George Robson (FN 57-64) recalls incidents surrounding the opening of the school’s New Block. “With the ‘New Block’ (now known as the Science Block) recently completed and opened by ‘bouncing bomb’ creator Barnes Wallis, Headmaster James Wykes was keen that it should be shown at its best and accessible to visitors on Speech Day 1959. Therefore, he instructed the staff that worked in the block’s classrooms that their rooms should not only be presentable but that each should have an interesting exhibition for parents and other visitors to view. This order applied too to the staff based in the ‘old’ science block and the new metalwork shop. Photo of James Wykes and Barnes Wallis at the opening may be seen here. A photo of the Science Block as it is today may be seen below.
Geography master ‘Spike’ Cawthorne, for example, put on display the fine collection of fossils that were kept in his room and also sorted out the more colourful and interesting maps his department possessed. And the new Biology master, Eric Middleton - who became housemaster of Grindal and later still enjoyed a notable career in Yorkshire - made his contribution to the scheme. The school and he over the intervening years kept in contact. He wrote a series of books concerning his deep Christian faith, presenting signed copies of them to the school. He published four - The New Flatlanders, Dimensions of the Spirit, Surprised by the Spirit, An Inside Track to the Spirit. I had both good relations with head of history, Ron Johnson*, and a very enthusiastic interest in the subject. Therefore, I volunteered to Ron to mount an exhibition concerning the rare and valuable penny black that my late grandfather had bequeathed to me in his will. Ron readily encouraged me to do this. I heard at the time that a fair number of visitors found interest in my display. I guess I was taking a chance displaying the stamp in an unguarded room, but there it was throughout the celebrations for me to retrieve in good time. The Penny Black was altered in colour to the Penny Red in 1841 after less than a year of its issue and it was during this period that my great great grandfather purchased a penny black in London and posted it to the family home here in Northumberland where it has been passed on as an heirloom ever since.
Ron Johnson	Eric Middleton
*Ron shortly after his years at St Bees emigrated to Australia. He died there in 2024.” Photos of Ron and his obituary may be seen here. (Jan 2026 - We have just been advised that Eric Middleton died on 29/10/25. Ed.)
The Penny Black

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

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