A great page.........Thanks.
year onwards, uniform was compulsary. Mr. Dutton was deputy head, other teachers were Mr. Millard (French), Stonewall Jackson (maths), Walter Norris (metalwork), who used to play rugby with my Dad, Mr. Atherton (technical drawing), Mr. Rees (science) and Johnny Thomas (Art), who was a prisoner of the Japanese and subsequently committed suicide (I believe). Ossie Clark had just left, he was murdered by a 'friend'.
Not a great deal happened while I was there. One bloke was expelled on the last day of term for setting the fire alarm off. Rhubarb used to grow on the coke heap next to the caretaker's house. I was knocked unconscious in the playground once. I once got six of the best on the hand from Mr. Birkett.
People there with me included, Ian Crozier, Charlie Farrington, Johnny Fogg, Alan Tranter, Geoff Dutton, Peter Bagley (spelling?), Peter Clare, Peter Shoemaker and I can't remember any other names.
I didn't have the luxury of a mixed sex school and the nearest I got to themwas passing Oakwood every day on my way to Beamont. Charlie Farrington and I were the first to attend the sixth form and being the first to get 'A' levels. We used to play rugby on the playing fields where the new school is now situated. It was the Technical College. We did cross country running there too. Every Christmas we were treated to a film show in the hall. It was always the 'Dambusters'. I was excused assembly so all us 'Catholics' went into a room until it was over.
I became a Graphic Designer, married and for my sins, have five children. I now live in Hertford with three of them. I'm now (gratefully) divorced.
I run a website www.rorkesdriftvc.com which may be of interest. I'mcontactable at alan@rorkesdriftvc.com.
Good idea this site, it would be nice to hear from some fellow oldies as I'm only in contact with Ian Crozier.
Beamont must have been the only school in the Uk where bike handle bar grips were used to imitate the behavior of a rugby ball as we all played "tuck n pass" at every opportunity.
I started at Beamont Secondary Technical School on September 11th, 1962.
My
classform history goes
1962-63 1Y Mrs Yates (Fanny) - took English Language
1963-64 2H Mr Henry (Gaffer, Beerbone) - took Intermediate Maths
1964-65 3L Mr Lang, Mr Leeuwangh (Lottie) - took Senior Physics
1965-66 4H Mr Harper (Jessie) - took Senior Maths
1966-67 5M Mr Millard (Monty) - took French
Most
of my time at Beamont was at the O'Leary St school but the move to the
'new' school building (that had been promised for as long as I was at
Beamont) happened just as I was about to leave in 1967. I did
reasonably well at O Levels and went on to do two years at Boteler Grammar
before going to University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I left UK in 1972
and lived and worked in Zambia for six years. I
relocated to New Zealand in 1978 (around the time of John Travolta and
Olivia Newton-John in Grease)and I have been here ever since.
What else can I tell you?
Cheers
Alan Humphries
Harris was 1H form master, we moved to Long Lane when I was in 2R (Gerry Rees) and Ossie Clark was well gone. Any more memories out there?
I was form prefect to one of the classes in
your year I can't remember which one, though Inez Lamb is a name which
is permanently etched on my brain so it may have been her class.
Love the pictures of the staff and your
"poem" which sums many of them up perfectly though in those
days we called what Margaret Parker (and later I ) taught "Housecraft".
Do you remember the production of The King
and I?
I was at the old school bet 1969 and 1974, left and moved shortly afterwards to join the constabulary in Blackpool where I still serve. Thats the part time job, I also played a bit of rugby at various levels, and am grateful to Walt Norris for all the time, effort and constructive sarcasm from the touch line. "That damn ball would never do
what I wanted it to"
Married with two girls and enjoying life to the full, I am still heavily involved with the sport, although not playing. I Still have family connections with Warrington!!
Does anybody remember a school gathering/assembly in the hall when Ozzie Clark (an old pupil of the school) came to re visit & speak to us. We all waited with baited breath for this celebrity 70's fashion designer to appear. As he entered the back of the hall escorted in by the then head master. He was a vision of loveliness as he minced in, in
pink silk flares -&- matching schiffon shirt, feather boa and very very stacked boots with flowing locks. I remember the faces of Sam Hoyle and Walt Norris (sports masters) Walt
nearly biting through his pipe!! as they burst into tucks of laughter, closely followed by the uproar from the rest of the all boys school (before they let us loose with the Oakwood girls) as Ozzie lisped into his opening few words.
He was a very brave boy to come back to that school, where even the teachers hunted in packs. Did I dream this? can anybody remember the occasion too? I have probably used a little poetic license, but would love someone somewhere
to fill in the gaps and add to this folklaw.
the old place.
