Wallace Hayton remembers the old days
Original date of publication 24/01/2007
I had been teaching at New Brancepeth since 1951 when the big change came about.I transferred to Ushaw Moor with Mrs E Barlow, Mrs E Wilson and Mr G Hill [who became Deputy Headmaster] on 7th of April 1959,together with senior pupils from the school. Among those pupils were Edith Smith, Gillian Cruddace, Hazel Dickinson, Ann Mountain, Ann Dowson, Audrey Thompson, Pauline Newman, Jean Metcalfe, Malcolm Gibb and Thomas Patterson. Another I recall was Peter Barella who became a senior police officer in Northumberland. I quite frequently bump into Ann Mountain and Ann Dowson and always enjoy having a little chat with them.
At first I think that all pupils and staff of the new school were wary as to how we’d all settle but we need not have worried because everything seemed to go well with no great problems, despite the upheaval. I didn’t notice any signs of rivalry between pupils from the three contributory schools.
As far as I can remember [42 years on] we had no great discipline problems – maybe because we had certain simple rules. Do you remember?
1. Walk [don't run] on the left in the corridors.
2. Line up in classes in the schoolyard with one hand on the shoulder of the pupil in front – drop hands on the word of command, then walk quietly into the school.
Lunchtimes involved two ‘sittings’ in the dining room that was opposite Mr Gibbon’s office. Pupils went table by table to the hatch to be served. Do you remember that Grace was said at the beginning and end of each sitting? Times change – schools are so big these days that they don’t seem to have time for that!
The boys may remember the school gardens by the side of the wood. A number of staff took classes there – notably Mr Turnbull.
A number of staff also shared PE untill specialists took over years later. I believe that Mrs Barlow and Mrs Wilson did girls PE. Mr Barlow, myself and later a young teacher called Mr Grimshaw looked after the boys.I enjoyed these lessons because I had the change from the classroom and it also helped me keep fit.On wet days we had mixed PE – you may remember such relays as tunnel ball. We got a new trampoline with which everyone was newfangled. We also had a game called Padler tennis. Some pupils will remember Mr and Mrs Barlow, Mr Grimshaw and I playing the game in the schoolyard at lunchtimes.
As a member of staff I saw many changes in my twenty four and a half years at the school – from Sec. Mod. to Comprehensive, but I must say I enjoyed the earlier years most. In fact they were some of the best of my teaching career, which ended in early retirement in 1983.
May I finish by wishing all pupils from the past every happiness in the future.
WH/WB
I left the area before Secondary Education, but I believe that this is accurate of the times, having experienced similar in the mid sixties. What happened? The respect for our seniors seems to have gone and not for the better in my opinion! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI think when corporal punishment was banned from schools, thats when the problems started! I also left Ushaw Moor school in 1983, vaguely remember you Mr Hayton, but dont think you taught me. Although the cane wasn't used much at the school, it was certainly a deterrant, and us kids had more respect then x
ReplyDeleteI can remember you too Mr Hayton. The trampoline brings back memories for me as I was the first pupil to do a somersault on it one lunch-time with our then PE teacher - I think she was called Miss Lockwood. Mr Barlow was my form teacher when I started the school in 1963. I didn't do so well at school but I wish I could have told Mr Barlow that I did go on to get an Honours Degree at a later date. Miss Lockwood and Mr Grimshaw were the teachers who accompanied a group of us together with pupils frm Lanchester to Howtown. We had a great time sailing, canoeing, camping, climbing etc. I think that is my favourite memory of school.
ReplyDeleteAn old pupil