Looking at the history of Hymers College, there have been several families who, for multiple generations, have had direct relatives who studied at Hymers College.

The Clark family have attended Hymers College for 100 years, with George Kenneth Clark starting in 1923 and Madeleine Clark finishing in 2023.  The family can also proudly say that three generations have been President of the Old Hymerians Association; Kenneth in 1950, Edward in 1980, and Jonathan in 2017.

George Kenneth Clark, OH 1923-26

Known as Kenneth, he was born on 1 December 1910 and started at Hymers College on 18 September 1923, when he was 12 years old.  He left the school after three years, leaving when he was 15 years old on 26 July 1926.  He grew up in the Cottingham area.

Records show that his father was George Clark Junior and he was a Government Director.

Kenneth Clark in his school blazer

George Edward Clark, OH 1950-58

Known as Edward, he was born in 1942. He attended Hymers College for eight years, leaving just before his 16th birthday.  Edward was enrolled in the school from 12 September 1950 until 25 July 1958.  He left the school to join his father's motor dealership.

He had two sons, Andrew and Jonathan, who both attended Hymers College.

The school has changed dramatically since I was there. I was asked by the Junior School Headmaster to talk of this to the pupils some years ago. There was no Junior School building, no astroturf/outdoor sports fields or junior pitches, or east car park, all that land was railway sidings.

Behind the Pavilion were two squash courts, and two fives courts, and the single story building was a rifle range for the Cadet Force. At the far end of the playing field was a running track, with a surface of ash, not the modern day equivalent.

Recent additions of the music centre, LRC building and the change from the old gymnasium to the Gore, plus the Theatre complex and swimming pool all add to the terrific progress the school has made since my years there.

(Left to right) Edward, Kenneth, Andrew, Herbert Ballard and Jonathan taken at the OH Dinner in 1990

Andrew George William Clark, OH 1978-86

Edward's eldest son, Andrew started at Hymers College at the age of eight in 1978 and stayed until 1986.  He went on to study Land Use and Recreation at Newton Rigg College near Penrith.

Jonathan Giles Iain Clark, OH 1980-90

Edward's youngest son, Jonathan was at Hymers College for 10 years, starting in 1980, before leaving in 1990.  He went on to study European Business Studies with Spanish at Buckinghamshire College of Further Education, part of Brunel University.

Jonathan had two children, George and Madeleine, who have both been educated at Hymers College.

George William Peter Clark, OH 2011-21

The eldest child of Jonathan, George studied at Hymers College from 2011 until 2021.  He is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University

Madeleine Grace Clark, OH 2013-23

Madeleine is the last of the family to attend Hymers College (for now!).  She started in 2013 and left last summer (July 2023).  She is currently studying Psychology at Stirling University.

During the lockdown of 2020, while George and Maddie were still at Hymers College, they interviewed their grandfather about his memories of Hymers College to discuss how the school had changed over the years: