Graham Jones
Dates at Bournemouth School: 1961 - 1968House: Hambledon
- Prefect
| Graham at school | Graham today |
Graham studied: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
Graham received the following accolades whilst at school:
- Played football and cricket for School 1st XI
- Speech day prize winner
After school, Graham went to: University Colleege Cardiff studying chemistry and volleyball!
Graham's biography:
After Teaching College I joined the staff at Winton School as a science teacher, where I remained for 31 years, finishing as an assistant head. I married Rosemary at 24 and we had two sons, Mark and David, who both went to Bournemouth School. Away from school my life often revolved around sport, playing and running sides with the Old Bournemouthians’ cricket and football. I also played an active part in the Old Bournemouthians’ Association, which is sadly now folding up. I still live in Bournemouth having lived for 63 years in the house where I was born, before moving half a mile down the River Stour!
What was best about Graham's time at Bournemouth School?
Sport was extremely important to me and it was greatly enhanced by the dedicated staff who gave freely of their time to take us to matches, such as Mike Webb, Pete Harvey, Geoff Bush and many others whose names I struggle to remember.
Who does Graham remember most fondly?
On the staff John Hawkins (Happy Harry) (Chemistry) and Tom Bircher (English) who was a breath of fresh air in the mid 1960’s – a teacher who came into the classroom and sat cross legged on a pupil’s desk while discussing English literature.
What would Graham change about their time at Bournemouth School?
Unfortunately I felt that the headmaster, Eric Bennett, operated by a culture of fear. Even as a prefect in 6.2 you would prefer to take a side corridor to avoid passing him inside the school. Perhaps I should also have dedicated a bit more time to work and less to sport!
What is Graham's favourite anecdote/most vivid memory?
Cricket trip to Embley Park, one of our players, an Australian lad called Barry brought along a bottle of peach brandy which he consumed craftily on the coach. When he batted he smashed the ball all over the park and when asked afterwards how he did it, he said he saw three balls and tried to hit the middle one!
Graham's final thoughts
Bournemouth School has a long and proud history, the current pupils will be generating the stories of the next few years. It would be great if current pupils, when they left, had a means to keep in touch with the school.





