Donald Craig

: Reunion 2007

: View from Menagerie Wood

: 1958 Group

: Paul Cooper with twins

: Rodney Smith 1958

: Gerry Lomas in 1958

: Gerry Lomas in 1958

: Paul Cooper in 1958

: Don Craig in 2016

: Ann Collins 1958

: Wakefield Mystery Plays 1958

: Vincent Wilding 1958

: 57-59 Group at 2007 Reunion

: 57-59 Group at 2007 Reunion

: Don Craig with Martial Rose c. 2010

: David Wigley & Jacquie Feeney

: 1958 view from Cascade Bridge

: Upper lake in Winter 1958

Tony Crimlisk

After National Service in the RAF as a radar mechanic (1953-55), Tony Crimlisk trained at Bretton Hall from 1956-58, and followed this up with a year’s training at the Trinity College of Music in London.

After seeing the Bretton Hall website early in 2015, he sent a CD of images from his days at Bretton in the 1950s. An extract from his accompanying letter is displayed below.

"… Enclosed is a CD of Bretton photos from the years 1956-8. I can’t be certain about the exact year for each photo, but I got a letter telling me that I had been accepted for Bretton on Sept 18th 1956 and term started the following day – obviously it was a near thing and I was only narrowly accepted! In September 1958 I started a supplementary year at Trinity College of Music, London so all the photos are within that time frame.

"We lived of course in the house. In the second year I shared the King Henry VIII room with Michael (later Inigo) Jackson and Brian Baines (later Yorkshire TV presenter.) Best friend was Liz Horner – believe it or not (although I was 21) she was also my first ever girlfriend – I’d of course been in National Service for two years.

"In year two it was Peter White with whom I started the Camera Club and who was Best Man at my wedding to Gill Davies, who was in Peter’s year at Bretton, although I didn’t know her until we accidentally met at the 21st birthday party of another Bretton student, Sybil Chambers, in London in 1961. Small world!

"Obviously many of the photos will be unsuitable but you might as well have them all. I did wonder about the one where I am impersonating Tarzan! My wife, however, thought I should include it as it shows a different side to college! I think we were rehearsing a sketch – or maybe we were just fooling around."

: 1957 Rugby Match-Grimsk

Idris Rees

Carol Stirrup images

: Tutorial group – 1962

: Hostel Group 1962-64

Martial Rose

Martial Rose's Reminiscence relates the fond memories of his first year at Bretton Hall as a lecturer in English and Drama. His recollection is of warm relationships with his colleagues and the support of the Principal. In a reminiscence that is so redolent of the period, he recalls that he owned a 1937 Morris 12 car "with a running-board".

Although not considered in this reminiscence, Martial Rose later earned national acclaim for his achievements in translating mediaeval texts and subsequently directing the 1958 production of twenty of the Wakefield Mystery Plays at Bretton Hall. Referring to Martial's achievements, Dr. Alyn Davies, one of the later Principals of Bretton Hall commented:

"This must be the single most significant act of scholarship at Bretton."

Gordon Curl

From 1954 to 1960, Gordon Curl introduced Bretton Hall's male students to the imaginative application of creative dance in schools. Curl was greatly influenced by the celebrated work of Rudolf Laban (1879-1958), who, in Europe, had earned a reputation as one of the most distinguished figures in the evolution and development of modern dance.

At Bretton Hall, Gordon Curl's influence on the development of creative Movement and Dance was profound. He was later extensively involved in the original negotiations with the National Government's Department for Education & Science for the recognition of Dance in the National Curriculum.

Gordon's Reminiscence recalls the influence of Rudolf Laban's ideas and methods during the 1950s when the approaches to the teaching of Physical Education were undergoing revolutionary developments.