George Drewry, a T.A. officer, was called up immediately war was declared and, later, several members of Staff, including Jack here, Roland Turner and Harry Scott joined the forces. Even our charming secretary, who had done so much to enhance our society, was drafted. We had a succession of temporary staff, some more successful than others. The ladies included the efficient but formidable Miss Barton. Is true that she once ordered the Sixth form to put hands on heads?

There is an interesting story about Miss Winstanley. After the war, she went out to Rhodesia and married, she and her husband gave a lift to a trainee airman - the RAF was still doing pilot training there. On the way, she called, "How are your Maths these days, Glover ?" It was indeed Glover from Eccleston whom she had taught during the war. Glover it was who was trapped under the floorboards in Room 17 when registration was taken and was marked absent. He tried forged notes and feigned telephone calls but, in the end, was exposed by the School MI6.

Part of the field was dug up for vegetable growing and fatigue parties were sent out to local farms to help the war effort. I have a clear memory of Brian Brownless looking at me as he knelt singling turnips, his face a picture of agonised appeal. Mr. and Mrs. Hood took parties on farm canps.

This was strangely enough a period of steady growth and the School emerged after the black-outs, rationing and shortages stronger than ever. It was unfortunate that we had to celebrate our 400th Anniversary In wartime but we managed to make it memorable. One of the most important results was the resunption of the connection between the School and King's College, Cambridge and Brazenose College, Oxford. Many boys, some here present, have benefited from these connections. At this tine, the local authority was persuaded to return the School endowments which they had taken over when we joined the state system. This fund, administered by the Foundation Governors, increased considerably in their capable hands. They bought the house in Dent and provided the school with many other amenities. A fund was raised to provide university scholarships and was administered by a separate committee.

Equally important was the publication of Frank Bailey's history of the School, later reprinted in the 1960's. Both have acquired the status of rare books. Is it not time for a second reprint ? Could not this be a project for the Old Boys or the School ?

More significant for the School's future, was the passing of the 1944 Education Act. With the end of the war (hopefully) in sight, a vision of a brave new world was unfolded before our eyes. 'Secondary education for all1 was easily accomplished by renaming elementary schools 'secondary' One cynic described it as making democracy safe for the public schools. In fact, it brought, our prep, department to an end. Fees were abolished and entry limited to those passing the 11+ examination. The prep. department had, perhaps, in the old days offered easy access to the main school. One or two unsuitable people managed to slip through. One boy found it difficult to 'carry one' to the next column until a new method of hitting himself on the chest was devised for him. 'Seven plus six ..... thirteen, three down and (thump) carry one. He was later to be seen running a milk round in Present.

At last, thirteen years late, the leaving age was raised to fifteen. On reflection, we see that the 1944 Act, though recognising granular schools as part of the scheme of secondary education, was but a milestone on the road to their demise and to the establishment of the conprehensive system. We did not ask "for whom the bell tolled". We were too conscious of our own virtue to recognise this threat to our very existence.

Staff returned from the war only, in some cases to move on to higher things. The ladies found other jobs, no doubt hardened by their experiences in PGS. To my relief, I was able to hand over the P.E. to younger men.

(This was a period of change with many comings and goings among the Staff. Some stayed with us until their retirement, rendering solid and permanent support. Among these I include our own Charles Middlehurst)

Over the years we developed a wide range of societies. The oldest, the Debating Society, was a healthy young concern when I joined the staff in 1927. Our greatest distinction was the appointment of lan Maclntyre to be President of that most prestigious debating society, the Cambridge Union. I regret that the mace which I presented to our Society was not replaced after the fire.

Ladies, if your husbands show a regrettable tendency to argue with you when they are patently wrong, put it down to their experience in pleading lost causes in which they did not believe. This is the time to remind them of the society's motto; "stand up, speak: up, SHUT UP".

The Dramatic Society was toy baby. On the acquisition of the gym. in 1930, I persuaded Mr Richardson to allow us to produce 'The Rivals' . In this, Charles Middlehurst appeared as Sir Anthony Absolute. We continued to produce during the thirties, gaining in confidence and experience. I well remember J.G. Lowe's Shylock ........ all 6' 4" of him. I like to think that at this time we created quite a following. There were no performances during the war, only House competition plays which provided much fun. . .especially the tragic ones. After the war, I particularly remember our 'Macbeth' .

