Derby School

Derby School
Location
Derby , Derbyshire England
Information
Type	grammar school
Motto	Vita Sine Litteris Mors (Life without Learning is Death)
Established	c. 1160, refounded 1554
Founder	Walkelin and Goda
Closed	1989
Houses	Gateley's, Tanner's, Fuller's, and Grimes'
Publication	The Derbeian
Former pupils	Old Derbeians

Derby School was a school in Derby in the English Midlands. It had an almost continuous history of education of over eight centuries. For most of that time it was a grammar school for boys. The school became co-educational and comprehensive in 1974 and was closed in 1989. In 1994 a new independent school called Derby Grammar School for boys was founded.

Origins

The school was founded in the 12th century around 1160 by a local magnate, Walkelin de Derby (also called Walkelin de Ferrieres, or de Ferrers) and his wife, Goda de Toeni, who gave their own house to an Augustinian priory called Darley Abbey to be used for the school. Local legend has it that it was the second oldest school in England. However, there is no firm information as to the site of the original school.

While Derby School was in existence almost continuously for more than eight centuries, it was closed for a few years as a result of the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Magna Britannia says of Derby School -

In this parish [St Peter's] is the Free-school, one of the most ancient endowments of the kind in the kingdom. It is certain that it existed as early as the twelfth century, and it seems to have been founded in the reign of Henry II, soon after the removal of the canons of St Helen's to Derley. Walter Durdant, Bishop of Lichfield, in his charter, speaks of the school at Derby as the gift of himself and William de Barbâ Aprilis. Soon after this, whilst Richard Peche, who succeeded Walter Durdant in 1162, was Bishop of Lichfield, Walkelin de Derby and Goda his wife gave the mansion in which they dwelt, and which Walkelin had purchased of William Alsin, to the canons of Derley, on condition that the hall should be for ever used as a school-room, and the chambers for the dwelling of the master and clerks. This ancient grammar-school was given to the corporation by Queen Mary; who were to pay to the master and under-master 13£. 6s. 8d. by four quarterly payments. This school is free to the sons of burgesses only. The masters are appointed by the corporation: the head-master has now a salary of 40£. per annum, the under-master of 20£. per annum; and they are joint lecturers, on Croshaw's foundation, at All-Saints, for which they receive 10£. each.

Royal Charter

The former Derby School Building in St Peter's Church Yard, Derby

Following the extinction of Darley Abbey, on 21 May 1554, Queen Mary I by a Royal Charter, and in return for a payment of £260 13s 4d, granted the corporation of Derby several properties and endowments which had belonged to Darley Abbey, the College of All Saints, St Michael's Church, and some other suppressed chantries and gilds, for the foundation of "a Free Grammar School, for the instruction and education of boys and youths in the said town of Derby for ever to be maintained by the Bailiffs and Burgesses of the same town."

The new Free Grammar School was established in a purpose-built building next to St Peter's Church, Derby. In the late 16th (?) century, this building was for some time part of the Derby Heritage Centre and is now a hairdresser's. The school remained at this site until it moved to St Helen's House in 1863.

The school held a closed exhibition (a form of scholarship) worth £50 a year at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. At any one time, this could be held by one old boy of the school, who had the title at Emmanuel College of Exhibitioner. (Until the 1930s, fifty pounds was a substantial sum, usually more than the annual wage of a farm labourer.)

While the astronomer John Flamsteed was at the Free Grammar School in the 1660s, parents were expected to provide boys with books, quill-pens, and wax candles to use when daylight failed. At that time, most masters of the school were Puritans.

St Helen's House period, 1863-1966

The School at St Helen's House, with the Old Derbeians' war memorial. St Helen's House is on the right and the Pearson Building, known mainly as 'B' block on the left

St Helen's House, in King Street, Derby, was built about 1726 for John Gisbourne, an alderman of Yoxall Lodge, Staffordshire, and originally stood in 80 acres (320,000 m²) of parkland . The boys-only grammar school moved here in 1863, after the school's governors had bought the property from Edward Strutt, 1st Baron Belper, the nephew of the philanthropist Joseph Strutt, an old boy of the school.

