Adrian Baldwin
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Eliots Green Grammar School Scarf Quest – can you help?

2/23/2022

9 Comments

 
Do you know anyone that went to Eliots Green Grammar School, Northolt in the late fifties/early sixties? I ask this question because if you can help me with something (or you are connected to someone else who can) I’d be extremely grateful.

My dad, Neil Baldwin, went to Eliots Green from 1957-1964 or thereabouts (he's in the photo below). One of the things that he kept for decades after was his knitted school scarf.
Picture
PictureThis style of scarf - the one pictured is from Reading University
​I lost it for him in 1992 and my sister and I are trying to get him a new one made. The problem is that given all the time that has passed since we last saw it, we can’t remember the colourway or the thickness of the stripes - certainly purple, yellow, some white we think, but after that we are vague.

My dad can’t remember the colours, neither can my uncle or my Godfather and all of them went to the same school. My sister has tried the school’s Facebook group and drew a blank there too.
​

Picture
The circumstances of the loss of the scarf still irritate me 30 years later. The scarf was actually stolen from me on 28th January 1992. I was at a Zodiac Mindwarp gig at Reading University Student Union with my good friend Chris Williams. Whilst it was bloody cold outside, it was hot and sweaty inside and I’d taken off my leather jacket and scarf and left them at the back of the hall.  At the end of the show my jacket was still there, but my dad’s scarf was gone. As I left the gig I was looking to see if anyone was wearing it - there would have been trouble if I spotted the new ‘owner’ – but I didn’t get lucky and that was that.

PictureLike this perhaps?
​Dad isn’t especially sentimental about any possession, but he did value his old school scarf. It has come up in conversation occasionally over the years and I genuinely feel some guilt that it was lost under my stewardship.

So, my sis and I are trying to right a wrong and get him a replacement. In our interconnected world, it must be possible to find someone that has still got a scarf and can tell us the colours, the order of stripes and the width of them. Maybe someone could even send me a photograph.

On LinkedIn I am connected to around 500 souls, on Facebook I am connected to almost 150, and all of those people are connected to many others. The other day I found out that I have got seven connections in common with Quentin Wilson and nine in common with the CEO of Porsche UK, so it must be feasible to track down an Eliots Green alumni or two.

This is where you can help. Please share my quest with your connections and let me know if anyone out there can assist. My website has been live for a decade, and this is the first time I have ever asked for a post to be shared in this way. I hope that the request sits okay with you.

And you never know, if this piece happens to be read by the person that helped themselves to the scarf at the Zodiac Mindwarp gig in 1992, maybe I could even get the original back. Stranger things have happened.
​
That fact is that my old man is getting on a bit now and my sister and I would love to be able to replace his old school scarf while we still can.

My thanks in advance ​if you are willing to help.

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9 Comments
Julia
7/26/2022 01:06:30 am

I had my Eliots scarf for years, but I eventually had to throw it out as it was disintegrating! I remember that it was deep purple stripes on the outside with only white and yellow stripes in the middle with purple either side of them. I think there was some variation in the width of the stripes but I’m afraid I don’t remember the exact widths. But I think the white and yellow stripes were around an inch wide. The outer purple stripes were around three inches wide. I hope this helps a little. Such a shame when something of sentimental value is stolen. I left Eliots Green in 1976 (I was Julia Shackel then) and my cousin Robert Hannan left in 1974.

Reply
Mike Skeats
12/13/2022 05:46:51 am

Still have mine somewhere, but from memory it’s 3" purple, .5"gold, 1" black, .5" white, 3" purple.

Reply
Adrian Baldwin link
12/13/2022 05:55:47 am

Hi Mike,

Thanks for getting in touch. Please send me a photo of your scarf if you can find it.

Best regards,

Adrian

Reply
Arthur Reeder
4/30/2024 05:37:00 am

Just noticed this as I wanted info about EGGS being demolished. I still have my scarf if you wanted me to take a photo if it?

Reply
Adrian Baldwin link
5/9/2024 07:49:44 am

Hi Arthur,
Thanks for getting in touch, I'd love to see a photo of your scarf.
Kind regards,
Adrian

Reply
Andrew Horsman
8/28/2024 12:49:51 pm

Have you resolved your issues of the scarf?, I was in the first intake in 56, and because school was not ready we. were out housed elsewhere. I was at Drayton Manor. I have two colleagues who might be able to help, and they have other friends.

Reply
Adrian Baldwin link
8/29/2024 12:07:57 am

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes I did resolve the issues with the scarf and got some remanufactured whilst I was at it. There is a latter post that follows up on this original story.
Kind regards,
Adrian

Reply
Pauline Fairweather ( now Gronow)
11/10/2024 03:25:13 pm

Spotted myself in the school photo first row of girls behind L of school!
Thanks for the memory

Reply
Ches Cole link
1/8/2025 12:51:21 pm

Hi Adrian, I've only just discovered your "Scarf Quest" so please forgive me. I was at EGGS from '59 to '65. My kids even went to a school that was started with a partial intake from EGGS.
If I'd known earlier I'm sure I could have helped you. Still very close to many old school friends. If you've got any "new" scarves left please let me know the cost.
Sincerely,
Ches

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