Later, I handed over to Des. Roberts, one of our own graduates. Indeed, I had never monopolised the job of producer. Here I must pay tribute to the help I received in all sorts of skills. For example, the training of the drunken porter was put into the capable hands of Charles. Ultimately the Spencer Briggs Hall gave us a real theatre. I could go on - but I must restrain myself.

Some time before Mr. Briggs retired I was appointed deputy head. On one occasion I nearly involved the School in one of those scandals beloved of the popular (or gutter) press. Mr. Briggs was ill when Speech Day came along. A boy named Brown who had left the previous July, approached the platform and explained that, although he had signified that he could not attend, he now found that he could. Would it be possible for him to come forward to receive his certificate? I had to say "No" because the certificates of the 'refusnic' had been left in school and we were in the BICC canteen. There was in the Audience a certain freelance journalist. (Was he the man who 'acquired' Prince Charles's exercise book when he was at Gordonstoun ?) He informed a certain Sunday newspaper that a boy had not been allowed to receive his prize because he had grown a beard ....... and, indeed, it was a most magnificent specimen, grown in only a few months. The newspaper rang me to confirm the story and they only accepted my version when they had found Brown who did confirm it. Even then they were reluctant to let the matter drop and I had to threaten legal action. Luckily for me, however, Brown possessed that virtue common the all Prescotians - truthfulness.

It was Brown who was suspected, as a leaving present no doubt, of painting GENTS in large letters on the roof of the groundsman's hut; perhaps for the convenience of passing airmen.

On another occasion and another Speech Day, I had to meet the speaker, a young don fron King's, at Lime street station. As I walked down the platform, I was intrigued by the crowd of reporters and photographers. Was this, I wondered, the moment when Present Grammar School hit the headlines?

My- hopes were dashed when I saw the short figure of tile Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, Member for Huyton. (It was the weekend when the pound was under threat of devaluation.)

Both Mr. Richardson and Mr. Briggs regarded the headship of Prescot Granmar School as their life's work. They were followed by two heads who stayed for short periods and regarded the post as a springboard to reach higher things. Mr Brown stayed for four years and Mr Weeks not much longer. When the Spencer Briggs Hall and other buildings appeared, we foolishly thought that we had the nucleus of an establishment worthy of an ancient granmar school like ours. Indeed, plans for the complete school were on the drawing board. Alas! ... the deluge was almost upon us.

When I survey my career, my pessimism extends even to my work in the clasroom - and I am first and foremast a classroom man. How much tine did I waste in trying to improve your powers of comunication! Recently, I was standing at the bar of my local. In such circunstanoes, I often break into my tap-dance routine. A farming type, sitting on a stool, broke out into, "Be, ah, or, oh, aw, eel" Not one recognisable Ehglish word, but his meaning was perfectly clear. Yet, for the life of him, he would not have been able to tell you the difference between an adverb clause of condition and an adverb clause of concession - a distinction which has done so much to enhance the quality of your lives!

You will expect me to include something about 'comprehensivisation1 (horrid word).Lluckily, I missed it. All I will say is that I an deeply suspicious of the intrusion of party politics into education. Secondly, I dislike the mammoth school, a kind of scholastic sausage machine. But I will say something in defence of grammar schools. During my career, I thought I was performing a useful social purpose. Adjusting my halo, I thought I was helping in social revolution which enabled the sons of not-so-well-off parents to compete with the products of the public schools. Perhaps we were too successful.

What was this grammar school ethos? It is not easy to define but you know it because you have experienced it. We shared something good, something that has brought us here tonight. I say "we" because I include the staff who not only gave but received. Scratch an English Master and you get a quotation. When King Arthur saw the end of his order of chivalry, he comforted himself with the thought that change was essential to progress. "Lest one good custom should corrupt the world." I don't know about 'corrupting the world' but the custom was certainly good.

We wish the School well as we strive to recognise it in its present form. In 1944 they cut off its feet, some forty years later they chopped off its head. In between, they changed its sex .... .... ....

GOOD LUCK, HEADMASTER.