In 1941, Dad sat his Eleven-Plus examination, and won a place at the respected Bemrose Grammar School for Boys. One of his classmates, Wilf Addey, wrote to us about what he remembered of being in school with Dad:

"Yes, I remember Les; it's not that we were close friends, but we came together when studying the Economics Course in the Sixth Form at Bemrose. I clearly remember that we sat at the same table in the Economics class, which was a small class under a Mr Charlie Barnet. Les and I shared the same sense of humour and we must have been a real pain to CB, often disrupting his teaching to a point where he would stop and have a severe word with us. I remember that Les wore a brown sportsjacket to school (now why would I remember that after 50 years?), and we got on well together; but we weren't real friends, just classroom acquaintances. But I can tell you an anecdote that I have used more than once; when Les and I were larking about in CB's class we naturally missed half the content of the teaching. I never worried too much about this, because I never wanted to go to University anyway - I wanted to be a photographer or an Estate Agent. But Les had this ability to soak up information without effort and his results in the Higher School Certificate examinations were good, whereas I failed in everything! I've used this anecdote to make the point that all is not what it seems when you're learning, and you just can't beat paying proper attention to your tutors. Now how's that for something for your Dad to be remembered by...

I was only at Bemrose for the last four years of my education, coming from Blackpool to Derby just before the end of the War. Les would have been through the whole school, I suppose. Bemrose was, and still is, a big school, probably the biggest in Derby. In the prestige stakes it came second only to Derby School, which was a more old-fashioned style in an old school building the other side of town, and with older traditions. Bemrose was a comparatively modern building with great playing fields for Soccer, etc. I can't remember whether Les was any more athletic than I was, which was zero.

So there you have it. I should think it is pleasant to find that at least one person remembers your father; I hope that you hear from people more able to comment in detail on Les's school career, not to mention those who were his friends outside of school...and I wonder how many people remember me, and for what? Now then, on to the Bemrose school photo of July 1947....

Back row - Don Woodruff, Fred Charity, Les Mason, Dave Paling, Wilf Addey, Norman Longdon, 'Bony' Hill, J.A.Hicklin, Doug Price Seated: Keith Graham, David Jacques, Graham Philips, Mr 'Mickey' House (Form Master), Mr W.A.MacFarlane (Headmaster), Len Ashton (Head Boy), P.Wakefield, Hugh Price (no relation to Doug). On Ground: ?? Allen, Clive Rushton, J.A.Palmer, David Hayes.

All the boys in the photo also signed on the reverse.

"There's a subtlety about the names of the people in the photograph. In school, it was usual to refer to people by their surnames unless they were considered friends; for example, Norman Longdon was always 'Longdon' to me because I didn't particularly like the guy, but Jacques (you see, I never called him 'David') called him Norman because they were friends! However, I always remembered 'Les' Mason, and I think he remembered me as 'Wilf' Addey so there must have been mutual respect there. On the same theme, there were students in the photo who were known throughout the school by their nicknames, for example 'Bony' Hill, 'Chaz' Charity, 'Dougie' Wakefield (named after a comedian of that name), 'Bunny' Hayes (just look at his hairstyle on the photograph), 'Chick' Hicklin (remembered for his Jug Ears, would you believe?). These were people who stood out for some reason which didn't have to be really important.

As for the other boys in the photo, I remember that Palmer was a friend of your Dad's outside the Economics Class (incidentally, the proper term was the 'Economics Set', a 'Set' being a course where students from different classes (or 'forms') came together for a specific lesson. Don Woodruff was the school all-round athlete, sprinter / high jump / school Soccer captain, etc. He died in his 40's of a rare blood condition. He was the only member in the photograph that I kept contact with after leaving Bemrose.

Paling lived in Allestree, but I haven't seen him for a year or so. Chick went off to be a doctor, I seem to remember. Doug Price studied architecture. Philips had a twin brother in another Form They were real braggers as I recall ("Feel the muscles in my arm, I got those from fencing, you know"), but one School Sports Day the other brother suffered the embarassment of making a lunge nad bending his foil, whereupon he had to straighten it over his knee in front of the whole school and guests! You can imagine the flak he took from all. W.A.MacFarlane was Head for many years and was well-known for not wearing socks. He must have made an effort for this photograph. Len Ashton lives near me, and we exchange greetings when we meet at the shopping precinct. Hugh Price became a local doctor and retired a couple of years ago...and that's it. PS I eventually went into the family sweet manufacturing business and retired four years ago. I've enjoyed writing all this and hope it isn't too boring."

