Category: 1956

Tony Crimlisk

The Photographic Collection of 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."

 

Click on images to enlarge


Gerald Lomas

Gerald Lomas

 

1956-58

 

Drama

 

"I took part in the Mystery Plays, and created the character of ADAM, dressed in a body stocking with the addition of a fig leaf at the appropriate moment."

Click on image for enlargement

To read Gerry's Reminiscence, click the link below

 

Reminiscence of Gerry Lomas


Bob & Shelagh Johnson images

The Photographic Collection of Bob & Shelagh Johnson (née Allan)

Bob Johnson and Shelagh Allan

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Shelagh Allan entered Bretton Hall in 1956.  Her main study was Art, with decorative needlework and Drama as subsidiary subjects.  Her recollection is that the Principal - John Frederick Friend - lectured on the Psychology of Education;  the Theory of Education was presented by Charles Good, and English by Paul Haeffner, Ralph Best, Margaret Jowett, and others.  Movement was led by vice-principal, Margaret Dunn.

Bob Johnson joined the college in 1957 after two years' National Service in Cyprus. His main study was Drama with Martial Rose, who is described by Shelagh as "a brilliant and charismatic tutor". 

After leaving Bretton, Shelagh and Bob were married.

Shelagh Johnson's embroidery (2016) of the Stable Block arcade.

Embroidery by Shelagh Johnson in 2016


Shelagh Allan

Shelagh Johnson (née Allan) 1956-58 

“In the fifties, photos were largely black and white. Much of life was utility grey or the ubiquitous green and cream of building interiors, but Bretton life was technicolour because I was in love with the building, the countryside and my fellow students.”

Shelagh Allan attended Bretton Hall from 1956 to 1958, when the student population was only 150.    Her main study was Art, with Drama as a subsidiary subject.   In 1958 she took part in one of Martial Rose’s productions of his celebrated  translation of the Wakefield Mystery Plays.

Shelagh’s Reminiscences