Yarm Former Pupils Mike Turnbull and Geoff Steward, from the Class of 1988 share their memories of their time at Yarm School and how, decades later, they ended up in a band together! 

When did you join Yarm School? 

Mike: I have memories of working on my times tables with my Dad and he was really focused on us receiving a good education, right from the start. That was a priority for him, we came from humble beginnings, and he had worked away for years to ensure we could cover the fees. 

Dad had seen the notice of the school opening in the papers, and had made enquiries. I remember the process, the Entrance Exam in The Friarage and then the interview I had alongside my parents with the Headmaster, Neville Tate, I knew I had to be on my best behaviour. I remember him asking about my career aspirations and at the time I thought I wanted to be a vet, which was deemed to be a suitable answer. 

We ended up with a 12-week summer holiday before I joined Yarm in 1981, the school had extended holidays to make up for the longer days at school. 

I still remember the minibus coming to pick us up each morning, and we all became good friends with the driver too. Luckily, I could see the bus route from the house, and knew I’d have just enough time to make it to the top of the road as they pulled up. They didn’t wait if you were late!

School started at 9am. We had a uniform inspection, every Monday, before lessons. Lunch time brought the whole school together in the dining room, where we would say ‘Grace’. We had an afternoon break, and snacks from the tuck shop. At the time they had just launched ‘Wispas’, that was the one thing we were all keen to get hold of!  

Because the school day was long we finished at 5.15pm.  Once you got home, you’d still have homework to do. As a result, I quickly lost touch with the people I knew from my previous school. 

The biggest difference was the school was all boys back then, though I remember the first girls joining us in Lower Sixth in 1986. We’d had some interactions with Teesside High for occasional lessons, but this was the biggest change for all of us. 

Geoff: We joined school in 1981, we were only the second intake, that would go on to go all the way through the school. 

I remember one of the parents had set-up a bus company and I was travelling an hour from Hartlepool each day. There were only 20 of us on the bus originally. It was a long-round journey. 

The school was basic, but the teachers were excellent. I remember we campaigned for a table tennis table, which we finally got! We didn’t have dedicated common room spaces, until we were given our own space in the Lodge by the school gates, at the top of the hill. 

The focus at the school was on rugby, but I was a big football fan, so I started a league in around 1985 and we played at lunch times. We used to play by the walled garden (now the Astro) and divided ourselves into teams so we could play 5-a-side. Still in our school uniform of course! 

Tell me your favourite memories from your time at Yarm School? 

Mike: I distinctly remember my first lesson on my first day, and my first meeting with fellow FP Geoff Steward. We’d gone up to Languages (now Art) in The Friarage and to Mr Gary Chambers’ classroom. He sat us all alphabetically and that was the day our life-long friendship began. I’m still able to speak German today, thanks to Mr Chambers’ lessons. 

My other memory was of all us having a snowball fight outside The Friarage, until Mr Tate walked out, he didn’t say a word, just stood with his hands behind his back and we all knew to stop in that moment! He was that kind of character.  

Geoff: I have lots of memories, including watching movies in the theatre (now the School Library). It was here I also played my first ever gig with my first band Castro To Deodar, I was in the band alongside Liam Howe, fellow former pupil and musician who later went on to form Sneaker Pimps. I even remember our support act: a solo slot from Gary Booth. 

I remember the Art Teacher Mr Franks, who trained at Bauhaus, running life drawing classes, which were always popular! 

Not a favourite memory, but a significant one: we were all in school at the time when the car hit the portico at the front of the Friarage and collapsed. One of my best friends, Nige Bowley, who was Head Boy at the time, rescued the girls from the car. It was really quite dangerous as the car was crushed. 

I was also tasked with doing a history project for A-Level and researching the history of The Friarage building, which was fascinating - especially the tunnel running under the river and the different owners and occupants it has had over the years.  

What were your next steps after leaving School?

