Memories of Greenfield Street Secondary Modern 1965-1969

Written by Steve Whitehead.

I attended " Greeny " between the above dates, having done my earlier schooling in the infants and juniors at the same school.

I was wondering if any visitors to your blog went to this school and if they remembered the teachers and the classes they took.

The Headmaster was a Scotsman called Christie and as far as I can remember, the only time he spoke to you was in his office if you were in bother : he possibly took a class now and the but I can't recall. His office was right in front of one of the two stairwells up to the classrooms. If you turned left here and past the cloakrooms you came to the classroom of Mr Williams who took History , but who sadly died , and then taken by a Mr Jenner who was crazy and looked exactly like the lead singer from Jethro Tull. Past this room was Mr Pickfords class which was RE or RK.

When you went back past the cloaks and past Christies office you came to several other classrooms and then the assembly hall/dinner hall. In these classrooms in no particular order were Robinson (maths ) Hindley (English ) Mr Howes who took Geography – we called him Howsie.

There was also a class taken by a Mrs Monks but I can't for the life of me remember what she took. Also on duty was a Mr Jones who never seemed to do much apart from drop in on classes and do a talk on sex education (what do you need to know sir ! ) but I remember he had a vicious temper and used to chuck things at you – book , ruler , chair etc..

When you got to the end of this row you turned left and found a duplicate of the other end of the school with cloaks and offices and a small shop. I think one of the classrooms down her was for music , possibly taken by a Miss Bennett and a nature study class ran by Mr Nichols.

When you went down either of the staircases you came to the playground and on the other side was the gym - also ran by Howsie who was as fit as anything. Next door was the science lab - Beaky Mellor and further along woodwork which was another Robinson and metalwork which was taken by Hawkins or Attree. 

Lastly , on the far side you had tech drawing taken by Mr Wainwright who was the hardest caner ever , I think he even scared the other teachers !! Also in this small building was art which was a Mr Howard.

The other school sports area was at Walker Lane which we used to walk about a mile to , for eleven-a-side football and cricket and school sports days. The changing rooms were a bit primitive even then.

All in all I thought Greeny was a good school with a well balanced curriculum and fair preparation for adulthood. There were some really clever lads in my year and a couple of superb footballers (no names !! ). I hope the guys I knew felt as sorry as I did when the place was finally demolished a few years ago ..........

Ref the info I sent you a couple of weeks ago re Greenfield Street - I've come this photo which I think is the 4th year, and must be from about 1968/1969 - the teacher is Evans , don’t know if you recognise anyone else.

Steve

Brilliant Steve, alas I can't put a name to anyone only Mr Even's...  here's hoping others will be able to add name by commenting here.

Update

Can anyone fit these names to the lads in the picture:

Pete Howles, Richard Shepley, Nigel Boak, Mark Sutcliffe, Ian Fyffe, Rob Dixon, Paul Harrop and Stan Fox

Names given to me by Steve Daniels

St George's School Photo's

A few photographs of St George's school activities around 1953. Unfortunately none of the children or staff names are known. I'm sure someone out there will come up with some names, if so let us know.

 

Leigh Street School Photo

I've been asked by a friend in Australia if I could put the Leigh Street class photo on the blog. It shows her daughter Denise Morris (at the time) on the bottom row third from left. in her class in the late 1960's. Shirley her mother emigrated with her family to Australia a few years later. Any other info about the photo, such as names etc would be appreciated.

Back Row:  ?, Tony West, Susan Richardson, Christopher Johnston, ?
 Middle Row:  Anthony Savage, Mark Rogan, ?, Stephen Ferris, Voya Sarcevic, David Bradley, Martin Arrowsmith, Peter Catlow
Front Row: Carol Slater, Carol Hamer, Denise Morris, Ceridy Walker, Sharon Knowles, Jane Rudge? Jane Morris (my sister)

Sorry if any names are spelt wrong.

School Report Time !

The following were sent to us by Peter Fallon.
They show his class photos and accompanying report cards.

I used to be so anxious when it was school report time - Mine always said I spent too much time talking and not enough time working !

Leigh Street Junior School 1949

Headmaster Mr Renwick. Teacher Mrs Andrews.

