Bangor Grammar School

Coordinates: 54°39′54″N 5°39′36″W / 54.665°N 5.660°W / 54.665; -5.660

Bangor Grammar School is an all-boys voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It comprises two parts, the preparatory department, Connor House (co-ed) and The Grammar, (boys only). It has around 1,000 pupils from ages 4 to 18.

The school maintains close links with its sister single sex school in Bangor, Glenlola Collegiate. The two schools regularly participate in joint activities, notably the CCF, which meets on-site in Bangor Grammar; the two schools' Scripture Unions who combine monthly; and the Bangor Grammar Drama Department, which presents an annual play by students from both schools.

The school is divided into 4 houses: Crosby, Dufferin, School and Ward. Regular inter-house competitions are held. The House colours are as follows- Crosby (Red), Dufferin (Yellow), School (Blue) and Ward (Green).

School building plans

A three year campaign to gain funding from the Department of Education for a new school building for Bangor Grammar School came to a successful end on March 1, 2006 when funding was granted. The new location of the school building will be outside the town centre, on the current Bangor Academy site on the Gransha Road. It is estimated that the new school will take at least five years to complete.

Clubs and societies

Sport

Bangor Grammar has won the rugby Ulster Schools Cup on five occasions. During the late 1980s they were a major force in Ulster schools' rugby appearing in four finals from 1985 to 1988, winning three of them. Former distinguished 1st XV players include Mark McCall (Irish international and former Ulster coach), Jan Cunningham (a member of the Ulster team which won the Heineken Cup), Bryn Cunningham (Ulster Rugby), Kieron Dawson (London Irish and Ireland), Kenny Hooks (Ireland international), Dick Milliken (Ireland and the British Lions) and Don Whittle (Bangor, Ulster, London Irish & Ireland)

Bangor Grammar have won Ulster and All Ireland schools titles in hockey. The most notable hockey player from the school include Olympic Gold medallist (Seoul 1988) and bronze medallist (1984 Los Angeles)Stephen Martin.

In cricket, the school has produced Ulster and Irish Schools' internationals.

In 2005, a badminton double was achieved in the Ulster Finals of the Minors Division 2 and the Seniors Ulster Cup. The Minors beat RBAI in the League Final 4-2 and the Seniors won 4-2. The Seniors were also in the Division 2 final but were beaten by Belfast Royal Academy, a Division 1 team.

Former Northern Ireland International and current Glentoran football player Keith Gillespie also attended Bangor Grammar before moving on to a more football-orientated school.

Debating

The Debating Society is Bangor Grammar's oldest society, having been established in 1927 by A.L. Hawtin. Providing an insight into past pupil's opinions are the minutes of the society, which have been maintained since its inception. The Senior Debating Team scored a major victory on 24 April 2009 when William McKeown and Luke Garbutt defeated Our Lady's and St Patrick's of Knock in the final of the Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition. Bangor Grammar also won the [Nor[thern Ireland Schools Debating Competition|Schools Cup]] in 2004, the Best Speaker's Shield in 2006, and has been a finalist (seven times) on more occasions than any other school in Northern Ireland. ] The Senior Debating Society is currently run by Mr. S. J. Wolfenden. The Junior Debating society is presided over by Mr M Dickson.

Music

Bangor Grammar School employed Mr Ian Hunter as its first Director of Music in 1969; a post that he was to hold for 32 years before retiring in June 2001. He is a graduate of Stranmillis University College in Education, of the Open University in Music and the University of Ulster in Educational Technology. He also holds the LTCL and LGSM diplomas.

In 2001, upon Mr Hunter's retirement, his colleague Mr Jonathan Rea was appointed Director of Music. Jonathan is a graduate of Girton and Homerton Colleges, Cambridge (wherein he was awarded the Rima Alamuddin Prize for piano performance). He also holds the LTCL diploma. In his spare time, Mr Rea is a keen composer and arranger

The music department also employs Miss Claire Evans, BEd, MA, ATCL teaching full-time and Mr Mark Fenn, BA on a part-time basis until February 2009 when, owing to his departure, a second Miss Evans was employed in BGS.