Under the Rev. Walter Clark BD (headmaster 1865-1889) the school was expanded from a local grammar school into a nationally known public school. Under his leadership, the school building was extended. On the front of the extension, a stone bears the inscription "Quod faustum fortunatumque sit regiae scholae Derbiensi hunc lapidem initium operis felicissimis auspicus Alberti Eduardi Wal princip inlustrisque coniucis nuper suscepti sua ipse manu locavit Gulielmus Dux Devoniensis A. D. IV kal sext A. S. MDCCCLXXIV Praef Gualtero Clark A.M. Collegii S. Mar. Magd apud Cantabric olim scholar". (This part of the school became known as 'B'-block or the Pearson Building.) The royal patronage continued on 14 November 1888, when Derby School received a visit by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.

Date Stone on the wall in front of 'B'-Block

The date stone on the wall outside 'B'-Block reads: "In usum huius scholae A.D. MCMI sepositum P.K. Tollit A.M. Praefecto".

Derby School evacuated to Overton Hall, Ashover 1939 - 1940

Following the declaration of War on 3 September 1939 arrangements were made for the pupils and staff of Derby School to be evacuated immediately in September 1939 away from the town of Derby. As Amber Valley Camp being built by the National Camp Corporation was not completely finished, as a temporary measure, they went to Overton Hall in Ashover near Matlock. for a few months until June 1940.

Derby School at Amber Valley Camp 1940 - 1945

In June 1940 Derby School moved from Overton Hall, Ashover to new accommodation at Amber Valley Camp, Woolley Moor some five miles (8 km) away. The boys all walked this distance and subsequently, an annual sporting event “The Five Mile Walk” was inaugurated.

Amber Valley Camp was one of the National Camp Corporation’s premises. In the 1930s this organisation began to set up wooden buildings complete in every way on sites in the countryside so that urban children could enjoy and experience Britain’s national surroundings.

They proved to be useful in the 1939-1945 War as evacuation centres and even in some instances as military camps. After the war Derby Corporation Education Committee used Amber Valley Camp for monthly visits by the town’s secondary school children.

Originally the camp itself consisted of six buildings used as dormitories, there were two ablution blocks, a sanatorium, a double staff bungalow (one part housing the Camp Manager - Commander De Denne (RN Retd.) and the Rev Allan Grime and his family occupied the other section. The dining room allowed 300 pupils to take meals. In addition, there were four classrooms in a block and a further hut was the craft centre. Another block housed a Physics Lab and a Chemistry Lab and provided an office for Les Bradley – the Headmaster. Classes were also held in the school hall, the Woolley Moor Methodist Chapel and a nearby public house. Interestingly the dormitories were called after Derbyshire places – Wingfield, Melandra, Eyam, Dovedale, Cromford and Bakewell all come to mind. Sadly the only building now left at Amber Valley is the old dining room, which is now the Headquarters of the Ogston Sailing Club.

Annual Reunion at Amber Valley Camp site

For many years the Old Derbeian Society has arranged and organised an Annual Reunion of both old Amber Valley pupils and other OD's and their respective wives, partners and friends. This has been held in the month of June and in 2010 because of the significance of the date - being 70 years since the pupils walked from Overton Hall to the newly completed Camp in June 1940 - a special effort was made to ensure as many OD's as could attended. This takes the form of being invited by Ogston Sailing Club to use their clubhouse (most significant because this building used to house the actual School Dining Room, the master's common room and not forgetting the school tuck-shop). The OD Society owe a debt of gratitude to the fact that this Annual event takes place because of the stalwart initiative of Mrs Elisabeth Bowden (nee Grime) and her son Nick. For the record Elisabeth Grime lived with her father who was the Rev. Allan Grime who himself was a resident teacher as well as House Master at Amber Valley Camp during the whole of WWII.

2011 DATE AGREED This year's reunion will take place on Sunday 26th June starting at 11.00 a.m. with all OD's and their guests meeting at Ogston Sailing Club's clubhouse.

