LOOKING FOR...
From time to time, both the Association and the College get requests for help in tracing former pupils / possible former pupils. We're happy to do what we can but the Association holds no resource other than the collective memories of our Members.
If you want to try, then please send an email to the web manager. We'll put the mail up verbatim, and will create a link to your own email address. Sorry, we cannot offer anonymity or mailboxes.
LOOKING FOR (1)
Here's the first "looking for" and although the story is somewhat sad, at least it has a successful outcome to the question.
Our secretary, Nick Williams, received an email from a Mr Ray Millard in Bridgwater.
DAN MAY
Dear Sir, I wonder if you could help me, please find out further information regarding the above person who it is believed to have been a pupil at the school. A friend of mine is very interested in family history and would welcome information about Dan.
So far I have been unsuccessful in tracing him in the RAF and I wonder if his name is on the School's Roll of Honour? Thank you very much.
The question came to me to put up on the website. I've a keen interest in Genealogy, especially when crossing over to military aviation and I dug around myself, to no avail. I replied to Ray and asked him a couple of questions about Dan. Ray replied to say that Peter May, who left the School in 1934 and is now 91, had been in contact to say that "Dan" was actually "R H" May, and that he was still keen to learn more about Dan, believing that Dan was an RAF pilot who had died in the WW2, grave unknown. Armed with this new information, I was able to discover that Reginald Hubert May had left the school in 1929 and had indeed joined the RAF. Sadly, he had indeed been posted as Killed In Action on 3rd September 1941. He and his Wellington crew, of 214 (FMS) Sqn RAF, had crashed into the sea near the French coast, during a mission to Frankfurt. Far from having no known grave, Flt Lt May and several of the crew lie buried in Dunkirk town cemetery, France. Dan was 28.
If you can add to the story here, please do contact Ray Millard directly.
LOOKING FOR (2)
This time, the request went directly to the college and Janie Norman there involved the OHA in her search. Dear Staff, I'm in the process of tracing my family tree, and I'm looking for a Bruce Robert Schmidt who went to a Taunton school sometime between WWI and WWII. He was my father. At around this time his family changed their name from Schmidt to Munro-Smith. I wonder if you would be so kind as to check the records and let me know if my father attended Huish back in thos days. He was born in 1911 in Bideford, Devon. Thank you for any help with this. Regards, Allan Munro-Smith Sydney, Australia
Born in 1911 makes Bruce 100 years old this year, and I suspect there is little chance of a successful outcome here -but you never know. If you can shed light, please do email Allan directly.
LOOKING FOR (3)
Here's an email from Geoff Norway - yet again, in Australia. Hello, Would any members of your Association know of, or have memories of, husband and wife teachers Mr & Mrs Rutt who taught at the school in the 1950’s, possibly before then and after. They both taught me (1953 – 1956). Mr Rutt taught mathematics. I believe their names were Cyril and Hilda. I’m interested because I know a possible family connection to Cyril Rutt. Kindest Regards, Geoffrey Norway
Presumably Cyril is "Ginger" Rutt... and if so, I should imagine there are plenty of memories that could be shared with Geoff. Contact him directly, please.
LOOKING FOR (4)
I received this in November 2011: "Hi, I am looking to re-connect with my old friend Brian Chandler, he attended Huish's School in and around 1960-66. He then moved to Glastonbury/Wells then on to the Birmingham area and his parents moved to the Burnham on sea/Highbridge area. That's where I lose trace. I would be delighted if I could find him, any help would be greatly appreciated.
This was a message from Chris Fisher and his email address suggests a Canadian connection.
LOOKING FOR-ish (5)
A young lady has recently (January 2012) written to the web site concerning her Grandfather, Joseph Francis Xavier Giorgio, born in Malta. Other than he died - in Australia - recently, I as yet have no other information than he may have a link to the school. Any bells ringing?
Looking for (6)
The website has been contacted by David Patten, who is writing a book about North Curry. He is especially trying to establish a link between Kathleen Tacchi-Morris and former Huish's pupil Michael Somes. He hopes that Members of the Association, who may be aware of Michael, or of his life, may be able to help.
David has anecdotal evidence that Michael was born in North Curry in 1917, whilst several websites state Michael was born in Horsley, Glos. Regardless, several North Curry residents recalled him being pushed around in his pram in the village. He presumably went to Huish's from 1928 > 1933 : he certainly appears as a "Prominent Old Huisher" in Gordon Baker's opus. Leaving Huish's, he was awarded the first scholarship for boys given by what was then the Vic-Wells Ballet School (later to become Sadlers Wells) in 1934. Michael was Margot Fonteyn's long term dance partner.
Michael was made a CBE in 1959and was Roy Plomley's castaway in 1960. He died in London in 1994, aged 77.
David tells us that the new SCC Heritage Centre holds a programme for "A dancing matinée at The Lyceum Theatre by the pupils of Miss Hayward, in aid of the Taunton and Somerset Hospital and the Somerset Association for Mental Welfare on 25 April, 1928" which contains a picture of a young Michael aged 11. There is a great deal on the internet about Michael.
So far as Michael's early years are concerned, David holds the following information.
Michael's mother Ethel lived briefly at White Street Farm in North Curry around 1911. Michael's father Edwin is recorded in the 1911 census as staying there and Ethel & Edwin were married in N Curry church in 1912. Edwin was a professional musician, an organist, and Ethel was a teacher at Huish's in East Reach. Huish Old Boy Dennis Calvert certainly recalls being taught by her. In the late 1930's, she may have run her own school in East Coombe House (or possibly Beulah), Holway Avenue.
Kathleen Tacchi-Morris came to N Curry in the late 1930s, some time after Michael had left the area. Kathleen is far too well known for this website to need to describe her accomplishments and legacy - but she did run a dance school. Michael came to North Curry often after the war and, coincidence or not, one would imagine that two such high-profile ballet enthusiasts in a small village would have made some connection, but where and how at present remains unknown.
Finally, and unconnected, David's son Sean Patten attended Huish 20+ years ago and played the lead in "A Day in the death of Joe Egg".
David may be contacted here.