabled person take photographs.
"So what did you do in School today?"
"Not much, just the Orals."
(And if I've overlooked anyone - apologies! (I really was listening!)
The trouble with teenagers - They're all alike.
The EstateThe buildings are shabby and old, By Sharon Hiscox |
The RoomSitting alone on the bench, Roland Alford. |
I can hear an Echo Echo Echo Echo
You can hear an Echo Echo Echo Echo
Everywhere around me Echo Echo Echo Echo
I can hear an Echo Echo Echo Echo
Lucian Hicks.
by Lisa Wrench
At the February half term holiday ninety of our pupils spent a week on Work Experience. Their reactions can best be judged from the following extracts which were taken from their diaries. It is also interesting to see what employers felt too, so we have given some of their comments. In the interest of realism we include some quotations which show a balance of impressions.
Written and compiled by Mr E. Chandler.
To all the fifth years: thank you for your companionship this year. I knew very few of you in September but you made it easy for me to work with you and your tutors. I've appreciated your courtesy, your willingness to take on responsibility and your great sense of humour. (Sometimes!)
I'll pass on to you a favourite poem of mine. It strikes a serious note but it may help you as it has helped me. Au reviour and good luck to you all.
C. H.
Telling lies to the young is wrong. Proving to them that lies are true is wrong.
Telling them that God's in his heaven and all's well with the world is wrong.
The young know what you mean. The young are people.
Tell them the difficulties can't be counted, and let them see with clarity these present times.
Say obstacles exist they must encounter; sorrow happens, hardship happens.
The hell with it. Who never knew the price of happiness will not be happy.
Forgive no error you recognize; it will repeat itself, increase, and afterwards our pupils will not forgive in us what we forgave.
(Yevtushenko)
You have been a wonderful Tutor Group this year and I am going to miss you all.
I hope that you do well in your exams and gain success and happiness in your life ahead.
Good luck and best wishes for the future. your humble Tutor,
T.P. Wikeley (Mr.)
It's been great to be the tutor of an interesting and talented bunch of 5th years. Good luck and Best Wishes to all of you.
Dave Bracher
To 5.S.
Thanks for showing me the ropes and for a pleasant, relaxing start to every day.
Good luck to you all, with your jobs, colleges and studies.
Most of all, HAVE FUN!
Diana Kavangol.
Thanks for all the memories!
best of luck to you all
F.E. O'Flanagen .
To all 5th Year students
I wish you the very best of luck in your new endeavours, it's been great having you during the last two years.
Tutor Group 5G you are all very special in your different ways, the best group I've had!
Good luck to you all now and for the rest of your lives.
Au revoir, Madame Glueck.
To 5M
When I first joined the school back in September, I was offered a 5th year tutor group. "Do you think that you can handle them?" asked peter Thompson. "No trouble", I confidently replied, how wrong I was.
My first taste of what was to come arose over my pronunciation of Amandip's name (congratulations again on being our first 5th year Head girl). I distinctly remember one day - Mr. Mudd she said, it is not Amanpip, Amandep, Annie, or even Arnie... I finally did get it right. Helen and Claire also took me to task. I would keep on calling Helen, Claire, and vice-versa - well its not my fault that they must have swopped names.
At Christmas, we had without doubt the best decorated lab in England for which my thanks go to you all but especially Lisa who spent hours cutting out the Merry Christmas design. By the way Lisa you can have your hole-punch back - when I find it! Kevin, Marlon and Desmond were also a great help at this time though swinging from the decorations to test their strength did little to please the girls.
After Christmas (which I was now a proud owner of a kissing mug and an inflatable seagull) we had the mocks to contend with. the timetable totally confused me and my thanks to you all for helping me to translate it. Although the kissing mug has stood the test of time it was a sad day when during a 5th year Chemistry demonstration the seagull was blown away.
Easter came and went and life with 5M settled down fairly smoothly even though I think that you all did get sick of me asking whether you had a job, school, college or whatever place arranged. Sharon and Judith said once, yes we DO have something arranged, why do you keep on asking?!
With the real exams on I thought that 5M would become quiet, studious and maybe a little boring. Once again, how wrong I was. That night at Goldiggers will remain etched on my memory for a long long time (so will the lipstick on my shirt collar for that matter!). My thanks to Kerry for bopping with me that night.
Well that's about it. My thanks to you all for making life so exciting and I wish you all, Judith, Naomi, Lisa, Sharon, Kerry, Rachel (good taste in umbrellas) Helen, Carl, Mark, Simon, Kevin, Darren and Karon who is STILL always late, the very very very best for the future.
From. Mr Mudd
This has undoubtedly been the most enjoyable year I have spent at Hardenhuish. Perhaps this could have something to do with the fact that I haven't taught many lower school classes this year, but it is probably due to my tutor group and their friends.... .... life has not been the same since they invaded my room!
Although it will be sad to see many of the 5th year leave, there are several reasons in favour of the Whole lot going - the main one being financial - the amount of expertly made food they have consumed this year is amazing!
Apart from their outstanding achievements in eating, there are many other areas where certain pupils have to be commended. David and Amandip for becoming head prefects; the sponsored 24 hour hockey team and supporters; Matthew and Roland in their death-defying parachute jumps to raise money for Contact; and Crispin, David, Kyle and Matthew for their wonderful fancy- dress costumes for the mass rugby and hockey matches.
I would also like to thank all those pupils who turned up for the exciting outings to the Link Centre and Alton Towers, where the organising committee (Mr Wikeley, Mr Walton and myself) had lots of fun and made a loss on every trip! - All donations greatly received.
Hopefully there will be many more such trips for those going into the 6th form, but for those who aren't, especially those from 5W who are leaving, I would like to wish you every success and happiness for the future. You've been a wonderful tutor group.
Clair Williams
To 5J
Wishing you success in your exams and Best Wishes for your future.
G. R. Jones
You are an interesting group of young people who's individual characters I've come to appreciate through being a fifth year tutor. Thank you 5HL and to the classes I've taken for Art for being so tolerant of me!
Of course I wish you well and want always to think and hear well of you. It is a beginning rather than an end for you, and for many there will be the big step of leaving home. Travel hopefully and remember your friends and make new ones (this is where your address book is handy!) - and never be afraid of the unknown.
Be adventurous and you will grow. There's a lot of fun in the big world outside.
Happy landings every one.
Maggie Hill
To 5H
Thanks for an interesting two years.
I hope that you all keep well and find everything that you wish for;
Take care!
David Huxtable
The End of the Yearbook, but not the end in any other sense; alternatively, at least the end of the beginning, but certainly not the beginning of the end!
With apologies to my old tutor, Miss. Hill, for nicking part of her farewell message (highlighted above).