I have all the papers, books and photographs belonging to Pannal Ash College formerly Southern College established in 1870. Taken over by the Police Training College. When the Police announced they were leaving their Secretary Margaret Hart asked me if I would have what they had accumulated from Pannal Ash College. I did so and I have them dating back to 1920. Over the years I have had various enquiries relating to "old boys" that attended the college and I have been able to answer all their queries.
Dr Christopher Klinger from Devon came across my blog and emailed me to see if I had any information on Pannal Ash College and in particular his grandfather who attended the college as a 13 year old boy in 1935. It was a very sad story as his parents who were living in Poland wanted him educated at the College. He came over and was a pupil there until just before the Second World War. Germany marched into Poland his parents "disappeared", There was no more money for his education so he had to leave aged 17. Poor George - not his Polish name - but what he was called in the College. His parents gone so George emigrated to Australia where he had a new life, married and had children. His grandson asked me if I could trace him.
I looked through all my papers and found him. Dr Chris Klinger his lovely wife Charm and his fourteen year old son Asoka came to see me and I had a delightful surprise awaiting. I gave them the magazines he was mentioned in and to great excitement a photograph of George was found. I also presented them with the school plaque that George would have seen every day at the College. A very joyful visit as they had not expected that I would find so much. A lovely visit made so much happier. I gave them directions to what is left of the buildings. I had the Memorial Chapel opened by Lord Harewood in 1927 listed in 2014 and also the Headmaster's House. The land is being developed for housing but it lies empty on Yew Tree Lane.
I was delighted to meet this lovely family, not forgetting their lovely gentle dog and I am so pleased I have so much memorabilia and saved it from being destroyed. A unique record of a long forgotten College.
I am a journalist, historian, author and don't know what it is called but I have many queries from relatives of people who lived in Pannal and are now deceased. When I can traced them I am always pleased to help their relatives.
I have two of my grandchildren (twins) coming up to stay with me tomorrow so that will be fun. So Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Leeds, Bradford and Otley here we come.
Not only am I fed up with the rain. Today and last Thursday I got soaked playing golf, Tigs and Marble are too.
Hi Anne. It was a real privilege to meet you. I am so grateful for the effort you made to search out all that material on my grandfather, but to mention your role in preserving that heritage. It's a real treasure for me and, although he is sadly gone now, I feel more connected to him than ever. Despite the tragedy he endured in losing his family, I'm also really glad that his first experience of England was the lovely village of Pannal. We all had a wonderful day and will definitely be coming back to Harrogate. Thank you so much. Chris Klinger.
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