Affiliations

For many years, it represented "the" epitome of grammar school education, with its affiliations to Merchant Taylors and of course, to the Anglican Cathedral close by. It has strong affiliations with Queen's College at the University of London.

Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts

Now of course, it is rejuvenated as the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, largely gutted and refurbished, but the gates, main hall ( now the Paul McCartney Auditorium ), and the staircase to the basement are retained. Two Old Boys are on the LIPA Council - Roger Morris and Stuart Christie. Well done chaps !

Paul Grimshaw, a technician for multimedia at the The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, has set up a WWW site well worth visiting. Great stuff, Paul ... and you too Paul !

Contemporaries

It was here that Bryan Patton, Steve Norris, Colin Hunt (Chief Librarian of The Liverpool Daily Post and Echo), George Harrison, Bill Kenwright (sometime actor, Willy Russell fan and impresario), Peter Sissons, Mike McGear ( yeah, I know ), Herbert Symonds, Stu Slater (of the Mojos), Sidney Silverman, Stan Kelly, Jim Eedle, Arthur Askey, Kenny Webster, Dave Dover ( the bass player ), Noel Rawsthorne, Archibald Salvidge, the ubiquitous Davey Jones, James Craig, Barry Glass (the "Removalist" famed more for not another game of 3-card brag ), James Laver, and others more or less famous ... reaped an education that somehow enriched their lives so that they could become responsible members of society in roles at the time undreamed, in places perhaps yet to be mapped and in circumstances perhaps untested.

In my case I progressed (well, I use the term loosely), as follows ... 3C (Killer), 4B (Fred Bilson), LVB (Tud), U5B (Sissy), 6BM1 (Arthur Evans   ?   ), 6AM2 (Jake Edwards) and then a recidivist 6AM2 again (Jolly Rogers)

Titanic

Iain Taylor sent me this gem ... Peter Sloan was on the Titanic .... and presumably was one of those lost at sea .... QUOTE Chief Electrician: 

Peter Sloan, 31, was born in Liverpool and educated at Liverpool Institute. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. C.S. Wilson of Regent Road, Bootle and joined White Star immediately after completing his apprenticeship. Received a silver medal for his part in the rescue work following the collision between the Baltic and the Republic. Promoted Chief Electrician of the Laurentic and then the Olympic. Left a widow (Annie) but no children; lived at 77a Clovelly Road, Southampton and left an estate worth £487. 

UNQUOTE

Bilson & McCartney - An Anecdote

Fred Bilson and Jack Sweeney were my favourite teachers, and still are.

Teaching me was not easy as I was looking back now, a rather self-effacing, prize prick, prune and a right practising prat to boot in those days ... a-hem ... I am now much improved.

I do remember Fred with warm affection ... he told me this great tale ..... he once admonished a highly gifted, future mega-millionaire, favourite son of the people of Liverpool and maybe England (or the world), prolific and successful songwriter, lefthanded musician who performed everywhere from a smelly city cellar to Shea Stadium and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic conducting his own written opera, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur and general whimsical larrikin; the same devoted family man who was to be given the keys to the City of Liverpool; this tremendously popular, soon to awarded the Order of the British Empire and eventually to become a Knight of the Realm, personally sworded by the Queen of England ... these great words ...

"Always remember McCartney, there's plenty of people in this sixth 
form with as much talent as you, or possibly more"

... Fred unashamedly adds to his story ...and you have to laugh at the gauche modesty ... "I put that down as the daftest thing I ever said in my life to anyone, women included." ..... mmm, it would be close Fred ... I dunno though - I can think of a few others myself that come pretty close, but that one certainly takes the biscuit !

Fred Bilson is now teaching dyslexic students at the University of Glamorgan (I think), and it's just great to have him here. I really hope one day to renew our acquaintance, as I have the highest regard for him.