Page 102 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

When the family moved from 159 George Lane, Lewisham to Potters Bar
in Middlesex, Graham moved to St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Primary
School, Cannon Road, Southgate, London.

Following a successful 11+ examination, he was accepted at St. Ignatius
College, Stamford Hill, South Tottenham, London. St. Ignatius was a
Catholic Grammar School, run by the Jesuit order of priests. The school
closed in 1968, when it became a 2-tier secondary school. Most ‘Old

Ignatians’ will recall the form of corporal punishment administered at the
school. The cane was never used: instead it was the ‘ferula’ or ‘tolly’
(whale bone covered in leather), which was administered on one hand –
the Jesuits were a masochistic lot!

In X the family moved to Hove, East Sussex and Graham’s education
moved to the Hove County Grammar School for Boys (HCGSB), Holmes
Avenue, Hove.

rd
1965, Hove County Grammar School for Boys: Graham Blaker 3 row up & 2 from right

The HCGSB is now part of the Blatchington Mill School and Sixth Form
College.

Although his school friends knew Graham as ‘Joe’, he was still known as
Graham by his immediate family – plenty of opportunity for confusion! In
1966, ‘Joe’ met his future wife, Juliet, at a local dance.

In 1965, ‘Joe’ entered Queen Elizabeth College, University of London,
Campden Hill Road, Kensington, to study Microbiology. In 1968, he
st
graduated with a 1 Class Special Honours degree in Microbiology, and
continued his education there, by taking a PhD degree, studying tissue
culture/cancer research. His PhD Supervisor was Professor Stanley John
Pirt (1923-2000). ‘Joe’s’ research work was carried out in the
Microbiology Department, Atkins Building, Campden Hill.

In 1985, the College became part of Kings College, University of London
and was renamed the ‘Kensington Campus’, focusing on biomedical
sciences. The campus was closed and sold in 2000, and its contents were
relocated to the Franklin-Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, Waterloo,
London. Curiously, ‘Joe’s’ son, Paul works nearby and sometimes delivers
tutorials in this building.

In August 1971, after completing his PhD studies, ‘Joe’ joined Glaxo
Laboratories Ltd. in Ulverston, Lancashire (now in Cumbria), working as a
Scientific Officer. At that time, the Ulverston site was one of the largest
fermentation factories in the world, producing a large range of antibiotics
and pharmaceutical ingredients. This was the start of a long career with
the pharmaceutical giant, Glaxo.

In March 1972, ‘Joe’ married Juliet Elizabeth Hammond.