MEMENTOS of the life of former QEGS pupil Sir Harold Derbyshire are now in the safe custody of school archivists.

They were handed over by a visitor, Marcelle Bury, whose mother Mary was in service with Sir Harold and his wife.

She is seen here handing over a portrait of the Blackburn-born barrister, taken after he had been called to the Bar about 90 years ago, alongside head Simon Corns and archivist John Read.

Mr Corns said: "Sir Harold had a varied and fascinating life and was always proud of his association with Blackburn and this school.

"We were delighted to learn from Mrs Bury more about Sir Harold's career and, thanks to her, we are thrilled to have these important additions to our school records."

Sir Harold is one of the distinguished former pupils of QEGS whose profile will appear as part of "The School on the Hill" edited by Phil Lloyd, a history of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, which will be published in April as part of the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the school's founding by the second Earl of Derby in 1509.

Born in 1886, young Harold lived in Bolton Road, Ewood and attended QEGS from 1900 to 1905, where he became head boy and helped found the school's debating society.

After winning a scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, he became a barrister at Gray's Inn, London, in 1911.

In 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service and after the war stood unsuccessfully for parliament as a Liberal candidate at Clitheroe in 1923.

He was knighted by King George V in 1934, after being appointed Chief Justice of Bengal. He died in 1972.