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Memories are a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose
SEND YOUR MEMORIES TO PAUL WHITNEY AT www.wpw1502@hotmail.co.uk thank you
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WILLIAM RATCLIFFE
Great memories of the rugby from C , B and A teams. We lived in Kent Street so didn't often stay Dinners but went home for chip sandwiches - if we were lucky!
Flash Flannigan and I got into trouble for putting a banger down a sink hole outside the school in the street.
Sister Mary Aquinas was standing right behind us like a ghost! I can still hear the swish of that walking stick cane! Every day made its own fantastic memory!

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GRAHAM HAVLAR
Playing on the spiders web on the playground. the parky trying to stop me and I ended up at the childrens hospital down Park Street Spring Bank for 2 stiches under my chin. I've still got the scar (is it too late to sue)
Going to the boys club and playing snooker, and once being made to box in the boxing ring even though I was scared stiff. I remember Mrs Ryder, very strict but a good teacher all the same.
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ROSEMARY OLDRIDGE

I lived across the road from the school at number 8 Wilton Street and was still late most mornings!
I have so many happy memories I don't know where to start. St.Mary's was a great school with excellent teachers and a real sense of community. Discipline was accepted as part of school life and we respected our teachers - that's how things were then.
I remember my very first day at school, when I was five - I couldn't reach the coat peg and a boy called Bill Cunningham who seemed so tall to me hung my coat up for me! I thought he was wonderful! Where are you now Bill? I also remember wetting my knickers and one of the nuns sat me on the big heating pipes to dry and feeling so humiliated even at that age!!!
My uncles and aunties lived at number 12 Wilton Street and Uncle Frank was involved with the boys' boxing club for many years and also ran the St. Mary's Social Club. My Mum used to sew dresses for the May processions and items for the Sale of Work.
Mum also went to St. Mary's as well as her brothers, sisters and cousins. One of her teachers was Miss Ryder and she used to walk up and down between the rows of desks picking bits from the students clothes as she passed. One day, a lad in the class shredded some cloth and stuck the threads all over his jumper! I think he probably got the cane for that!
Miss Ryder was such a smart lady and regularly after Sunday Mass everyone would gather outside to chat. One day my brother Steve, who was about seven at the time, had sneaked a "whoopee" cushion out that he had got for Christmas and just as my Mum and Miss Ryder were chatting he sat on it and everyone turned and stared - Mum was so embarrassed! Sadly, Steve died of a duodenal ulcer a couple of years ago - I miss him so much - he aways had a great sense of humour

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DAVID KEMMERY
i think i was at st marys approx late 51 and all 52 , (very hazy recollections) after sacred heart.The Mercer family at the school were my cousins, i remember sister mary Dominick &sister mary Aquinas. forgive spelling!! i remember a boy named i think John Murry who became my sort of minder!! .
thinking what to say at confession &walking from wilton st to paragon station to catch a 48 bus to east Hull on cold winter nights with a gang of other urchins!! also a lot of rough tough kids
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ALLAN HALL
Was at St Mary's 1950-1960, George Pearson and David wainwright were my closest school friends. How I remember St Markie fish shop, beeuutiful.
I used to sit next to a pale skinned, very black haired boy called Jimmy Pawson, Mr Hanson who was at the first reunion?. at hedon rd Marfleet lane many years ago, said Jimmy as an artist and was then living down Redcar or Spyvee st. in regards to Carol Cambells thread, it was David Willerby, who was also at that reunion mentioned. I also emigrated to Canada in 1966, but am back now. Mr Hanson was a terrifc teacher and stood up for some of us in 1960 when told we couldnt go to the leaving tea because we had'nt been to church, he demanded we should and we did. Is Terence Walmsley related to Janet?. I rember we had to say prayers for a boy that had drowned in a swimming pool on the weekend but I cant remember who it was. I was a very shy lad and dont remember knowingly doing anything wrong, but do of course remember getting the edge of a ruler from a nun for not going to church and my sister Pauline who is 10 years older than me remembers pushing sister mary aquinas aside as she was hitting a boy who was having a fit and storming out of the school never to return. Thats all for now.
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TONY BLISSEDEN
....My first day at school seemed like utter chaos and mayhem,with me reaching out teetering on my chair and falling over trying touch another pupil.The teacher with another pupil stood on a desk seemingly trying to extract something from his nose,but it was a really enjoyable first day. Ithink the teacher was miss Leahey who had this huge stick on top of the blackboard threatening to use it if we was naughty, she didnt use it of course but had the desired effect... But great memories.................................................................................................................