Return to Derby in 1945

St. Helen’s House and the adjoining building known as ‘B’ Block, also as the Pearson Building, in King Street had been used by Ordnance Survey staff during World War II. In 1945 this organisation vacated the buildings including Big School (the large school assembly hall) and so allowing Derby School to return to its home after 5 years at the beginning of September at the commencement of the Autumn term of 1945. Thus Derby School was well and truly restored to its roots and so began its final period there of just over two decades before moving finally on to the Moorway Lane, Littleover site in 1966.

In 1944, the School (already owned by Derby Corporation as a result of its 1554 Charter) accepted financial support from Derbyshire County Council and became one of four single-sex grammar schools in Derby within the tripartite system established by the Education Act 1944. The other three were Bemrose School (boys), Homelands (girls) and Parkfield Cedars (girls, see Judith Hann).

The St Helen's House complex consisted of the House itself (called 'A'-block), which contained classrooms and offices; an attached annexe known as the Pearson Building (called 'B'-block), which held most of the classrooms on the ground and second floor plus on the first floor 'Big School', the school's large assembly hall complete with stage; there was then a free standing school chapel; plus a separate building in red brick which housed both the Chemistry Department approached through an ususual feature namely the cloisters between the rear of 'B' Block and the rear of the chapel. Here was also housed the armoury for the JTC / CCF containing scores of real weapons - dozens of Lee Enfield .303 rifles, a couple of Bren guns and even revolvers. No live ammunition was stored. It's mind boggling to think of such a situation, at a school!; there were then several single-storey prefabricated wooden buildings which contained the woodworking classroom and gymnasium plus changing rooms and shower facilities; and another smaller annexe close by which housed the refectory and some classrooms approached from Edward Street.

School playing field and sports ground called Parker's Piece

All school sports were played at Parker's Piece, believed to be named after a sports ground at Cambridge University, this is a 4-acre (16,000 m²) ground three-quarters of a mile from the school and situated on City Road. One side of the ground was on the banks of the river Derwent and there was a large old wooden boathouse for both the Derby Rowing Club and also the Derby School Rowing Club. Derby School Rowing Club was reborn in 1931 and details are included in a book entitled 1879 - 1979 The First Hundred Years pages 61 – 63 . Many of the older large 'fours' and 'pairs' boats being housed under the railway arches of the LNER railway which ran alongside the sports ground. In addition, there were two football pitches in winter and a cricket square for summer. The sports ground was large enough for a 400 yard athletic track to be laid out for use during the summer term along with facilities for both long and high jumps. An ancient wooden pavilion smelling of decades of dubbin, wintergreen and perspiration provided both changing rooms and ablutions.

Fives Court

St Helen's House was notable for its Fives Court, since demolished, this was in the grounds in front of The Pearson Building also known as 'B'-block and for the fire escape outside Big School. Boys would prove their mettle by sliding down the roof of the metal fire escape.

Old Derbeian War Memorial to old boys who died in WWI and WWII

In front of St. Helen's House, ('A'-block), stands a war memorial to Old Derbeians who lost their lives in both World War I and World War II. Every year on the Sunday, known as Remembrance Sunday nearest to November 11 the Old Derbeian Society always hold a service of Remembrance. This service is attended by Old Derbeians plus their friends and family along with the Headmaster of the new Derby Grammar School. Here there used to be a statue of Gillard, a notable master, both these in 1967 were moved to the new Moorway Lane Derby School site, at Littleover.

When Derby School at Moorway Lane, Littleover was finally closed down by the Education Authority and became a special co-educational sports college it was decided by the OD Society members to remove the war memorial from Littleover and it was resited and refurbished back at St. Helen's House in Derby, slightly (15 metres) to the north of the original site. For this action Derby City Council in 1991-92 awarded the Derby Civic Society Award to the Old Derbeian Society

in recognition of its role in re-siting and refurbishing the Derby School War Memorial

the framed award is dated 28 May 1992 and is on show with other Derby School memorabilia and many other archives including school registers, records, old books, photographs and paintings in the library of Derby Grammar School.