1st Row ? ? Alan Mills

2nd Row ???????????

3rd Row Myself, Barbara Bridgehouse, Mary Barber, Irene Buckley, Kathleen Stainrod, Alwyn Ashbrook, June Harding, Hazel Wadsworth, James Smith.

4th Row James Taylor, Peter Bardsley, Albert Armstrong, Alan Brimble, Donald Hampton, Alan Bonsall, Peter Marsland, Keith Hallas, Ralph Harris.

5th Row David Hirst, Roger Hirst, Geoffrey Warner, Peter Jepson, Peter Harrison, Tony Barton, Brian Crompton, John Brown, Glynn Wright.

 




Greenfield Street Secondary School 1952

February 1952 

Teacher Mr Cookson

Average age 12 yrs 4 months

Front row John Brown, Peter Warburton, ??? Myself, 

Second Row John Wilson, John Barton, ???????

Third Row ????? Kenneth Dane, ???

Fourth Row Alan Thomson, ???? Keith Alexander, J Whitehead.

Many thanks, Peter. :)
I wonder if anyone else is brave enough to send theirs in ?

Flowery Field Junior School

This photo was taken at Flowery Field Junior School 
in the late 1960's.
On the back row, 3rd from right, is my brother Adrian. On the row in front of him, 2nd from right, is his pal Kevin Barker from Hallbottom Street.

Thanks to David Hamilton for sharing this photo :)

Oakfield Primary

This class photo was taken at Oakfield Primary School in 1963.
The teacher was Miss Jones, next to her, in the fourth row from
the front, is Steven Heginbotham. Third from left in that row is
myself, and at the far right of the row is Graeme Green.

Mrs Clegg was the Headmistress, she had previously been at 

St. Mary's School just up the road.

One of the most vivid memories I have of my time at Oakfield
is of the sickly smell of tobacco wafting over from Senior Service !

Sent to us by David Hamilton.

Many Thanks, David !

MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN HYDE Part 7

 1939 – 1962

By Roger Chadwick

In September 1944, aged 5, with my mother, on the first day only , I walked down Mottram Road, up Grange Road, along Tinkers Ginnel and through the playground of LEIGH STREET SCHOOL to Miss Beaumont’s class in The Infants Building.    Clutching a small bag of cocoa and sugar, my first experience of education was making fudge sweeties!    The noise of other children was a bit frightening at first but the room, festooned with pictures and charts, was a fascinating experience.  Miss Beaumont was a tall lady with violent red lipstick and wore Lisle stockings with small tufts of red wool dotted about all over.  I could not take my eyes off this “fashion statement” and when I got home, my mother told me they were “clocks” – an ornamental design either woven in or embroidered on the side of a stocking.   Miss French was another tall teacher and noted for smacking unruly infants so I kept out of her way!   Miss Moore, a smiling, motherly and wonderful person, was the Head Teacher, who I came to know better in later years at church.  

 

 Leigh Street School.


The war was on, everything in short supply. Even in the Junior Department we were told to write on the inside covers of exercise books and across the margins.  Any sheet of paper with a clean side had to be used.  Sugar bag paper was used for art work.  Those waxy cardboard milk bottle tops had to be brought to school for further use: raffia was worked around any available container to make “spell” boxes, those things we used at home with “spells” of wood to light the fire!  Nothing was wasted.   Old blotting paper lined precious jam jars for the beans and peas to grow on the window sills.  Tops of carrots were brought on saucers to grow foliage.  Woe betide any child who wasted anything!  The one third pint of milk had to be drunk even if it was frozen.  No child could leave anything on the plate of a school dinner.  “Get that down yer and stop messing about; the convoys brought that across the Atlantic”, warned my grandmother! 

I still do not leave a plate with any food on it!

My first teacher in the Juniors was Miss Taverner but she could not keep order and the classes were rowdy.   Believed to be quite bright I was “expressed” through Miss Halton/Haughton’s class and into Miss Emsley’s third year.  Miss Emsley became Mrs Andrew and was just lovely!  I well remember her as a younger teacher with a quick stride and a handbag.  Likewise Miss Lees,  who was always smiling but reputed to be a strict disciplinarian.  Mr Drewett, a quiet and lovely man and Mrs Gaunt were responsible for Year 4 pupils (present day year 6’s).  Then there was Mrs Shaw who cared for the youngest class of entrants, seeming to be always asleep on canvas beds in the afternoons!

I found myself under the tutelage of Mrs Gaunt for two years and she was certainly the moulding of my education.  Being “expressed” meant two years in what was then called “the scholarship” class.   In those days it was the one great aim to get as many children as possible into grammar schools via the 11+ and at our school to make sure that we always beat St George’s CE School, our nearest rival educational establishment.  From 9.00.a.m. to 4.00.p.m we were kept at the grindstone.  “First Aid” English text books were studied and relevant parts memorised.  “A verb is a doing word”, we had to chant - “An adverb modifies the verb”  “An adjective is a descriptive word” – chanted in class, these phrases were never forgotten.   Grammar training and correct sentence formation both on paper and in speech was repeated over and over again and again until we knew how to write, how to speak and how to communicate. 

Then of course, there were the tables – up to “twelve times” of course and for those who were expected to manage it – up to 13 and 14 times tables.  Highest / Lowest Common Denominators, Fractions, Percentages, Interest and Compound Interest, Mental Arithmetic both written and verbal had to be mastered. Imperial Measures, Rods, Bushels, Pecks, Acres, Pints, Jills, Quarts, Pounds, Stones, Quarters,  Hundredweights, Tons, 1760 yards to the mile 5280 feet to the mile, 4840 sq yds to the acres…… Yards, Feet, Inches, Eight Furlongs to the mile…  All these details were printed out on the backs of some exercise books and they had to be learnt. Most days we had cash sum to multiply like - £14.19s 4pence three farthings multiplied by 29.  Thence, in neat columns sums transferring farthings (960 to the £), halfpennies (480 to the £) pennies (240 to the £) sixpences “tanners” (40 to the £), threepenny bits(80 to the £), shillings “bobs”(20 to the £) half crowns(8 to the £) florins/2 shillings(10 to the £).   These sums had to be got right, especially when the Headmaster, Mr Walter Hugh Renwick entered the class at 3.40.p.m to set the homework for the “scholarship” children.  Children did not get much praise.  “You can do better….not good enough…poor work…untidy… write out the correct spelling 10 times.”. Et cetera!

Does this bring back memories to those born just before, during and just after the war?

I cannot say whether this kind of education was right or wrong.  Suffice it to say that even though I am no mathematician, mental arithmetic has stood me in good stead throughout life as has the grounding in grammar.  Class 8 at Leigh Street School in 1949-50 had 53 pupils presided over by a teacher who knew what she had to do, brooked no nonsense or interference, gave favours to none and criticism to all and made sure that everyone in that class could read and write before they went into secondary or technical education.  She wasn’t there to be liked or loved: she had a job to do and did it magnificently!

It did me no harm at all and I owe everything to that school and its staff. 

 

 

Leigh Street 1949

 

Many thanks to Roger for sharing his memories and to the "Hyde Schoolday Memories" book that was sent to me by Joyce and Graham Sharp.

Oakfield Primary School 1963

The following photo and information was sent to us 
by David Hamilton.

"This photo was taken at Oakfield Primary School,  
Christmas 1963.
The children were performing fairy tales for the parents. The one that I was in was Sleeping Beauty, and the other was Hansel and Gretel, as you can tell by some of the costumes.
I am standing at the back, far right, and on the front row 3rd from the left is Graeme Green.
 
I wonder how many others can be named ?"

 
Very cute indeed !

Many thanks, David :)

Greenfield Secondary School 1953

 The following was sent to us by Colin Ridgway.



As the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II  approaches I thought it most appropriate to look up a school photograph taken in the Spring of 1953 of Form 4R at Greenfield Street Secondary Modern School.
As I recall, all the Hyde schools had class photographs taken to commemorate the Coronation.
The country was still recovering from World War II and the Coronation was to be a big event, to be held as a great morale booster for all. So, perhaps the enclosed photo may serve as a reminder of this momentous event.
I have appended a list name of the pupils on the photo; however, after 60 years I cannot recall everyones name !
Hopefully many thereon are "still around" and can remember this happy time in our lives.