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IRENE PROCTER
Going on the school trips to Hornsea and going on the roller skates singing at Hull City Hall christmas carols i think there were seven of us, playing on dannie lane play ground the parkie man with the club foot chasing us when we were messing about poor man never caught us

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JOHN BRADY
remember being taken to one side by ;sister mary aquinas;and getting the life
story of my father;bill brady;how clever he was ,and how he attended church
more than i ever did,( i did try). and the memory of ;mr harry hanson; who when he came to st ,mary,s was a ( non smoker) , but after while with us he was
smoking about ( 40 a day). ah/for the good ole day,s.
DANNY LANE DRAIN
i think the drain played a big part in some people,s live,s , i know it was a big part of me when i was at school and after for a while, with the drain being tidal, we use to go fishing in it, also swimming in certain part,s , raft building , and taking our air rifle.s and shooting the vermin, which there was a lot of ,i use to catch some rather big eel,s when fishing, i then use to sell them on to our neighbour in ;thomas st, ( mattinson) who was an ex cockney, iff i had a £1 for every time i fell in fully clothed,i would be very rich today, several times the drain use to break it,s bank,s, and badly flood certain area,s, then we had the playground, which every kid who went to st mary,s knew about, espeacially (smoker,s corner) were certain lad,s and lasses use to enjoy a quick drag, it was also used after the last bell had rang for some lad,s to sort their difference,s out, (fight), it was all good clean stuff and no one was ever seriously hurt, ( bring back the good all day,s anytime) i shall never forget them that,s for sure



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JACKIE BRADY

My Dad always made me eat a large spoonful of Codliver Oil
and Malt before going to school, I can still taste it after all these years, it was absolutley vile!
Adored the processions that we had down Holderness Road. The outside toilets, absolutley freezing in winter! Many a happy time spent on Danny Lane plagy, remember getting a lovely black eye off the horse that was on there, and the 'big old traction engine' what a rust bucket that was! Popping into the parky's hut to get warm near his fire, (wouldn't be allowed nowadays.) Bottles of milk , always went for the fat dumpy bottles because I thought there was more milk in them than the thinner bottles.
Trips to the seaside, Hornsea I think it was, lovely 'sand sandwiches' to eat.
Being sick after I made my first Holy Communion, Miss Leahy had to take me out of church,
she was not too pleased as I remember.

My two elder sisters and brother also went to St Marys, they are John Veronica and Sheila Brady,
our John started in 1949 or 50, my two sister's started there in 1956 and '57.
Our Von remembers Mrs Monks tieing her to the blackboard for being 'naughty' in class,(imagine teachers doing that today!)

My Dad Bill use to talk alot about St Mary's Boy's Club, he did a bit of boxing when he was younger,
he alway's told me that the club was haunted by an old nun, sadly he has passed away,
he had so many memories of the club, but sadly they are all gone now, I wish I had found this site sooner, he would of loved it.

Remember being in flood's of tears when it was time to leave St Mary's at the age of 9, and having to go to St Richard's. It felt strange not going into church before school started.