I was at Beamont from 1971 to 1976, my
last form was 5H Mr Sam Hoyle.
My memory was very poor regarding school, but
after seeing a few pictures and names of the old school it really does
jog your memory back into life.
Having looked at your web site I recall many of the people and would be interested in attending the next reunion, should one be organised. You'll have to let me know when you are next meeting up so that I can see if I can make it. I'll contact Lynn too and get her to come along.
Probably see you at the reunion for our 50ths!!
What a great surprise to hear from you. Thinking back, since I left
Warrington Oct 78, to join the Air Force. I'm pretty sure you are the
first person I have had contact with from school. Quite amazing really.
I live in Holland now, as you know from FRU, with my Dutch wife Brigitte
and 18 year old daughter Pamela. We live in a small town called Huizen,
approx 45 mins east of Amsterdam. I am an aircraft engineer for KLM
working at Amsterdam airport Schiphol. I work on Boeing 737's in one of
the hangers which are on the opposite side of the airport from the
arrivals & departure terminals. Previous to KLM, I was working in
the middle east for 15 years. Repairing military aircraft for the Sultan
of Oman's airforce and previous to Oman the Royal Air Force.
Anyway, it really is great to hear from you. Feel free to pass on my
address & e mail address and if there is another reunion, count me
in. I will also let my sister Sandra, still at Thirlmere and my
brother Stephen, now in Scotland, know about the web site.
It has brought back lots of memories, some of which I'm not sure that I want
to remember (wacky races etc). The poem was great, it summed it all up
really well, as if it was only yesterday, not ****** years ago. It has even
got me trying to find my old photos of the Paris trip.
I still live in Warrington, but work for the Civil Service out of an office
in far flung Accrington. I made the break from the drinks trade after 20 years, for a cushy desk job.
Ive got one lad (just got his GCSE results,10 passes with better grades than
me so he's rubbing that in), and two step-daughters both in their twenties.
Please pass on my best wishes to everyone else, when you get to see them.
Getting together for a beer or two sounds good to me. Just let me know where
and when.
Eric Seddon, Tony Ryder,Sue Ryder (Potter), Sue Seddon, Des Brennan, Julie williams, John Williams, Colin Sim, Ian Sim. Not on photo Val Brennan (Martin).
Is this then or now?
Steve Over, Val Brennan (Martin), Des Brennan, Ian Sim, Angela Over (Douglas), John Williams, Sue & Eric Seddon & kids.
names there that I had forgotten about. Will get in touch soon lots of love Vicky.
P.S. Hows Angela Douglas doing love to hear from her.
Currently doing the rounds of former classmates 40th ?Birthdays (Argh!!!!!!) great to meet up with old faces though.
A lot of good and bad memories, as any kid trying to make it. All I can say is that Knocker scared the crap out of me but I respected him. Bibby was cool as was Hoyle. I could only look up to Kevin the runner as I watched him run through town on weekends. Gus O`Rourke was the the biggest bully going and deserved his ass kicked many times over and I had a small crush on Sue Potter!
i would like to hear from someone else who
perhaps was there at the same time.
looking forward to hearing from you or
anyone!
someone else would arrange the next one, anyone daft enough, I mean good enough to give it a go.
Fabulous site. Well done to you.
I was in 74-79 year and we have just held our 25th year reunion recently. I mentioned your site to a few people.Is there any organisation that can supply me with names of people in our year. i.e. a register of some sort. We had about 30-40 people at the reunion, but there must be another 80-100 people to contact.
I have noticed Eddie Woodall’s name on your list. I think when I started he was in 3rd year. Good mate while I was in school, although he probably won’t remember me. If you have any contact details for him, please pass my e-mail onto him.
Ste Cullen mentioned a reunion - another good idea.. I have recently been in touch with Julie Holt - she keeps talking about a reunion but sounds as though we are all to busy to organise one! I think it needs to be done before too many wrinkles and grey hairs settle in and wedon't recognise each other.
I saw Mr Norris at a church service the other week - amazed he didn'tlook any different!
If a reunion is on the cards count me in!!!!!!!
ps Whats that about cindy warren and a MBE!!! Is it THEE cindy warren???
There are lots of people that we still see, including Glen Chamberlain, Ste Cullen and Neil Rourke. It would be really nice to see people again, a reunion would be great.
Yes it was THE Cindy Warren that got an MBE in the New Year List 2002. She got it for developing drug services for prisoners. She has worked very hard for it and I'm sure everyone that knows her is very proud. (Tracy Brown)
Anyone remember me? I'm sure someone will
remember a name like Wilf. I had loads of mates like, Gaz Holbrook, Phil Peters, Carl Richardson- too many to
mention.
Anyone out there knows me just drop me a
line.