Back Row
Jack Fitton, ?, Clarence Hulme, Peter Ridgway (no relation!) Keith Brookes

Middle Row
John Shaw, ?,  Michael Lees, Me (Colin Ridgway) , John Saville, Melvin Jones, ?, Tony Hunt, Teacher ?

Front Row
John Bateman, George Swindells, Keith Rider, Ian Stone, Jimmy Foden, Joe Wilde, ?

Seated
Neville Hulme, George Robinson.

Many thanks for your time and trouble, Colin.
Much appreciated :)

James "Jimmy Richie" Richardson

We recently received this message and photos from Bill Lancashire.

Over to Bill ..........

"A friend of mine from Romiley, Jean Murray, has asked me to let you have these two pictures of her dad, James Albert Richardson.

He is probably better known to lots of older Hydonians as 'Jimmy Richie', who was a star player for Hyde United in the late forties and fifties before he went on to captain Macclesfield.

Jimmy is the second from right on the back row of the St George's Class 1 in 1931 and is also the young lad with the bow and arrow on the left of the middle row on the pageant picture.  We have no idea where the pageant was, probably in the school yard judging by the stone wall in the background, or what it was commemorating.  Could it be St George's Day?  Maybe someone who was there could tell us and maybe identify some of Jimmy's classmates."

Many thanks to Jean Murray and Bill for sharing these great photos with us

James Richardson Macclesfield Town FC   1950-51 to  1954-55   Centre-half

League 158 Apps 12 Goals   Cups 35 Apps 4 Goals Debut 4 November 1950  -  Runcorn (Away) Moved from Hyde United and was soon appointed captain. He was the linchpin of the  Freer-Richardson-Shepherd half-back (centre-back) line and the team's penalty taker. Featured regularly  throughout his time at the Moss Rose, gaining a Cheshire Senior Cup winners' medal in 1952 and 1954 and was an important member of the team which were Cheshire League champions in 1952.

Oakfield Primary 1963

 The following was sent to us by David Hamilton.

Over to David...


"This photo was taken at Oakfield Primary School,  Christmas 1963.
The children were performing fairy tales for the parents. The one that
I was in was Sleeping Beauty, and the other was Hansel and Gretel, as
you can tell by some of the costumes.

I am standing at the back,far right, and on the front row 3rd from the
left is Graeme Green.
I wonder how many others can be named "?

  Many Thanks, David !

Hyde Grammar School 1973

The following was sent to us by Derek Chappell who taught at Hyde Grammar School.
Over to Derek....

"I was searching through some old photos and came across the enclosed photos of the old Form 1x in 1973!

I hope they will bring back some happy memories to some of the boys in the photos."

 Derek Chappell as moustache !

Hard at work

(with Andrew and Mark)

Many thanks for sharing, Derek !

Much appreciated. :)

Arranging a Class Reunion ?

Below is an appeal from Marlese Savage (Klein) who wonders whether a school classmates reunion is possible.....

"We left school 50 years ago in 1963 which should be enough reason to meet up again.   Is there anyone out there who could try to arrange a meeting from our class?

  

 My name is Marlese Savage (Klein) I went to Flowery Field Secondary School in Hyde from 1959 to 1963.   I've Lived in Germany since 1968 and my only contact to our class was Lesley Turner (Morton) who died over 10 years ago and John Howarth who lives in the USA.

I enclose a photograph of our class taken just before Christmas 1962.  I am the one with the cross on.I will be in Hyde from 14-18 th April, incase any one is interested please contact me by my Email address 
w-klein2@unitybox.de  we could meet and arrange something for the late summer."

Marlese Savage (Klein)

Enfield Street School

Today we have a class photo from Enfield Street School from 1947, along with the following message...

"Hi,
Attached is a photograph with names (where my 75 year memory allows) of the Enfield St Primary Class of 1947 for your collection. I am number 16.
Eddie Grist (mechanical engineer, PhD)"







As always, if you are able to fill in the missing names, please let us know.

Many Thanks, Eddie.
Appreciated as always :)

Enfield Street School

Today we have a class photo from Enfield Street School from 1947, along with the following message...