Left St Richard's when I was 13 and moved onto St Mary's Grammar (all girl's school, god it was boring without the lads, lol)
Left St Mary's Grammar when I was nearly 14 and moved to Belgium with my Dad and his partner.
I opted to start work rather than go to school in Belgium, and started work in a chocolate factory.
Also worked in a very 'posh' poodle parlour, Book distribution warehouse, Spent weekends working in a pub, and worked as a Bar dispenser in a restaurant, before finally returning to England, (Oh, happy days!)
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CAROL CAMPBELL

I am living in Canada since 1967 , when we imigrated . I was at St mary's from 1950 to '60
remember most of teachers mentioned on the site , but only a few of students names .
Hillary Newton, Pat Giblin were my close friends , I sat next to Carol Sugden in Miss Ryders class . I remember Marie Hildyard . She was a good laugh! I also remember Paul Whitney and David Wilby -Wilerby? There was a boy that was a realy good dancer, when we used to go to the club, I was 14 or 15 then . us girls called him 'Rubber legs' Dont know his name ! . My sisters were Sheila , Jeanie , (Older than me ) --

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EILEEN TERRY
I remember running into the corner of the brick wall, then spliting my lip open in the playground! :o(
I have memories of my middle sister Shelagh, being sick in church at Easter Mass, after eating ALL her easter eggs before going to church! (Dad used to work at Needlers Chocolate Factory!)
My older sister Margret was May Queen and Dad was so proud, he walked the full proccesion next to her! :o)

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LIAM BARLOW
my first day at school,being taken by my mother,crying a lot,finding a full (unopened bar of cadbury's chocolate - stopped crying temporarily),going into the "babies" class - teacher was ita ~Gallagher,who has been a friend since and who died only recently.
Going to school along Holderness Rd,and dashing to the overhead walkway that went over the railway line,near Burleigh St,and getting covered in smoke from the "steam" engine.
I have thousands of memories of St.Mary's/pupils - it shaped my whole life.


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RAY BARLOW
I remember belonging to the boxing club and also being an alter boy and the may processions. We used to go up to Maybury Rd. for sports. I well remember going to Williamson St. school for metal & woodwork. I can also remember Clive Pennock being tied to the blackboard by Mrs. Monks................................................................................................................
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SHEILA ROGERS
when i arrived at st marys i was in mrs mills class and she asked me to stand in front of the class and sing witch i did then she sent me to miss ryder to sing in front of her class she and mrs mills thought i was good so did i sheila

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MAUREEN CRESSEY ......................................................................................STREETS APART
I remember the nuns teaching us sister mary Joseph, sister mary dominic, and sister mary aquinnis. I was May queen one year and Mary Elm was retiring queen from the year before.
I have many happy memories of st Marys and a few bad ones also.I lived down Studley street
then which was later demolished ,so didnt have far to go .My mother also went to the school as a young girl.My two brothers peter and keith [deceased]also went they were younger than me.



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GAIL PEARL
I remember my first day at school i was petrified I cried every day for the first week then I settled down the teachers always knew who had got me ready for school by the state of my hair if my sister had got me ready I would be very smart otherwise I would look a little untidy but out of all my school years St Marys bring back the happiest memories ............................................................................


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BARBARA HODGINS
those were the days who does not remember Mrs monks she could be chalking on the blackboard and still fling round and throw the chalk duster right on target my head which happened to me many times we got up to all sorts even hiding new batches of canes which was delivered when miss Ryder was out of the classroom we used to put them behind a big closert Janet hedges i remember well to many to mention you think of you school days it brings tears to your eyes it was a strict school all my family went there hodgins was our maiden name but i have lots of happy memories to i am glad i came upon this site

.........................................................................................................................................................ruler at the ready
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CAROL BURNHAM

I remember a classroom that had cupboards that went round the sides built into the wall. I think they were interconnected with other classrooms. The boys used to climb in them and move from room to room.
I remember being caned frequently for blotting my work, not going to mass, being late for school and couple of times when I was slapped. One teacher slapped my face and my mother went mad. She didn't mind me being hit just not there. Miss Ryder had dozens of canes hung on her wall and Mrs Monks used ritual humiliation to destroy any child that she didn't like, from throwing things at them, tying them to the board or standing them in waste bins.
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MARGARET FRANKLAND
I remember the Centenary Concert for the school - in fact I can still remember the new words to The Bells of St. Mary's which Miss Gallagher (the babies teacher) wrote especially for the occasion.
I can also remember ringing the school bell and going up to the staffroom after the teachers had had their break to wash their dirty pots!!!!


