were introduced to the event, followed by the shot put in 1952 and hop, step and jump in 1958. Even hammer throwing was tried, but the danger of the event (because of the lack of a cage) forced its stoppage. In 1955, after the arrival of M.G. Dolden in 1953, Sports Day was moved to May, a Victor Ludorum Cup was introduced for the intermediate years (14–16), the novelty races were scrapped completely, the tug-of-war was dropped as the finale and the Hitchin Town Band stopped playing at the event, making it school-only for the first time since 1899. Notable former pupils Ben Hull, actor Ben Wilmot, footballer for Watford FC Ben Lawson (basketball), Pro basketball player for Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka Arvind Parmar, tennis player Joe Worsley, rugby player Paul Van Carter, film producer James Bay, singer-songwriter Kevin Phillips, footballer Ian Poulter, golfer Robert Newman, comedian Hitchin Boys' Grammar School Sir Peter Bonfield CBE, Chief executive from 1996 to 2002 of BT Frederic Chapman, publisher D.G.E. Hall, South East Asia historian Dr Robin Holliday, molecular biologist John Holloway, Baroque violinist and conductor Paul Jesson, actor David Lambert, General President from 1975 to 1990 of the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers and from 1991–4 of the National Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel Trades John Pratt, Canadian politician E. H. Visiak, writer Richard Whitmore, former BBC newsreader in the 1970s Alfred Mendes, writer References History of Hitchin Grammar School, Reginald Hines, 1931 The John Mattocke Boys, Joyce Donald, 1989 External links Hitchin Boys' School Old Boys' Association EduBase Secondary schools in Hertfordshire Boys' schools in Hertfordshire Hitchin Buildings and structures in Hitchin Educational institutions established in the 1630s 1639 establishments in England Academies in Hertfordshire