Reg Clayton - who taught metal and woodwork from 1921-53 now has a page in the Staff Archives.

Old Scholars and ex-Staff will be very sad to learn that Ruth Harwood has died. She passed away on Friday 4th January 2008 at Hartrigg Oaks, New Earswick, York, where she lived in recent years.

There was a Memorial Service at Great Ayton Meeting House, High Green, Great Ayton, at 2.00 pm, Monday 14th January.

There is now an online Tribute and Appreciation of Ruth Harwood

There is sad news to pass on to OS; Joyce Spinks (Dobbing) 1932-42, died early in the week commencing 10th December following a fall at her home.

Joyce, daughter of Herbert Dobbing who taught at Ayton from 1921-45, was a past AOSA President 1971-72 and was always to be seen at Reunion time, greeting and catching up on news with her very many friends. Joyce will be much missed by many generations of Old Scholars.

There is now an online Tribute and Appreciation to Joyce Spinks

New photos are being added all the time - now there are three snow 2006 photos taken by William PIne; the problem was knowing where they are. Now there is a New Photographs page with thumbnails which are links to the actual location. If you want to know a bit about the photo rest the mouse pointer aver the thumbnail and wait for the "Alt Text" - then click on the thumbnail. 

To get back to the New Photographs page click on the "back key" top of your browser or the backspace key on the keyboard.

There's a new Jigsaw available for you. A peaceful view of the beck - more to follow.

Did you enjoy the first of our jigsaw puzzles? Well, there is another now - a very well known view and a beautiful photo. Click here to see for yourself. If you have a few minutes you'll enjoy this this one as well.

Our first online Jigsaw Puzzle is still available. And if you like it e-mail and I'll add more.

Much was written about John Reader. You can find it all here.

You can now join AOSA online, or by snail-mail if you prefer. If you are a member and pay your subscription annually, you can now do this online

There is a new section in "History" - a complete website version of the 1941Centenary History by G. Alston Watson. There are links to each of thirteen chapters and one Appendix. A very interesting read.

You can now send Ayton postcards to friends and acquaintances. There are thirty six scenes - twelve each of: School & Grounds; Village and Countryside; and Archive photos. Just click on the thumbnail photo to bring up the page for you to complete and e-mail.

If you visit the Prospectus pages in Archives the missing pages have turned up - so now you can see how much it cost to send children to Ayton in 1927 - ia addition to all the other information in this amazing Ayton School marketing document (including the clothing lists as well).

For inhabitants of Leven Hall in the 1980s and 11 and 12 year olds in 1945 and 46, there are new  group photos on line. Go to the New Photographs page for links to individual pages. 

Tim Green (1989-92) has emailed to say he has a few Reunion photos on a website of his own. Click on the line below to go their direct:

http://www.spodlife.org/pictures/20020629-AOSA-Reunion/

Were you at School in 1979? If you were you could be interested to see an extract from the Autumn Beckside - together with photos (loaned by Emma Killick 1978 - 1981) - covering the super production of Tom Sawyer

There are now two whole School Photographs - the first from1973 has been supplied by Lindsey Devons (Harrison 1969-73) and the second from 1980 by Lucy Ryan (Burnard 1976-83).

Both are very large images (in five seamless pieces) and - if you have a slow modem - be prepared for a bit of a wait while they load.

New photographs in the Archives Staff section are added as they surface so it's worth checking now and again. However, there are now quite a few text articles about staff from the earliest days to the 90s which are linked from the caption details under the photos. Click here for Archives, Staff - Contents

Mel Stewart (1951-57) has e-mailed and attached a scanned press cutting photo of the "Sports Day that never was" in 1957. Have a look - perhaps you can identify the missing names.

There are now two Team photo from 1948 - the first is First XI Football and the second First XI Cricket - both featuring characters from the era it would be good to locate. 

Do you know who the very first Ayton School scholar was? There is a page telling you all about him

There  are two new Form photos online - Sixth Form (I think - but could be Prefects group) from 1990 and 1991. There are no names - other than Chris Scaife which means your help is needed - Click on 1990 or 1991 to see the photos.

Lucy Ryan (Burnard 1976-83) sent a photo from Emma Killick's (1978 - 1981) album of a large Leven Hall residents group May 1981. There are loads of faces here but no names. if you know who is who please e-mail and the names will be added.

When Ayton School closed the children were involved in sponsoring a child – Tamilarasan - through “Plan International India.” As this was a long-term project the School Committee decided in 1997 that some Parent Association funds should be used to continue to sponsor Tamilarasan’s education. Each year Robert Campbell receives an update of his progress – reproduced here together with two photographs. Follow this link

Lucy Ryan (Burnard 1976-83) has sent in a photo of VI Form in 1982 and of the Girls Hockey Team in the same year. There are a few names missing - can you help?

Sidcot School were one the beneficiaries of £10,000 from distribution of remaining School funds. Alice Meager officially opened the Ayton Room - a striking common room and Ayton legacy. Follow this link for a page recording the opening ceremony.

Mike Adam (1945-54) has e-mailed a 1948 Form photo file - a lot of faces connected with the other photos on this page

There is another page of photos covering the rebuilding process - this time it is the top apartment of Headmaster's House. Go and have a look - very nice it is!

The Village section now has another page with a number of photos of All Saints Norman Church off Low Green where Captain Cook worshipped and his mother is buried.

If you have been back to Ayton since the redevelopment you will see the Boys' Bridge is no longer there. Well, it's now in a new location - see page one of Nostalgia - School Grounds.

Mike Adam (1945-54) has sent a photo taken in about 1946 or 47 of himself, Dick Dennis, and John Findlay - included here in memory of John Findlay who died 16th August 2001.

There is a new page four in the Grounds section of the Archives. Tony Tulip (1937-43) e-mailed some remarkable photos of snow and subsequent floods in the winter of 1941.

For those who remember the rowing boat on the lake in the early 1950s there are two photos supplied by Tony Browne (1947-53.)

Keith Sullivan (1960-63) has sent in a photo of the Cricket 1st XI for 1963 with plenty of interesting information about the Team and its achievements - see Page 3-1

Archives - In the Buildings section there are new Leven Hall photos. Sam Milbank (Ward) supplied a super shot of of Leven Hall in the snow and there is now a page entitled "Life at Leven Hall" further photo contributions are always welcome.

There  are new Form photos - Sonia Wade (Dunn) - President 2001-02 - brought these along to the Reunion; they are now scanned and on page three of Archives - Form Photos

Archives now has a new section - Reminiscences. There are two articles there at the moment; the first a comprehensive history of the San - an article from the Autumn '77 Beckside extracted by James Slater, and the second a highly individual account of aspects of School Life: "AYTON “HI-JINX” - by Harry Snalam 1946-52.