Mike: After leaving school, there was a group of us who all decided we were going to go on holiday together. We finished school in July 1988 and had a group holiday booked to Majorca for September. 

However, just two weeks after finishing school, I met my wife, Dawn, through mutual friends. We still went on the planned holiday, though I missed her whilst we were away and she had come to pick me up from the airport. She was also there, alongside my parents as I headed off to Manchester University, but quickly realised it wasn’t where I wanted to be, and headed home, so I could be with Dawn. I studied an HND in IT at Teesside, followed by my Accountancy degree, whilst working in a local pub, so I could move out of home. I’m now an accountant, and have a branch based on Yarm High Street. 

Geoff went to study in Nottingham, we managed a few visits and even went to each other's weddings. Life got busy, as it does, though we stayed in touch. On one visit I’d discovered Geoff had been playing in a covers band. I’d followed them really closely going to gigs whenever I could to support them. 

I’d remembered Geoff’s uncle buying him his first guitar, and whilst I’d played guitar back when I was at school, I hadn’t picked one up in years. I’d invited Geoff and his band to play at my 50th birthday, which was a fantastic occasion and made even more memorable when Geoff presented me with a Fender Stratocaster for my birthday. 

It was such a meaningful gift. Geoff knew me so well, and that one of my ambitions was to be in a band, that gift got me playing again. 

Geoff: The group holiday we went on was great, we went with two of the first girls who joined the Sixth Form in 1986, and we were all good friends. We lost touch for a while, until one of the girls, Abbie, ended up recognising me at one of my gigs. It’s been fantastic reconnecting. 

After our holiday, I went to university where I studied law. I’m now a partner in a law firm in London and have worked here for 35 years. 

I played in a covers band for around 18 years, and as Mike mentioned it was great to play at his 50th party. I’d always been interested in song writing, and decided to give it a go during COVID. I don’t read music, so I write entirely by feel. I knew Mike hadn’t picked up a guitar in years, but I’d bought him a Fender Stratocaster for his birthday and told him he had to join the band! 

Tell us more about ‘Run the Enemy’ 

Geoff: Run the Enemy has been together for around three years now. I formed the band, bringing two of the band members with me from the covers band, then I asked Mike to join along with our lead singer, Ben Hoy, a former professional football player, from the village I live in, who wanted to transition into music. 

It has been great to come back together, and work so closely with Mike, after sitting together on that first day of school. We’ve also had great support from friends from school, coming to see our gigs and even more recently putting us up when we’ve been travelling around! 

Mike: Geoff is based in Cambridge, so I travel down to stay when we are recording or gigging. I much prefer gigging to recording in a studio, but it’s great to see all sides of the industry, and have the experience. It’s been really insightful, even bumping into a famous name at the recording studio, Bruce Foxton, from The Jam. He was brilliant, genuinely interested in our music, and we got to listen to him play incredible classics in the studio.

This is a real passion project for us. We are not in it for the money, we are fortunate to have had fulfilling careers that give us the luxury of doing this because we enjoy it. 

To date, we have produced two albums and are currently working on a third. You can find our music available on Spotify, Apple music, Amazon and YouTube. We usually gig in London but are so pleased we will be playing back in the North East - for the first time since my 50th birthday!   

Where can we see you perform? 

Mike: We do most of our gigs in London but we are booked to do a gig at The Georgian Theatre in Stockton on Saturday 17th October2026 with the Cameron Glover as the support act - a fellow North-East artist. 

Geoff: It will be great to be playing in the North East and I have already signed up fellow pupils from our time at Yarm to come along and join us. 

Tickets are available now! https://georgiantheatre.co.uk/live-events/run-the-enemy/ 

The Georgian Theatre in Stockton on Saturday 17th October 2026.

A huge thank you to Mike and Geoff for giving their time to share their amazing memories with us, and we look forward to seeing them perform supported by fellow Yarm Alumni and the Yarm Community.