not on the fiddle
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CLIVE PENNOCK
I was baptised a catholic,but for some reason i went to courtney st school. after my good mate, john crawley,introduced me to rugby league, i managed to get transferred to st marys from courtney st, who didn't have a rugby team,at that time. my first teacher was mrs monks [ god bless her] she wasted no time in gaging me and tying me to the blackboard,telling the class that i was a Protestant who should not be at this school.i got over this,and we got on OK after that. looking back it was a great school for me, and i am very happy i attended there, leaving in 1959


...................................................................................................................................wonder what my fee was
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ANN GARVEY
..I remember going to mass before school on saints days and my confimation day..going to east hull baths for swimming competitions buckingham .street school for cookery barham school for hockey



wheres the sharks?
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MALLY BARNETT
Fighting with other kids on Dansom Lane Playground on my first day after leaving Sacred Heart school. Going to Mayberry Road for our sports on the bus. All those really rough and tough kids, who made me understand what life was all about. Some of the kids came from very poor families, and this taught me to understand that everyone was not created equally. Saint Marys taught me to repect everyone, something I practice to this day.
George Scanlon and Mr Biglin great teachers. I live in Australia now married Lynn Cunningham from Craven Street School whom I met at Reckitts were I did my apprentice ship. We have lived here for 43 years. Still have lots of laughs about our school days.

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MAUREEN CRESSEY

I remember the nuns teaching us sister mary Joseph, sister mary dominic, and sister mary aquinnis. I was May queen one year and Mary Elm was retiring queen from the year before.
I have many happy memories of st Marys and a few bad ones also.I lived down Studley street
which was later demolished ,so didnt have far to go .My mother also went to the school as a young girl.My two brothers peter and keith [deceased]also went they were younger than me.
may l be your king
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GEORGE PEARSON............................................................................................................head hunters at the school
I can remember that in my last year I was deputy head boy and my friend Gerard was head boy. i can remember that when we used to go to the sports Field somewhere near maybury road the teacher used to let me ride his bike up there as he must have lived near. in the junior classes I can remember the nuns who were very strict and Mrs monk who tied you to the blackboard., Mr Hanson was very good also the head Mr Watson.who was not against giving you a clip round the year if you had done something wrong and i can remember the flying blackboard rubbers. but the school taught you respect and discipline that is sadly missing in to days society...........................................................................

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STELLA ROBINSON
devil in disguise
Now how about the `She Devil` then, Miss O'leary, she did`nt teach with kindness. What a woman, she taught me how to spell BELIEVE at seven years old by brute force due to my ignorance. But wow how she managed to focus my mind during her lessons. What a relief to go on to Sister Mary Dominics class after that year of torment but How about Quizzy Quina? I stood in fear of her(well at least when she was wielding that bamboo cane).

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ANN JEFFERSON
one lunch time four of us thought we would go up to the youth club,hoping know one saw us . when we got there we put some music on and was bopping away when all of a sudden there stood FATHER ORIADON.we were sent to Mr. Watson and you can guess the rest.
...................................................................................................................................................rock around the clock
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TONY JOYCE
my aunt mary who's photo is on site as a young girl playing the triangle . known as mary giblin . well she married a man called len laws . whose brother paddy laws taught the boys boxing in st marys boys club . he should be well remembered by those boys . he used to ride a motorbike and sidecar

hi! ho! sliver
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JOHN RICE.....................................................................................................not sunday best
I remember All the teachers in Teachers Photo 1. From the list of pupils many names are familier, especially Alan McGlone and Flash Flanagan. Pat Oxley was my wife (Pamela Suffill)'s godmother.
My lasting memory was of my first monday at school when Father O'Riodan.came into the classroom and asked all the new children who hadn't been to mass on Sunday. All the ones who put up their hands were taken outside and given a caning. Such a caring man!.................................................................................................
I have fond memories of all the teachers on the photograph except Mr Watson
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MARIE HILDYARD
THE KING IS DEAD
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
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BETTY HARTLEY
Absolution Days and Saints Days