A full report of last year's 2010 War Memorial and Cenotaph ceremony and many photographs taken on that occasion appear in the Old Derbeian Society website at www.oldderbeians.org

School split up into four houses

The school was divided into four houses: Gateley's, Tanner's, Fuller's, and Grimes'. All boys were allocated to one of the houses in alphabetical order. The houses competed annually for the Cock House Trophy, gained by the house with the greatest number of 'House Points' which were awarded by masters for boys' academic, social and sporting achievements.

Forms for boys up to the age of about sixteen were named by a number and the initial of the form master. The number one was eschewed, so boys started in Form 2. For at least one year, there was a Form 2B, which is the same as the Bash Street Kids. The Fifth and Sixth Forms were divided between lower and upper: the complete form numbering system was Form 2, Form 3, Form 4, Lower Fifth, Upper Fifth, Lower Sixth, Upper Sixth. For the academic year 1945-46 for the only time there was a three form entry intake, but then starting in the academic year 1946-47 it reverted to its normal two form entry.

Each form was allocated a form room. And each boy had a desk in the form room in which he kept his books and other belongings. Theft was unheard of. But lessons were held throughout the school; in fact many miles would be covered by swarms of boys moving from one room to another after the bell signalling the end of a 'period'. A period was 40 minutes. Double periods were obviously twice as long. Masters engulfed in the crowds yelled for running in the corridors to cease.

Praeposters and Monitors

Leadership at the school was in the hands of the masters, but, as with most schools, older pupils were given responsibility and were appointed Praepostors, known as Props (an appellation still used at Uppingham and Rugby) or Monitors. As mentioned above, the title Prefect (Praefectus) was reserved for the Head Master. The Praeposters (Props) and Monitors were responsible for the behaviour of younger boys outside lessons in the halls and grounds of the school and were permitted to punish minor breaches of discipline. Such punishment would consist of requiring the boy to report to the Praepostors' or Monitors' room, where the punishment would be handed out. Punishments were many and varied, but usually inventive. One example was to require the boy to put a number of dots - usually four - in each square of an area of a sheet of graph paper - not as violent as the punishments handed out in the Rugby School of Tom Brown's Schooldays.

The concentration of staff and pupils at St. Helen's House generated an eco-system around the school. Opposite the school, in a group of three shops, was a sweet shop, which served as the school tuck shop. School legend had it that, when the master of the shop was alive, he used to take bets on horse races tick-tacked from the upper floor of the school where the sixth formers had their form rooms. A bakery in between St. Helen's house and the annex supplied half loaves of bread to hungry pupils on their way from one class to another. Also opposite the school, the Seven Stars, a former coaching inn, was popular with staff and older pupils.

In the early 1960s the nearby Lancaster School buildings was absorbed. A daily treck from King Street to Edward Street for school dinner became part of many routines. There were also teaching rooms there, notably for art and for geography, and a large area devoted to woodwork lessons on the ground floor. It became a place for riotous football in the playground.

St. Helen's House declared unsafe

In 1965, the St Helen's House building was declared dangerous because of falling tiles and masonry. The school moved to a new site on Moorway Lane, Littleover, in 1966. St Helen's House (A Block) and the Pearson Building (B Block) still stands today and is currently (2011) having recently in 2008 and 2009 been made wind and weather proof and generally tidied up and modern education accessories taken away by the new owner. Due to the current economic climate plans for being converted along with the Pearson Building (B Block) into a quality hotel with a new residential apartment crescent where the current Chapel, gymnasium and craft workshops stand have been put on the 'back burner'. Planning approval for this original major conversion having been issued in 2008 by Derby City Council. Currently there are other ideas being muted. Within the Wikipedia site entitled St. Helen's House, Derby full details of the proposals are reported plus reference to a 'press report'.

