The Famous Five – Alumni Stories, Peter Boyd
I studied Chemistry at St Johns between 1967 & 1970 so I missed Brian Cane by a couple of years. There was a group of us students known as the Famous Five: Myself, Neil Durrant, Jim Clayton, Dennis Myers & Tony Layton.
The head of Chemistry in 1967 was JJ Milbourne & he was supported by Jim Sellwood, Brian Tabron & John Slade. We had lectures and practical sessions in the labs at Heworth Croft. We enjoyed the opportunity given to us in the science area- the academic challenge was significant and the Chemical Education sessions were inspiring.
I met Philip Lamb at my interview where he told me that I would become a better person after studying at St Johns particularly if I moved on from reading books by Ian Fleming! We had disciplinaries with the then Vice Principal, Mr Jennings I think, over dress code – he observed us on Lord Mayors Walk and accused us of being a troop of tramps! We were carpeted in his office. The experience in those days was really like an extension from a Public School 6th Form – it was formal and sometimes quite petty. We were consistently encouraged into thinking that we had to set an example to those around us!
For my first and third year I lived in the Croft Hostel under the watchful eye of the warden Bill Richardson (Bill worked in the Physics area at the Croft Labs) and the matron Miss Silk. Everything was provided for us just as you would expect to get from a Boarding school – this is what it was really like in those days!!! We had plenty of rules and there was much etiquette required. I don’t care to think about the experience I had in digs in my 2nd year. It was a disaster!
I enjoyed my teaching practices in Thirsk & Nunthorpe near Middlesborough & I went on to my first job at Archbishop Holgates Grammar School in York where I taught all sorts but mainly Nuffield Chemistry & Physics to O & A level. I then spent 20 years working at York Sixth Form College/York College where I taught A level Physics.
I’m now happily retired and living in Haxby. We are approaching our 50th anniversary since we all met in York to begin our tertiary education course. We are all still in touch except for Tony Layton who has gone off the map. We are planning to get together to celebrate our anniversary in York.
Regards
Peter Boyd (1967 -1970)
