TODAY’S Nostalgia spread takes us back to a magical year - 1966.
Our piece has nothing to do with England’s famous World Cup victory against West Germany.
However, there is a global feel to it as this particular trip down memory lane links Colchester with Perth, in Western Australia.
It comes hot on the heels of our recent Nostalgia piece featuring photos taken by retired Gilberd School teacher Eddie Ross.
Who’s who - Mr Ross’ 1G class photo. Pictured in the front row are Janet Rutterford, Jean Crozier, Pamela Moncur, Shiela Chapman, Elizabeth Turner, Barbara Towns, Paula Coxall, Carol Green, Ann Coles, Rita Eady, Caroline Nielsen, Shiela Cawley and Hendrika Westaway. In the second row are Leslie Haworth, Jeffrey Gwinnell, Vincent Jerrard, Glyn Overbury, Carl Hale, William Kempster, Neil Gilbranch, (slightly back), Philip Strachan, Larry Becker, AN Other, Paul Fookes and Andrew Lloyd. In the back row are Andrew Ling, Martin Limb and Simon Brook
A former student from Mr Ross’ very first form, in 1966, has got back in touch with memories of his time in class 1G.
Mr Ross, now 84, said: “I first came to Colchester to teach at the Gilberd in 1966, having previously been teaching English in Bremen, in North Germany. I was appointed to teach German as a new subject, starting in the First Year - now Year Seven.
“Three classes learnt French and 1G was the only class learning German.
“I taught them for five years.
The name game - the original 1G register from 1966
“They were a very interesting group with a wide range of personalities.
“At Easter in the third year, I took them to Germany, staying in youth hostels in Bremen, Lübeck and Hamburg.
“At that time there was a direct ferry service between Harwich and Bremen.
“The day we returned a new service started between Hamburg and Harwich. The trip cost £26 for ten days!
Hopes and dreams - Glyn Overbury in 1966, when he was in form 1G at the Gilberd School
“Following the publication of my photographs in the Gazette, I was delighted to receive emails from a number of former students, including a former member of 1G, Glyn Overbury, now living in Perth, Australia.”
Despite it being more than half a century ago, much-respected Mr Ross kept a photo of his first form and a copy of the class register, as pictured on these pages.
Mr Overbury, a retired oil and gas engineer, made contact through the new website which was set up to host Mr Ross’ old school photos.
“Even after 55 years he will always be ‘Mr Ross’ and not ‘Eddie’ to me,” he said.
Bridging the gap - Glyn Overbury, who now lives in Perth, Western Australia
“As a teacher, he was calm and controlled and always able to encourage learning in the face of misguided antithesis from self-entitled, stroppy teenagers.
“Mr Ross was in step with the more relaxed education ethic of the time and, as such, he was not only a teacher, but an adviser and a guide.
“Sometimes people are not appreciated until it’s too late to say thank you, but, in this case, it’s a happy exception. So, thank you Mr Ross.”
Calm and controlled - Eddie Ross, who taught at the Gilberd School on North Hill between 1966 and 1985
n Were you in form 1G at the Gilberd School in 1966 or do you have old school pictures of your own to share?
If so, we’d love to hear from you.
Email matt.plummer@newsquest.co.uk
Early days - this picture was taken in 1966, just after Mr Ross started teaching at the Gilberd
Looking back - former Gilberd School teacher Eddie Ross
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