My Mother remembers having to fast from midnight on a Sunday for Absolution
Day, the next morning being at mass which went on for approx 1 hour or so.
You would hear a loud bang were someone had fell off the foot stood, passed
out, fainted, threw hunger caused by the fasting.
Then they would all have to go across to the Convent Hall, were they would
have their own pack lunch wrapped up in newspaper, a cup of cocoa would then be provided by Sister Mary Phillips. No cling film in those days, the
newspaper print would be all over the bread.
(I wonder if it was the Hull Daily Mail) ha ha. paul says (could be our daily bread)
Under the Iron fire escape was Miss Culkins class, the boy sat next to my
Mother was called Ronny Tong, he use to come to school with his hair all
plastered down with margarine, then when the sun shone throught the window
the margarine would run down his face. What ever happened to Brylcream.
The girls were sent to a very big old house on Witham to do their
housekeeping, the ladies there were two spinsters both called Miss Buckem.
Six girls were sent each day to Wash, Iron, polish the floors, and lots of
other chores etc, you could see your face in the floor. They had to arrive
and hang their coats up in a lodge at the bottom of the garden. One morning
my Mother arrived and sat on a brick copper in the lodge, one of the girls
Enid Draper had a cigarette and passed the ciggy around (a Woodbine).My
Mother tried one puff according to her.
Through the ray of sunshine coming in
through the window could be seen the smoke, so in came Miss Buckem straight
over to Mum, smelt the smoke on her breath and expelled her from
housekeeping, sent her back to St.Mary`s were upon Sister Aquirness gave her
the belt across her arm, she got home that day to tell the story and was
hoping for some sympathy from her Mother only to get leathered again for the
crime. But hence to say she still has the Certificate for Housekeeping and
Cleanliness from St.Mary`s.
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SUE KENNY
I did not attend the school myself. I went to St Bedes when it was in the church hall and then to Sacred Heart and on to St Mary's Grammar
My sister Chris Kenny attended the school as did my Moorcroft Cousins who lived across the road. One of my cousins taught at the school (Mary Kenny) and my aunt Sheila Moorcroft (nee Kenny) helped out at the church for many years - so the school and church is very familiar to me. This site is bringing back many fond memories.
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BERNARD MACINTYRE
I remember.going on a bus to play sports at maybury school playing fields .Iremember the day i went to my confirmation mass.my confirmation name is Joseph..Iwas married at St Marys church in1962
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JANET WALMLSEY
....i remember the real fires in some classrooms and the fire drills on dannylane.......i also remember mugs of hot chocalate after communion.......................................................................
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SUSAN REID.
Processions down Holderness Road I have a very vivid collection of slipping on some ice in the playground, and every morning was checked to see how the bruising was going down can remember that so clearly ........................................................................

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CHRISTINE KENNY
visiting my lovely aunt sheila who lived across the road in Wilton Street after school .being really scared of Miss Ryder ( i was very timid thenLOL) ............................................
after meeting my future husband at the youth club being told by Fr O'Riorden that we were too young for courting
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JACKIE BRADY

Recieving Holy Communion for the first time and been sick, then been led outside by a not very happy Mrs Leahy.Seeing the statue of Our Lady crying Having sports day on Danny Lane playground and getting a black eye off the rocking horse on danny layground
My 2 sisters and brother also went to the school, they are John Veronica and Sheila.My sister Vonny was tied to the blackboard by Mrs Monks for mis- behaving in class., apparently it was something she did regular,not my sister,lol Mrs Monks. Both my sisters hated her.
My Dad (Bill) use to do a bit of boxing in St Mary's boys club, and also helped some of the lads with boxing, he always said that it was haunted by an old nun.
The 'dickie nurse' coming, and if you had nits or dicks she smothered your hair in lotion there and then. The health van coming, and giving you injections.
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PETER FRANKLAND.

I remember helping Wayne Roberts Doing his milk monitoring. And the day that Mr Crossley bought some fireworks to teach us about the speed of sound and light. .........................................................................