Derby school was a significant football team in the early 1870s, notable for its passing tactices. A double pass is reported from Derby school against Nottingham Forest in March 1872, the first of which is irrefutably a short pass: "Mr Absey dribbling the ball half the length of the field delivered it to Wallis, who kicking it cleverly in front of the goal, sent it to the captain who drove it at once between the Nottingham posts". In February 1873 the following passing movement is also described: "[The ball was] crossed by C Garrard and cleverly put through by H. Sleigh"

Littleover period, 1966-1989

Derby School Mosaic in Entrance Hall

Blazer Badge circa 1968. Used.

The first headmaster and deputy headmaster of Derby School at Moorway Lane, 'Norman' Elliot and W. O. Butler, transferred from the St Helen's House site.

On arrival at the new school in 1966, its playing fields were found to be still full of stones, so in the beginning the boys were bussed across town to Parker’s Piece, at Chester Green, for sports.

The traditions of the older boys, uprooted from St Helen's House, influenced the new boys. The running of the school was still steeped in history, with praepostors and monitors, and with the houses still competing for the Cock House trophy. Latin remained an important subject. Masters (never called teachers) still dressed in suits, with gowns and mortar boards, and used corporal punishment, sometimes publicly after lessons. There was a strict dress code, and sixth formers could wear boaters on summer days. Lockers did not need locks. Older boys expected respect and obedience from younger boys, although not fagging. Praeposters and monitors could administer punishment. They also had their own rooms, and later the use of the Pavilion, off limits to masters and the lower forms. The new school even had purpose-built Fives courts, where gloved fights between boys with grudges were tolerated as a gentlemanly way of settling disputes.

But new ways were coming, and as things begin to change many of the masters took the opportunity to retire. Theft, which was said to have been unthinkable at St Helen’s House, arrived. The house system began to lapse, the dress code was relaxed, and long hair was tolerated.

The school continued as a single-sex grammar school until 1974, when it was taken over as a maintained school by Derbyshire County Council, which converted it into a co-educational comprehensive school and greatly increased its size, in buildings and pupils. At this point, it was still Derby School. However, in 1989 the County Council took the decision to close Derby School and to make the headmaster redundant. A new school called Derby Moor Community School, now known as Derby Moor Community Sports College, was opened in the Moorway Lane buildings, with a new head and governing body but with many of the old school's staff and students. In terms of legal identity, this was not the same school, but in some ways it was its successor.

The entrance hall to Derwent building, the "old" Derby School, features a floor mosaic depicting the Derby School badge. There are plans to expand the college and building to connect the two parts of the college together are due to commence October 2010. It has been proposed to remove the mosaic to another part of the building. [1]

Derby School Cadet Forces

School Corps

Way back in the 19th Century the school commenced having the Derby School Corps and within Tacchella The Derby School Register, 1570-1901 published in 1902 we find listed the names of the Captains of the Corps commencing in 1862 up until the year 1901. An interesting entry within Derb Schol Fasci 1867 and 1868 which was the forerunner of The Derbeian we have the following quote:

A very desireable change has been made in the uniform of the Corps; for the Garabaldi Jackets and white flannel Trowsers, scarlet Tunics and blue serge Trowsers have been substituted.

Officers Training Corps (OTC)

Before the Second World War, the school had an Officers Training Corps (OTC). This also included an OTC Corps Band. A special OTC cap badge was worn and one has been donated by an Old Derbeian and is on view in the OD Society bookcase within the library at Derby Grammar School.

Junior Training Corps (JTC)

During the early 1940s, OTCs in British schools were renamed 'Junior Training Corps' (JTC). On return to Derby in September 1945 from being evacuated in 1939 due to WWII, first to Overton Hall at Ashover and then in June 1940 to Amber Valley Camp near Alfreton the JTC was very popular with senior pupils (Lower and Upper Fifth plus Sixth forms) with many pupils going off for two weeks summer camp under canvas to places such as Aldershot and Catterick Army depots. One of the benefits being a member of the school's JTC and CCF was that Derby School pupils were allowed to undertake Cert.'A' training in all military matters and in Derby this meant that final exams were held at The Barracks at Sinfin in Derby, the home of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. Passing out with a Cert.'A' meant that when the boys were later called up to undertake their National Service they were one-step ahead of the majority of young men!

Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

In April, 1948 Derby School's JTC was amalgamated into the Combined Cadet Force . This had an army section, an RAF section, and a band made up of members of both. A parade was held on Friday afternoons, and on that day members of the JTC and CCF would come to school in their uniforms and boots. In addition, JTC and CCF pupils stayed on after school on Monday afternoons to undertake other instruction in civilian clothes. The CCF survived into the years at Littleover.

School motto

File:DerbySchool-JTC-capbadge.jpg

Cap badge of the Derby School JTC from the 1940s

The school motto, Vita sine litteris mors, is a quotation from letter number 82 in Seneca the Younger's Epistulae morales ad Lucilium -

Vita sine litteris mors est, et hominis vivi sepultura.

(Life without learning is death, and the funeral of a living man).

This motto is shared with -

• Adelphi University in Nassau County, New York
• Manning's High School, an 18th century foundation in Jamaica
• The new Derby Grammar School

A legend of the motto, forming the school badge, was laid in black and white mosaic at the entrance of the new Moorway Lane School in 1966.

School hymn

The school hymn, Lift Up Your Hearts!, was given a musical setting in 1916 by Walter Greatorex, an old boy of the school.

The Derby School Register, 1570-1901 by Benjamin Tacchella

The Derby School Register, 1570-1901

A book called The Derby School Register, 1570-1901, was published in 1902, edited by Benjamin Tacchella, a modern languages master at the school, and the following is an extract from its preface:

No work is more suited to perpetuate the fame and traditions of an ancient school, and to foster the spirit of brotherhood among the succeeding generation of its 'alumni', than a Register recording the proud distinctions of the humble achievements of those who have had the honour of belonging to it. Now, considering that prior to 1865, and with the exception of a bare list of the names of the pupils between 1834 and 1858, there was no register of any kind kept at the School, it looked like a hopeless task. However, one by one, a fairly complete list of scholars under Dr Fletcher (1834-1843), and Dr Leary (1858-1865) was got together. As for the more remote period (1570-1834), it has been necessary to go further afield. All available sources have been drawn upon: College admission registers (both of Oxford and Cambridge), biographical notices, pedigrees, memoirs, town records etc. Nor have the names been forgotten that are carved on the walls and panels of the old Grammar School in St. Peter's Churchyard, many of which had to be recovered from under accumulated layers of paint and whitewash.

Derby School - A History to the End of the 19th Century

In June 1953 an Old Derbeian by the name of Colin S. Bell wrote a mini history of the School starting from its first creation around 1160 until 1538 (known as The Pre-Reformation Period) and then from 1554 until 1900 (known as The Post Reformation Phase). Much reliance was placed upon Benjamin Tacchella's previous work and publication along with much research with both the Derby Borough Council and with local archives. The great significance of the school being refounded and restored following the issue of a Charter on 21 May 1554 by Queen Mary is recorded. This publication is stored in the Old Derbeians Archive Records held in Derby Grammar School.

Derby School - A Short History 1554 - May 21st 1954

This 34 page document was written by Mr. George P. Gollin and Mr. Roy Christian (both OD's)and appeared in separate sections within the Derbyshire Advertiser local newspaper during 1954 in the lead up to the Quater Centenary celebrations of the Schools refounding, with the date of the charter being May 21st 1554. It was decided to amalgamate each separate section into one publication and was published in May 1954. An original copy of this publication has recently (October 2010) been found to be in the possession of an Old Derbeian who currently lives down-under in Adelaide, South Australia. With the modern technical ability of the Internet it has been electronically sent to the Old Derbeian Society's recently appointed Archivist.

A full electronic copy of the Short History now resides within the OD Society Bookcase situated in the library of the DGS Derby Grammar School.

LATEST NEWS! Interestingly in April 2011, because it is becoming common knowledge that in September 2010 the OD Society had appointed their first Archivist, namely J. Barrie Sheard, an actual 'hard' copy of this same publication has now come into the hands of the OD Society and this also now sits within the OD Society Bookcase.