The school has a long, musical history, with its concert band playing at many school events throughout the year including Speech Day, The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and the Spring Concert. The concert band also plays annually at Bloomfields shopping centre in Bangor where it entertains shoppers while raising money for charitable causes. Past charities include MacMillan Cancer Care and Abaana.

A recording entitled 'Christmas Music from Bangor Grammar School' was made in 1990 under the direction of Mr Ian Hunter, which featured the Gryphon Consort, the school orchestra and brass ensemble and various congregational carols. More recently, the department has recorded and produced two CD albums: A String of Pearls (2004) and The Christmas Album (2005), both under the musical direction of Mr Jonathan Rea.

In the 2006/2007 academic year, the school celebrated its sesquicentenary (150th anniversary). Alongside Mr. Rea, Mr. William Cree (Head of German) organised a gala concert in Belfast's Waterfront Hall to celebrate this anniversary. The concert took place on 14 October 2006.

Notable past pupils

• David Trimble - Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (1995 - 2005), Northern Ireland's First Minister (1999 - 2000 and 2000 - 2002) and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1998. Attended the school from 1956 to 1963.
• Keith Gillespie - Northern Ireland Football International with 86 caps.
• Mark McCall - Achieved 13 caps as an Ireland rugby international in the 1990s.
• Adam Best - An actor who has played Matt Parker in the BBC TV drama Holby City since 2005.
• David Feherty - Former European Tour and PGA Tour golfer.
• Colin Bateman - Author and screenwriter, creator of Murphy's Law (TV series)
• Dick Milliken - Ulster, Ireland and Lions player.
• Michael Coffey - Expert in Riemannian geometry.
• Kieron Dawson - Ulster Rugby and Ireland national rugby union team flanker
• Bryn Cunningham - Ulster Rugby full back
• Peter Weir (politician) - Democratic Unionist Party member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
• Garth McGimpsey MBE, Celebrated amateur golfing champion, Ireland's most capped amateur golfer, receiving an MBE for his successes and captaining the winning 2003 Walker Cup team.
• Jason Barlow - TV presenter
• Dr. Mark Hamilton - TV and radio medic
• Iain Archer - Singer/songwriter and winner of an Ivor Novello award
• Alan T. W. Kennedy - international superstar DJ, better known as DJ MiTCH
• Don Whittle - Ulster Rugby and Ireland national rugby union team flanker
• Maurice Hamilton - Formula 1 commentator for Radio 5 live and journalist for F1 Racing and The Guardian
• Mark Gillan - Aerodynamisist formerly of McLaren, Jaguar, and more recently Toyota.
• David Morrow, Ireland national rugby union team
• Chris Buckler North of England correspondent for the BBC

Dr Stephen Martin MBE Double Olympic Hockey medallist, GB and Irish International and Chief Executive Olympic Council of Ireland

The school song

Bangor Grammar School has a Latin school song. It was written in 1950 by Miss Elsie Patton and set to music by Dr Emery, the school's music teacher. It is sung on major school occasions, competitive events and Scripture Union weekends. It has become the custom for it to be sung at the conclusion of Senior Debating Society meetings, with the full support of the chairman, Mr S. Wolfenden.

Comgall noster, Columbanus,

Sanctus noster, Gall, Britannos

Effecere Christianos.

Floreat Bangor,

Deo laus et gloria.

Sana mens in corpore sano

Hic quaeratur et humano,

Quisque sit discipulus animo

Ne pavidus exeat.

Laboraturus inter pares,

Oratorus, oratorus,

Fidem quolibet lauturus.

This translates into English as:

Our own Congall and Columbanus,

our own St. Gall

made the Britons Christian.

May Bangor flourish -

To God be the praise and glory.

Here, in this place, let a sound mind and a sound

body be sought, and let every

pupil be of a civilized spirit.

Let him go out without fear,

to work among his fellows,

to pray

and to carry his faith with him

everywhere.

References

External links

• Bangor Grammar School Website
• Bangor Grammar School CCF
• Bangor Grammarians