BACKGROUND

The Lindsey County Council were meeting on 19 ^th February 1960 to approve the recommendation of the Education Committee for the closure of Caistor Grammar School.

At that time, I was 18 years old and a prefect in the sixth form. For my sins I was elected on to the organising committee of four prefects. I remember doing most of the typing for this great event, spending many hours after school in meetings, writing to County Councillors, politicians, press and TV, preparing the petition and printing letters seeking parental approval etc. It was quite an experience which no doubt helped to shape my later life. So it was that 40 years ago, 53 pupils (28 boys and 25 girls) from the 5 ^th and 6 ^th forms of Caistor Grammar School set off at 11 p.m., on 18 ^th February in blizzard conditions, from Caistor Market Place to walk the 26 miles to Lincoln to deliver their petition to the Chairman of Lindsey County Council, Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts. Coincidentally this was the start of half term. The march had been organised by 4 prefects, elected specially for the purpose, who with the assistance of the boarder’s house master planned the details with military precision. We had the full approval and support of the Headmaster, Mr K.G. Michel, who incidentally is still very active and lives in Caistor, although he couldn’t publicly comment at the time.

THE MARCH 18 ^th FEBRUARY, 1960

At 4.15 p.m. on the afternoon of the 18 ^th February 1960 after a ‘normal’ day at school the organising committee, John Steel, Carol Saunby, Ian Palmer and myself (Roy Schofield) met with representatives of all the national newspapers, local newspapers and television to give details about the walk including the route, catering arrangements, safety measures and medical attendance.

We had arranged a police escort with the help of Sergeant Deptford, two rest points, the first at Gibbert Hill and the second at Welton Airfield both on the A46. We were to be accompanied all the way by four 4 ^th form boys carrying Hunter Lanterns, provided by Alpha Accessories Ltd. of Glamorgan, and Mr A.C. Body the boarder’s house master to give us moral support and act as pace maker. Our chemistry master ‘Pop’ Linsell and his wife Charlotte would be in attendance to cope with any injuries. Everyone was advised to wear plenty of woolly jumpers, a decent pair of well fitting shoes to avoid rubbing at the heels and cycle capes to keep out the wet. The girls were advised to wear jeans to protect their legs from the cold (It’s hard to imagine that girls didn’t wear jeans in those days!).

At 10.15 p.m. everyone involved with the walk, including the press, parents and teachers enjoyed a fish & chip supper and a cup of tea at the school. The weather deteriorated about this time and snow started to fall, gently at first. After donning our protective clothing we made our way to the assembly point in Caistor Market Place. Spirits were high and the Market Place was jam packed with 400-500 well-wishers; Caistor residents, parents, teachers and younger pupils cheering us on. It was snowing more heavily by this time and the wind was getting up.

FIRST LEG OF THE MARCH – 11 miles

Just before 11 p.m. we set off singing and chanting with our banner held high, down Plough Hill, through Horsemarket, along Nettleton Road and joined the A46 to Nettleton. Once out of sight of Caistor we settled down to a quiet steady pace passing through the parishes of Holton Le Moor, Usselby / Claxby and Osgodby to the outskirts of Market Rasen. We then turned in to Gallamore Lane and on through Middle Rasen. The weather was deteriorating and we experienced severe blizzard conditions, one of the coldest nights of the winter. This was the longest ‘leg’ of the journey but the distances had been deliberately set so that each ‘leg’ was shorter than the other. Psychologically this meant that the next ‘leg’ of the journey would be shorter than the last.

The first rest point at Gibbet Hill was a welcome sight having walked for 3½ hours in almost total darkness. This gave us a chance to have a cup of beef broth, provided by a butcher parent, and bread rolls but it wasn’t long before we were back on the road. Even though coke braziers had been provided they were only a temporary respite and it was too cold to hang around. The snow continued to fall and the wind got stronger, so much so that it was impossible to keep the banner upright so it was rolled up and packed in to one of the accompanying cars. Every one was still in high spirits but we were starting to get a bit foot sore. By this time there were several inches of snow and it was very slippery under foot so it was not possible to take such long strides as we had planned. We had estimated that it would take between 22,000 and 25,000 strides and the intention was to keep this as low as possible to minimise blisters.

THE SECOND LEG – 9 miles

The second stage was a hard slog, the blizzard conditions continued on the open road and we were trying to conserve energy by talking as little as possible. The route took us through Faldingworth, Snarford, Dunholme and on to the second stop at Welton Airfield near Dunholme Research Station. This leg of the journey proved to be the hardest of all. It was quiet and uneventful but the snow continued to fall and we faced a head wind which never abated. It seemed a long time before we reached the second rest point but it eventually came in to sight and we were welcomed again with coke braziers and hot coffee provided by a farmer parent. By this time feet were getting very sore and ‘Pop’ Linsell tended to the blisters. Again we stopped only for a short respite and moved on as quickly as possible to the third leg of the journey. County Council workmen were busy loading up their gritting wagons in their depot close by.

