Old Godhelmian Association Newsletter (21) - December 2022  Dear Old Godhelmian, We hope you are all well and looking forward to the festive season. The next full OGA Reunion will be on 14^th October 2023 at Godalming College, Tuesley Lane, Godalming GU7 1RS from 11.00 to 4.00.  This time we are going to have a cold buffet. Hot drinks, cakes and biscuits will be available throughout the day. More details later on. There will be an optional evening gathering at the Inn on the Lake, Ockford Rd, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1RH from 5.00 onwards. Book - A School on a Hill - A message from Shirley Coleman on behalf of the OGA committee We have been compiling an appreciation of Godalming Grammar School containing photographs, histories, anecdotes, interviews and memorabilia. We are delighted to announce that the book, A School on a Hill - An Appreciation of Godalming Grammar School from its Foundation in 1930 to the Present Day is nearly ready for printing. The contents are shown for your interest. PREFACE A SCHOOL ON A HILL - Ben Elton GROWING UP IN GODALMING - Louis de Bernières

1. A SHORT HISTORY OF GODALMING GRAMMAR SCHOOL
2. THE WAR YEARS
3. TOWARDS THE 21ST CENTURY
4. TEACHING STAFF
5. SCHOOL CURRICULUM, EXAMS AND REPORTS
6. SCHOOL CUSTOMS
7. SPORTS AND SPORTS DAY
8. MUSIC AND DRAMA
9. SCHOOL CLUBS, SOCIETIES, COMPETITIONS and TRIPS
10. THE SCHOOL’S INFLUENCE
11. THE OLD GODHELMIAN ASSOCIATION
12. FROM GRAMMAR SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

Appendix A: Some of the Notable People Associated with the School Appendix B: School War Memorial INDEX OF NAMES OF CONTRIBUTORS BIBLIOGRAPHY The book is expected to be available for purchase from Summer 2023. Copies will also be available at the next school re union on 14^th October 2023. We are seeking pre-sales agreements to contribute to the printing costs for this full-colour,  200+ page book. We have selected our printers from a number of contenders on the basis of both quality and costs. The finished article will be professionally printed and bound. Understandably, the printers require a substantial down payment and the overall printing costs of our initial 500 copies will be considerable and not possible to fund from the OGA bank balance. The book will sell for £20 per copy with the aim of breaking even rather than being profit making. We would be very grateful if you would help in this marvellous venture by paying for your copy (or copies) in advance. All pre-sales will be fully acknowledged with a voucher for your copies of the book. Please deposit £20 for each copy that you would like to reserve online at our bank account as soon as possible, using the reference “Your surname + GGS Book: Our bank account details are as follows: Old Godhelmian Association Co-operative bank Sort Code: 08-92-99 Account No.: 65719682 Here are the other details you might need if living abroad. IBAN number is GB52CPBK08929965719682 BIC number is CPBKGB22 Thank you very much in advance. We are very excited to see the book in its final form. Poetry Workshop The online poetry workshop will be a discussion group, similar to a book club. A trial run will be held in the New Year and if it is successful, it will become a regular event.  If you are interested in taking part in this informal online gathering, please let Eleanor know ([email protected]). Each session will be led by a different person, starting with Pat Williams (née Youngfir). Here is one of Pat’s Christmas poem choices: A Christmas Poem – Wendy Cope At Christmas little children sing and merry bells jingle, The cold winter air makes our hands and faces tingle, The happy families go to church and cheerily they mingle, And the whole business is unbelievably dreadful if you’re single. Website Please let us know if you have any problems logging on to the website.  We have increased the security and it may affect people living overseas or people using Apple equipment. Please register on the website (https://www.theoga.org/) in order to access the full range of information and photographs. Membership To date (December 2022) 459 people have confirmed their membership of the OGA and 169 people have registered on the Website. Finally, The OGA Committee would like to wish you all A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Essential Information Website 

• The website (www.theoga.org) has been updated by Richard Hindle with support from Mary Pugh and Eleanor Andrews and is now live.
• Archive material (photographs, obituaries, history, etc.) from the original website has mostly been
• We are adding more material all the time.

 Archive

• We would be grateful for GGS images, in high definition. Until further notice, please send in digital form to Eleanor ([email protected]).

 Social Media

• Currently there are three Facebook pages for ex-pupils of Godalming Grammar School:
  • GGS School Reunion 2017 (a closed group set up for that specific purpose)
  • Godalming Grammar School Reunion (a public group set up for a specific reunion)
  • Godalming Grammar School (a closed general group)
• Godalming College has a Facebook page.
• There is another interesting Facebook page for Godalming Town Past and Present.
• Twitter - @Godalming Grammar School, @ Godalming College
• Instagram – Godalming College

Eleanor Andrews (née Whitcombe) – Secretary Jude Baker (née Tribe) Shirley Coleman – Chair Peter Cousins – Treasurer Annette Ettorre (née Pickford) Hazel Freeston (née White)

65 – 72 65 – 72 65 – 72 65 - 72 65 - 72 47 - 54

David Hayes Susan Hindle (née Potts) Mary Pugh (née Pout) Marta Riddle (née Grabiec) Judy Stoker (née Bennett) Steve Teague

66 – 71 65 – 72 65 – 72 65 - 72 55 – 61 70 – 77