Heath: 400 years on
In this 24 minute audiotape compiled to celebrate 400 years since the granting of the charter Mike Woodhead introduces interviews with and about a number of Old Heathens.
The first is with Eric Webster (1920–2005 [Heath 1932–1938]) who speaks about Jesse_Ramsden (1735–1800 [Heath 1744–1747]), the 18th century scientific instrument maker.
The second is with Charles (Carl) Myers Whitham (1898–1991 [Heath 1906–1914]), who became a flying ace in WWI, who recalls lines, soccer, the building of the fives courts and scholarship boys.
The third is about Eric Webster’s experiences of the school in the 1930s including the first overseas trip and Mr Norman Gain who introduced him to P.G. Wodehouse.
The fourth is a BBC interview with Eric Harrison [Heath 1929–1935] recorded in 1967. Eric Harrison had become a successful concert pianist and piano teacher.
The fifth is with Barry Seal (1937– [Heath 1948–1954]) who went on to be a chemical engineer and then MEP for Yorkshire West from 1979–1999 in spite of W.R. Swale’s poor prognosis for his future.
The sixth is with C.O. Mackley’s sister, Dorothy, who speaks of his commitment as a teacher and how, when she came to live in Halifax after retiring as a missionary, so many people spoke to her of him.
The seventh is with Nick Waddington [Heath 1965–1970], at the time a computing project manager with the Halifax Building Society, who, among other things, remembers Mr Peace, the Art master.
The eighth is with Rod Eastwood [Heath 1953–1961] who was then a teacher at the school and who recalls what has remained unchanging and what has changed, in particular the dropping of classics following the retirement of Alan Guy.
The ninth is with Nick Tobin [Heath 1977–1985], headboy of the school, who talks about the school clubs, including the computing and Dungeons and Dragons clubs and the ending of the Favorites.
Download the audiotape: (in some browsers you may need to right click on the link and select “Save ...”)
With thanks to Rod Eastwood who made a copy of the audiotape available.