Old Crossleyans Magazine
The annual magazine, "The Crossleyan", contains contributions from both old and current scholars describing their activities. The school's photographic archive has also provided some fascinating glimpses of our early school days and the photographs are often included in the magazines.
We are always actively seeking articles, so if you have an interesting tale to tell or would just like to let everyone know what you have been up to since leaving Crossleys, the please get in touch!
2008 - Memories of Crossley House's Last Boarders (Dot Denton)
It was September 1954 when my life took a big change. My childhood had been a happy one, but my family received a severe blow when my father died in 1951. He had his own haulage business in Brighouse and as children we had been well looked after. My mother tried to keep the business going, but at that time haulage was a man's world which she found very hard. It was decided that my brother and myself should go as boarders to Crossleys in Halifax where we would be fed and educated for £10 per term. Nowadays many people do not realise that the orphanage continued after the war.
2009 - Windsurfing (Connor Bainbridge)
My introduction to windsurfing began when I was about seven, and my dad got back into the sport after 15 years away from it with work and children. I used to stand watching him sail round a loch on an old board. It looked really cool. So the next summer, while my dad was windsurfing at Halifax Reservoir at Wainstalls, I got to ride on the back of his board and had a try myself. It was not totally successful, as adult sails are not quite the size for an 8 year-old. Finally, we got a beginner's board and, after three weeks of practice, I was getting the hang of it, a really great feeling. Halifax Sailing Club does not have any windsurf training, so I was self-taught and sailing with adults was the best way to begin.
2009 - It Was Col Innes's Fault Sir (Hazel Clayton, Andy Trotter)
If said silver-haired ‘Californian' gentleman had not done his article for the 2007 ‘Crossleyan', it might never have happened! I sat reading it and thought "It seems like only yesterday we had the 25 years on reunion and 2008 must be the 40th!" This time, I rang Hazel Clayton (neé Binks), an original 25th year reunion organiser and threw down the challenge "Is thee up for it lass?!". I think that's how you say it in Yorkshire. I've been 10 years in ‘Nu-castle' and 30 years in ‘Heart ford shire', so I cannot really remember! Anyway, Hazel seemed to know how to humour me and said she was "Up for it, if you are absolutely sure?!". She would ‘do' the girls, if I would ‘do' the boys.
2009 - Skool Daze (Alan Robson)
Well, I mite have expected it. The game's up. They got me just when I thort I was safe. So here I am back at skool agane for a joly term chiz chiz chiz.
(Nigel Molesworth)
2009 - 42 Years On (John Clarke)
Just over 42 years ago, I left Crossleys on the first of a dozen journeys across the globe. I had to pass via Leeds Polytechnic to do business studies and marketing diplomas and then spent a few months in the USA for Camp America before reaching Australia and the South Pacific islands.
2009 - Head Boy & Head Girl Report
From the beginning, we were both very determined to become Head Boy and Girl and we supported each other throughout the rigorous selection process. We both wanted to see each other succeed and gain the recognition we felt each other deserved. So it was incredibly satisfying to see us both obtain the positions we coveted together. Thereafter, the year has gone faster than we could have imagined. With the end in sight, it is good to look back and recognise all that we have achieved.