O.D.Society appoint an Archivist

In September 2010, the O.D.Society Management Committee appointed J. Barrie Sheard FCIEH (who was at Derby School in St. Helen's House from 1945–1950) as the Society's archivist. Having one Committee officer concentrating upon the History of the School will enable the Archives to be further developed.

With the appointment of an Archivist a catalogue has recently (December 2010) been created of every piece of memorabilia housed within the Old Derbeian Society Bookcase situated within the Derby Grammar School library. This includes account books, written records, printed reports, registers, details of each Volume of The Derbeian, silverware, glassware and pottery, leaflets detailing Speech Day Programmes, scrap books of press cuttings and old library books. In addition there is included an Inventory of each painting, each mounted and glazed entire school photograph for particular years and other artwork hung on the walls of this same library.

This catalogue is now available for inspection by contacting the Reception Desk at Derby Grammar School and arranging an appointment to visit the library at the School which is situated on Rykneld Road in Littleover a suburb of Derby.

The Derbeian - Derby School's Magazine

Bound copies of The Derbeian starting in July 1889 until the last publication in 1978 are available at Derby Grammar School (DGS) for research purposes. These consist of over 23 volumes in extremely good condition and record in great detail almost 90 years of School activities along with names of every pupil and teacher who went through the doors at St. Helen's House in Derby and at the Moorway Lane site in Littleover, Derby. One should not forget the World War II years when Derby School was evacuated from September 1939 until July 1945 to Overton Hall and also Amber Valley Camp in Derbyshire.(See earlier detailed topic on this site). In addition, examination results over this same period of time, plus swimming gala and sports day event results are shown.

Old Derbeian Society

The Old Derbeian Society (or OD's) was formed in 1911 allowing all pupils of Derby School, who had left their full time secondary education, to enrol as members for life. For the record on Saturday 28 October 1911 the President of the OD Society, Dr. R. Laurie, had invited its members to a smoking concert to inaugurate the birth of the Society for which the need had long been felt. The full report appears in The Derbeian (the school's magazine) for December 1911 and includes a statement from the Rev. A.C. Knight "that a loyal and patriotic Old Boys' Society (now known as OD Society) would inspire confidence in the town and in this way help the school itself."

Thus started the Society and the current OD Society Committee (in 2010) are planning to commemorate the first century of their Society in 2011 in several ways from October 2011 until October 2012. Planning is still ongoing and details will be announced when finalised.

In June 2010 the OD Society presented The Alan Sanders Memorial Cup for the very first time to the winning team at the recently (2009) resurrected Annual cricket match played between the OD's Team versus Derby Grammar School First XI team. In 2010 the winning team were Derby Grammar School and in 2009 the OD's Cricket Team. The reason for the new cup being presented for the Annual Cricket Match and being in the name of Alan Sanders was because for a great many years Alan had been a stalwart of the OD Society having been their Secretary, Archivist and a prominent OD Committee member. Sadly Alan Sanders died in December 2008.

A particularly important development since the formation of the new Derby Grammar School on Rykneld Road in Littleover in 1994, has been that the new school have taken on board / adopted the OD Society and today both 'old boys' and 'old girls' on leaving the Rykneld Road site are all invited to join the Society. This marks a most welcome introduction of younger members into the OD Society and the future appears bright.

For example two recent events took place in 2009; after a gap of several years, as already briefly mentioned above, there has been the re-introduction of an annual cricket match between the Old Derbeians and the Grammar School pupils. This match took place on the school's new playing fields out at Mickleover on the afternoon of Saturday 27 June. This was then followed at 6.30 p.m. by the President's inaugural Garden Party (Alan G. Lockyer 1946-1953) on the grounds of the new School. An opportunity not to have been missed was that all persons attending were able to be taken on conducted tours of the School's facilities. At this same Garden Party everyone was able to meet the school's new Headmaster Mr Richard Paine and his wife whose tenure of office started in January 2009. One of these events was repeated in 2010, namely the same Annual Cricket match took place on Saturday 26 June 2010.