"Hi,
Attached is a photograph with names (where my 75 year memory allows) of the Enfield St Primary Class of 1947 for your collection. I am number 16.
Eddie Grist (mechanical engineer, PhD)"







As always, if you are able to fill in the missing names, please let us know.

Many Thanks, Eddie.
Appreciated as always :)

More Flowery Field School Photos

Today we continue with our "Rogues Gallery" of school photos, this time showing some from Flowery Field School.

These were supplied by David Stafford.
He has sent more which I will post over the coming week !


1947


1954


1956


1961/62

As always, if anyone knows any names please drop us a line so we can add them to the photos.

Many Thanks , David. :)
Always appreciated !

Class 6 Leigh Street School

The following was sent to us via Graham Sharp. 

It shows Class 6 at Leigh Street School in 1952

Headteacher: W.H. Renwick  Teacher: B.H. Lees

Back Row: F. Crompton, S. Fletcher, H. Turner , S. Slater, I. Berry, I. Rhodes, R. Bennett, P. Bramwell, M. Ashworth, G. Parry, A. Etchells, B. Warhurst, C. Howarth, A. Ralphs

3rd Row:  A.Crompton, D. Herod, B. Parkin, C. Wrigley, B. Austin, J. Smith, D. Knowles, M. Mansfield, A. Barlow, A. Hayward, A. Handforth, J. Butterworth, H. Bellis, G. McConnor, B. Charlesworth.

2nd Row: P. Harris, D. Mather, H. Walker, B. Williams, N. Wilkinson, S. West, M. Wilson, B. Mullin,       J. Leigh, A. Lacey, C. Bromley.

Front Row: M. Smith, R. Birtles, B. Hill, J. Barlow, B. Gregory, B. Preston, A. Chadwick, B. Burgoine,    D. Mellor, R. Andrew.


I've tried to make it a bit larger and clearer below.





I love these old school photos !
Many thanks, Graham ! :)

Leigh Street Junior School

The Girls class of 1931. Seated outside the school entrance.
The teachers are Miss Babbage and Miss Beard.

Leigh Street Juniors

 Here is a photo sent to us by Barbara Tomlinson.
It shows a Leigh Street Juniors class photo from approximately 1954.
Note the old stand of Hyde United in the background and the tree that stands on Tinkers Passage.



The photo is of my class and classmates.

Top row: 
Arthur Nash, Harold ? David Walker Christine Mitchell, Kenneth Morehouse, Esme Thomas, Pauline Memory, Kevin Bell, Pauline Shawcross, Geoffrey Haywood, John Williams, Brian Lewis, 
Second Row: 
David Carr, Gerald Taylor, Maureen Whitehurst, Edgar Ellis, Brenda Lewis, Me, Alan Tomlinson, Nona Gregory, Harry Hall, Joan Longdon, Bill Morris, Russell Cooper, 
Third Row: 
? Kathleen Harrison, ? Rosalind Warner, Bernice Bennett, Delia Gaunt, Edith Etchells, Ann Magraw, Sylvia Barber, Hillary Tyson, Christine Feukes, Fourth Row. John Bradley, Neville Leigh, Peter Daniels, Melvin Gregory, Christopher Mallard, Fred Durham, Harold Rushworth, Teachers  

Mr Amail, left. Headmaster Mr Renwick.  

Many Thanks, Barbara.
P.S. I notice that my Brother in law, Bill, was in your class !  :)

St Georges Junior School

Here is a photo of St Georges Junior School (circa 1948) sent to us by Roger Dyson.

 

He sent us the following accompanying email also.

"The ball point marks were put on by my sister years ago. I haven't succeeded in removing them. Will keep on trying.

 Names from memory:-

       

Beryl Barber, Gillian Broadbent, John Byles (Painter & Decorating Shop) Michael Cook ( Butcher) Me 3rd row 6 from left, David Carter, Brian Sharp, Simon Brindle 
(Doctors Son) Keith Shaw, Roger Bennett, Geoffrey Torkington John Archer, Judith Bradley or Bradbury, Gillian Ollerenshaw,

Fran Holden, Kenneth Hall, Geoffrey Pickford.Maureen Gledhill, ? Cook ( Fairground ride on the market.) Some of the First names might not be correct.

Hope the photo gets some response."

Many Thanks, Roger.  :)