THE THIRD LEG TO LINCOLN – 5 miles

The mood changed to serious determination and we knew that this was the shortest ‘leg’ of the march. Everyone got quickly back in to stride and we were encouraging each other by singing and working out how soon we would arrive in Lincoln. This part of the journey took us through Riseholme and Nettleham to Lincoln. Everyone was getting very weary and the lights of Lincoln were a welcome sight. It was great to see the city lights, particularly the Cathedral as it gave us a ‘target’ to aim for, you could see the end in sight. The City Police took over escort duties from the County Police as we marched in to Lincoln along Lincoln Road, Nettleham Road passing through Priory Gate about 6 a.m.

We continued along to Lindum Road, Broadgate, Pelham Bridge, Canwick Road and on to South Park Avenue. Although very tired and foot sore our spirits were high as we marched to South Park. The Youth Hostel was a very welcome sight and we arrived just after 7 a.m. We quickly got organised, washed and changed in to school uniform and had our blisters tended to. Breakfast consisted of porridge, sausage, bacon and beans which cost seventeen pounds and twelve shillings for 64 people - 5/6d each! After breakfast, although I don’t remember eating that much, we managed a short rest before assembling for the last leg of the journey.

FINAL LEG OF MARCH TO COUNTY HALL – 1 Mile

About 10 a.m. we set off on the final leg of the journey with our banner held high once more along High Street and Wigford Way to County Hall in Newlands. The weather by this time had abated and we arrived in good spirits but very tired. Watched by a cheering crowd of parents, teachers, friends and representatives of many of the organisations connected with the campaign to keep the school open we were greeted by the Chairman of Lindsey County Council, Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts who congratulated us on our walk and graciously accepted our petition. Even the Chairman of the Education Sub-committee which recommended the closure of the school congratulated us on our protest march. We were invited in to the ‘Council House’ by Sir Weston and entertained to coffee and biscuits. We had seats reserved for us in the council chamber and were able to witness Alderman T.F. Raby, the Chairman of the Education Committee, who agreed to have second thoughts about the closure, propose a motion to refer the matter back to the Education Committee for re-consideration. This motion was carried. Most of the marchers returned to Caistor by special coach but the organising committee were treated to lunch at the County Hotel by the Headmaster before returning to Caistor by car.

I remember spending the remainder of that half term hobbling around the Physics Lab constructing an oscilloscope for the school under the instruction of a Royal Air Force Technician.

ROLL CALL

These were the pupils who took part in the historic march :- John Steel, Carole Saunby, Ian Palmer, Roy Schofield, Peter Day, Kenneth Brown, David Poiser, Celia Cook, Michael Keyworth, Roy Kittmer, John Mellor, Ian Staves, Norman Wright, Maureen Bremner, Pauline Fox, Margaret Barr, Frances Brown, Mary Reed, Brenda Mellors, Beryl Suddaby, Josephine Pogson, Roger Camp, Michael Cavallini, John Dixon, David Harris, Barry Chambers, Douglas Kellaway, Roger Kent, Ronald Lane, Abdul Othman, Brian Proctor, Roger Shacklock, Ronald Shacklock, Anthony Walton, Michael Westerby, Vincent Wood, Brian Lingard, Keith Taylor, Joy Carpenter, Jane Casswell, Christine Cliffe, Valerie Cross, Veronica Colver, Patricia Jackson, Sheila Palmer, Diane Dickinson, Helen Houlton, Jean Smith, Patricia Starbuck, Catherine Slogrove, Jennifer Stamford, Eileen Griffin, Rosalind Pentelow, David Yates, Chris Saunby.

THE PETITION Presented To Lindsey County Council 19 ^th February 1960
(signed by 131 pupils of the 3 ^rd , 4 ^th , 5 ^th and 6 ^th Forms)

"We the present pupils of Caistor Grammar School, respectfully remind you that in the year 1630 our founder Francis Rawlinson, provided in his will for 'the foundation and maintenance of a free grammar school to continue for ever in the market town of Caistor.'

We still wish it to continue and it seems to us that a decision by you today to close our school will be breaking faith with the past and us; for we do not consider that the reasons advanced for its closure either good or sufficient.

We therefore humbly petition that you will continue to maintain it and spend as much on improving its buildings as will bring them up to the standard of those younger grammar schools that are our friends and rivals.

We believe that if this is done, those who follow us will so acquit themselves as to be worthy of your trust and that we shall not have walked in vain."

FINAL NOTE

It took a further four years before the County Council finally agreed to reprieve the school and a further three years before the new boarding house was built. Since that time many more extensions have been erected and forty plus years later Caistor Grammar School is now one of the most highly rated and respected grammar schools in the country. It was a major event in Caistor’s history as without that success Caistor would be a very different place today!

WEB SITE

More details of this march and the events surrounding it can be found on the www.caistor.net web site which I created recently to provide historical and current information about the town of Caistor. It would be great to hear from anyone connected with the protest march and I would be interested to know of their current whereabouts, perhaps even an email address, if they have one.

ADDENDUM

John Steel now lives in Australia and we have met on both of his recent visits to the UK. Michael Cavallini, Celia Cook, Brian Lingard and Rosalind Pentelow live locally. Brenda Mellors lives in Derbyshire. Perhaps we could create a rogues gallery; John and I will be the first two entries !