LATEST PLANS FOR 2011 Dates for both events (the Cricket Match and the President's Reception) have now been agreed as Saturday 18th June. The cricket match as before being held at the school's playing fields at Mickleover starting at 1.30 p.m. and following this there will be the President's Reception in the grounds of Derby Grammar School starting at 6.00 p.m.

Old Derbeians

See List of Old Derbeians.

Old Derbeians' War Memorial Service of Remembrance

A Service of Remembrance takes place at the Old Derbeians' War Memorial in front of St Helen's House on each Remembrance Sunday. Wreaths are laid by the President of the Old Derbeians' Society and the Headmaster of Derby Grammar School.At this Service every Old Derbeian who lost their lives during either World War I or World War II has their name read out.

Old Derbeian Society Annual Newsletter

Every year the OD Society publish an Annual Newsletter and this is currently posted to all members who live within the United Kingdom. In recent years with the development of electronic communication more and more OD's are requesting to receive their copy electronically (saving both money, paper and postage costs). Within the Old Derbeian Society Website there is now placed a pdf file for interested people to down-load. Plans are afoot with effect from 2011 for the Newsletter to be only published electronically. The following are references to the last four Newsletters for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. . . . .

List of masters and headmasters

See List of Masters of Derby School. This aims to include all of the school's known headmasters, plus some other notable masters. The list has many names of those who taught at the school in the final years at St Helen's House (1945–1966) and at Moorway Lane site in Littleover (1966–1989).

St Helen's House gallery

Click on an image to enlarge it.

• St Helen's House 2007
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  St Helen's House in 2007
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  The Old Derbeians' War Memorial
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  The Pearson Building known as 'B'-Block
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  The cross potent quadrate and stag couchant of the school arms on 'B'-Block
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  The fire escape on 'B'-Block
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  The Chapel
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  The former gym (left) and workshop (right)
• 
  The former school tuck shop opposite St Helen's House (shop on right)
• 
  The Seven Stars
• 
  Advanced Chemistry 1965
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  'Bronco' Lane (Chem) 1965
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  'Rock' Allit (Physics) 1965
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  'Molson' (Biol) 1968
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  Cross-country (Advanced) 1965
• 
  The Masters. circa 1966. The Chapel at St Helen's House in the background

Moorway Lane Site Gallery

• Moorway Lane Site 1966 onwards
• 
  Derby Moor Community Sports College 2008.

  In 1966 the school moved into this building. At that time, the panels were painted yellow, attracting many flies from local fields, and the entrance at the left of the picture was the one used by pupils up to the Upper Fifth forms. A larger entrance, further to the left, was used by staff and sixth-formers.

• 
  Derby Moor Community Sports College 2008.

  This is an addition built for the comprehensive school.

• 
  Derby School Quad Moorway Lane
• 
  Derby School Moorway Lane Main Entrance.JPG
• 
  Derby School Mosaic. There are plans to uplift and relocate this badge when work commences, October 2010, on expansion.
• 
  School cap (slightly used) circa 1966

Derby Grammar School

Derby Grammar School, an entirely new school founded in 1994, is an independent school which includes a Junior department. It occupies the 18th century Rykneld Hall on Rykneld Road in Littleover (previously Rykneld Hospital) and currently has around three hundred pupils.

The new school aspires to fill the gap undoubtedly left by the original Derby School founded around 1160 AD and refounded in May 1554. With the agreement of the Committee of the Old Derbeian Society, Derby Grammar School has adopted a heraldic badge devised by the Reverend Walter Clark in 1883 for Derby School, which it used until the badge was replaced by a coat of arms granted by the College of Arms in 1952. Of course, the 1952 coat of arms ceased to exist with Derby School in 1989.

Membership of the Old Derbeian Society was extended in the late 1990s to now be open to all former pupils of the new Derby Grammar School, deemed to be the next generation of Old Derbeians.

See also

• List of the oldest schools in the world

External links

• Web site of the Old Derbeians Society
• Words and music of Lift Up Your Hearts! at The Ames Collection
• Words and music of Lift Up Your Hearts! at CyberHymnal
• Official site of the new Derby Grammar School

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