John Willcox was also a contemporary of Dad's at Bemrose School, and writes: "Although I was never in the same form as Les at school, I remember him mainly for his membership of the school cricket team of 1948 of which I was also a member. As I have a second copy of the following photograph, I hope you will accept this one with my good wishes".

BEMROSE SCHOOL FIRST XI, 1948

Back row: 1. Mr Thornton (Cricket Master) 2 ??? (Scorer) 3. Jim Lingard 4. Les Mason 5. Norman Longdon 6. John Willcox 7. David Boultbee 8. ??? (Sports Master) 9. Mr MacFarlane (Headmaster)

Front: 1. Peter Holland 2. ??? 3. Philip Langridge 4. Hugh Price (Captain) 5. David Henshaw 6. Glyn Price (brother of Hugh) 7. Alan Lesson

Seated: 1. Wilkinson 2. Mayo

"Les and I were also members of a 6th Form Revue which took place at the school at Christmas 1947. As I remember, Les was a very funny Monty Python-type character. I left school in November 1948 for National Service, and subsequently full-time service in the Royal Navy. I last saw Les at Christmas 1948, when on leave.

Bemrose School itself was opened in 1930 as a Boys' Grammar School. The Headmaster on the photograph you have was Mr W A MacFarlane, and the Form Master was Mr A E "Mickey" House. The school became a mixed Comprehensive School in the late 1960's. The original buildings still stand, although quite a number of classrooms and other buildings have been added. Although I knew Les only very briefly, I remember him as a valued member of the school, and a very easy-going and happy person."

Calling Old Bemrosians

Dad left behind other photos of his school-friends, but we have been unable to find names for the faces. Are you, or anyone you know in the photo of the School soccer team? (Dad is the chap with the civilian clothes and the serious glare sitting on the front at the left)! Or do you recognise anyone from Dad's Upper Sixth (?) Class picture from probably July 1948? If so, please get in touch.

BEMROSE SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM, 1948?

BEMROSE SCHOOL PHOTO, 1948?

Alternatively, you might be unable to cast light on Les Mason's schooldays, but still have interesting information about Bemrose School. We have already heard some marvellous anecdotes from people who have contacted us to share their stories about life as a Bemrose schoolboy: for instance, Rob Lancaster of Sydney remembered from his time at the school that the main assembly hall was equipped with a full-size church organ, donated to the school by a Colonel Smellie....What a source of mirth that was to generations of Bemrose Boys! Snippets of information like that one really bring Dad's world to life for us. If you have any, humourous or not, don't hesitate to share them with us.

Derby Schools' Dramatic Club

As for Dad's activities outside of school, Audrey Thompson (now Audrey Morton) was one of his fellow members at the Young Peoples' Dramatic Club, and still remembers him well.

I no longer live in Derby but was born and brought up there and was at school - at Parkfield Cedars Girls Grammar School - in the same generation as your father at Bemrose School: I do remember him well, and with very happy memories. We were not VERY close friends - I think probably not in the same 'set' of friends, but I often came across him in such things as school dances, parties and mixed hockey! (very forward for those days!!) - and, as the following photograph shows, in the Dramatic Society that had organised the walk.

The picture is taken outside the pub at a village called Brailsford which is about 6 or 7 miles north of Derby. We must have walked there for a pub lunch - or a picnic perhaps - but I have very little memory of what the Dramatic Society ever produced, maybe your father was more into acting than I was. Certainly two of the people in the picture went on to acting fame - Paddy Greene is a celebrated radio actress in 'The Archers', and John Wood is an international figure in theatre and films.

I do remember Les as a delightful, friendly chap who was always good company. I completely lost contact with him once we had left school - I went to University in London, worked in Nottingham, married a doctor and brought up three children. We are now very happily retired and enjoying life in Cornwall, but I still have family in Derby and visit there quite often. Incidentally, I am the one at the top left of the photograph, right above your Dad. Paddy Greene is sitting on the tree trunk next-but-one on Les' left, and John Wood on the tree trunk third from the right. There are several ex-Bemrosians in the picture, but the only connection I can see with your Dad's school photo is that Hugh Price's younger brother, Glynn, is sitting next to Les. I cannot think of anything more that might be of interest to you, but hope I may have added a little to your information about your father whom I was sad to learn had died so young".

Appeal to the Thespians of Derby!

We are sure that Audrey Morton cannot be the only member who remembers Dad's membership of the Dramatic Club. Did you or your parents (or grandparents!) perform with the Club while Les Mason was a member in 1947-8? Or perhaps you didn't know Dad, but can shed some light upon the Dramatic Society's activities? If so, drop us an email, as we would love to learn more about this otherwise-unknown period of Dad's life.

Web Author: The Mason Children