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LESLEY WATSON
I loved going to St Marys, it was one of the best experiences of school I can remember.....Life was good and I spent a lovely part of my childhood with my father I must tell you all that my father had to do our tea when we got home as my mother was at work. He was an expert on heinz soups and boiled eggs!! Mind you to this day I still love heinz soups and boiled eggs. Such lovely happy memories.
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CAROL BINGHAM

My memories are mainly of nuns and canes and a few none nun teachers who were horrible. I left at 13 on a second chance 11+ scholarship.
Strangely enough I became a teacher despite having disliked school as a child.
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SAM GRANNON


the time i can remember is just being marched into the church to pray pray pray and more pray thanks for letting me join the site at the time of typing i am writing a book about my school life at St Marys and have typed 250 pages and told of all the boys and girls that went to the school with me i will tell some of the good times and some of the bad times
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ANN JOYCE............................................................................................................................sisipderman

antics in the playground were mostly by the boys of st Mary's. around the outside wall of the dinner hall , i remember a kind of ledge .daddy long legs were frequent under those ledges and the boys would catch them and throw them at the girls or chase us around the playground with them . we used to scream as we were scared stiff of them things yuk...
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PAUL WHITNEY Like most pupils my days at school where sometimes filled with a mixture of moments of sadness and happiness. Many a tear fell not because l was crying in pain but because of the moments of sheer enjoyment l was experiencing and l was not able to hold back the tears. there is one time l can remember with real pride in my heart and that was when we as youngsters played at the city hall in a school band. The only instruments we had where small drums, tambourines, triangles and clappers we where accompany by a teacher playing the piano. The piece of music l can’t remember but oh how we did bang those instruments. My parents could not attended that night so my brother came to meet me from the hall he had enough money on him either to catch a bus home or if we where to walk we could have a bag of chips. The chips won and has we came out the chip shop l was able to look back at the city hall and think to myself “l have played on the stage of that grand building” tears where falling down my face and my brother said what the heck you crying for. yet l knew l could never explain that feeling of pride which swelled up inside of me.
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EILEEN JOYCE
I recall Mrs Kenny Mr Butler and Mrs Gallagher the dinner lady who always gave us second helpings, their was 2 dining halls, the big one were we also had Pt and dancing and some shows we used to put on, it had an upstairs which was hardly used and very scary if you went up alone, the small dining hall was near Damson lane gates..Where we used to play under the steel fire stairs
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KARRO

. I had to go home for dinner at first and really envied you all. Then later when I could stay as i became a free dinner,
I can remember food that wasn't that bad but the smell of the dinners seemed to linger in the corridors all day I missed my grandma who looked after me so I then begged to go home.
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ROSIE BENSTEAD
:- I rember the rocking horse in babies, playing in a percussion band, indoor and outdoor processions in May, singing 'Bring Flowers of the Rarest' while Mary was being crowned on the second verse, polishing the desks on a Friday with little pots of lavender polish. The partitions being taken down in the junior classrooms for the Sale of Work in November. Mrs Monks giving me the cane, Miss Leahy, Mrs Chinnery, Miss Galagher, Miss Ryder. Social's at East Hull Baths when they were boarded over for winter, there was dancing and fancy dress competitions. Going to City Hall to sing in the choir - I'm on that photograph on the front row, first on the right
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JAMES PORTZ

Mr.Biglin being the first male teacher, he was a good chap and he.was not a catholic
I won a scholarship to Nautical College and Father O Reidan gave me a fountain pen which wrote beautifully................................

When I was a kid we used to play at Sammys Point, all that was over that side of the river was cocoa mill and it was wild sort of country and they had stacked timber from the ships. I believe it is a lot different now, lived in Strawberry Street Drypool and it was in one of the history books as being the most bombed parish in the UK. My sister in law Sheila Portz (Brady) said you were a relative of her. There was the Brady's and Bowen's when I was growing up.

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PAUL RADFORD
l remember....Mr Radley our main teacher in my last year at school, he was a dab hand with the sand shoe but what a great teacher, he commanded total respect from everyone............................................................................................................................................................................
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JON WATERS
I REMEMBER MISS DEVLIN MRS MONKS ( SHE RETIRED WHIST I WAS THERE) MISS LEAHY ALSO THE MAY PROSSECTION S
THE MOBILE DENTIIST AND THE MOBILE JAB WAGON ( WHICH I DID NOT LOOK FORWARD TOO.

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