Derrick Gould 2001

PRESIDENT 2001

DERRICK GOULD  BBGS 1947 - 1954

I was very pleased to be asked to be the President of the O.B.A. this year. When I was a youngster at school the Old Boys was an organization that was held in the highest respect by everyone at school. They held formal dinners wearing evening dress, prizes were given in their name (I was even awarded one), famous people were President and now I have been invited to fill that illustrious position. I do appreciate the honour of being asked to do this and will do all I can to promote the Association.

            At this point it is customary to introduce oneself for the benefit of members who may be further away, so that they can gain some idea of the present incumbent of the position. I started at the BBGS in 1947 and I do remember the very bad winter we had then - I remember thinking I hope it wasn’t always going to be that cold at the Grammar School, especially in short trousers! I regret to say that I was no great athlete or sporting figure at school, but I did play in the school orchestra and rose to fame as Captain of the School Chess Team, under the guidance of ‘Tich’ Heywood - we used to accompany the sporting teams on fixtures and play our chess while the rugby or soccer was played. I seem to remember we did reasonably well at chess, and also I think at rugby and soccer, but this could be my memory. We will have to wait until the reviews of the old magazines cover that period for the true facts! I left school in 1954 and after two years in the RAF went up to Oxford to read chemistry. I stayed on for a D.Phil. and then fulfilled a schoolboy ambition and joined the government Rocket Propulsion Establishment, near Aylesbury to design and develop rocket motors for a wide range of applications. After a short spell in London I was transferred to the Royal Aerospace Establishment, Farnborough, where I worked on space propulsion and satellite development. I ended my career back in London, on loan to the British National Space Centre as a semi-Eurocrat.

            I had kept my contacts with Barrow over the years, visiting parents and friends, but never managed to coordinate a visit to coincide with an OBA function. I finally returned to Barrow about four years ago and married Pat Wood (BGGS), whom I had last taken to one of those famous prefects’ dances at the school, before we all went our separate ways.

            My name is probably familiar to most readers as the Editor of the Newsletter, together with Denis Clampton. The last few years have been very successful for the OBA, with an increasing number of members and well-attended lunches and social. Other associated school reunions are also increasing in numbers, as can be seen in the Newsletter.

            Members can be assured that the committee and I will be striving to strengthen the Association in the coming year, both in terms of numbers and in bringing members closer together, reuniting old colleagues where possible and encouraging the enjoyment of that special comradeship which the school inspired.

Derrick died in St. Mary's Hospice at the age of 73 on 22nd June 2009.