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School Days
“No one can look back on his schooldays and say with truth that they were altogether unhappy.”
SEND YOUR SCHOOL TALES TO PAUL WHITNEY www.wpw1502@hotmail.co.uk thank you.
SCHOOL DAYS of YESTER YEARS
BYPAUL WHITNEY
On reaching the age of 5 l had to attend school at St Mary’s I just could not understand why l had to go to this school when all my friends where going to Williamson street school. The reason of course was l was a catholic and was to be taught by the nuns .who came from the local convent. Later on l was to learn that they where the Sisters of mercy but believe me l never saw them give us kids any mercy. Far from it has l was soon to learn that if you misbehaved and did not do has you where told, you was punished. however over the years l have met many nuns and found that they where full of kindness and understanding so it seems my childhood memories of nuns where blinked has been a child l never saw the whole picture and only picked out the bad parts.
To me the classrooms seemed to be small for the large number of children which where to be taught in them.. There was never no school uniform we kids just went in our every day clothes if you where lucky you had shoes if not you wore sand shoes (canvas) . All the boys would have to wear shorts trousers until reaching the age of 10 0r 11. I longed for the day to come when l could wear long trousers
Each morning you where given a bottle of milk these came in small bottles and the milk monitors would have to lug the crates to each classroom. The milk was foul in the summer it would be warm and horrible and in the winter it would nearly be frozen so that when you drank it you would end up with a frozen brain but thinking back my brain was always frozen, has l never seemed to take any thing in and my mind would drift away. How I wish now that l had played more attention.
School dinners where a shock , with a menu of boiled fish ,liver, tasteless stew and meat pies with all crust and no meat. The sweets where even worst has sugar was still on rations. Lumpy rice puddings, watered custard on top of a jam pudding but l think they had forgot to put the jam in it.
It seemed like every day l was stood out side the head masters office having been caught misbehaving or some other mischief. Once sent to the head master there was no other out come but the dread cane and l always though it depended on the mood of the head master how many strokes you would receive you either got 3,4 0r 6 it never seemed to be 1,2,5.
"THEY GOOD OLD DAYS"
When l talk to my grand children now about my early life I often say those where the good old days. l remember my parents saying the same thing about there past . what l think is that it seems that every ones “good all days” where when they where young.
So here what l think where the good old days, it was a time when every one down the street where your friends, it was not strange to have 2 or 3 best friends and it was the same for your parents they all knew each other and would never pass by with out some form of greeting. Now people seem afraid to say hello.and just want to hurry on bye.my "good all days"fell l believe in 3 parts of my life. my days at school, my early days at home and my growing years has a man however l will continue to talk of my school years has l am sure the other 2 chapters in my life may bore you.
I think we all disliked school at some time but there where also times you where please to be going back to school. l cant remember any one arriving at the school by car it was either bus or walk. And how we did walk in all kinds of weather only stopping if we found a big puddle to jump in and cause a splash and when the sun shone trying to jump on each other’s shadows. Has far has l can remember not many children where brought to school by their parents the streets seemed certainly a lot safer in those days.
Has for race there where only two types of people who went to our school they were the “average family” or the not “so well off” no one cared what color you where the only race issues where on who could run the faster.
Weapons at school never, the only weapon you had was your peashooter and a pocket of dried peas .yes you had fall outs and would have a scrap but it was only with your fists and it was a one to one fight no one else joined in, if it looked has if some one was getting the better of the other then it was soon stopped Any one getting “high” well that just meant who could get on top of the money bars first or trying to get the swing over the bar. Yes you may have back answer the teachers but the fate of been sent to the headmasters office kept most off us in check and if your parents found out then you where in more trouble.
Talking of “well off’ you where consider “well-off “if you came to school with your own pencil
ruler and rubber. Having your own fountain pen that was a real blessing because the school pens where awful you could never seem to judge just how much ink you needed on your pen. Now kids have got to have their kit with brand names when they do PE(even changed its name ) but when the lads at our school did PT it was just a case of taking your shirt or jumper off if you
had a vest on great if not then tough. it was the same thing with your shoes if you had sand-shoes ok ,if not then socks or bare feet no one cared and no one laughed at you there was no such thing has having the brand names. once school finished we would run home has fast has our legs would carry us,for this was our time to play.There where 80 families that lived in the street where l lived but only 4 of the families where catholic yet at no time did religion every became an issue. we kids just played together no one said l cant play because your a catholic or C OF E. and it was not until l was 11 that l first came across religious prejudice of any kind and that came from a member of my family who lived up in Scotland and they where church of England. that now leads me to life on the street in the good old days hmm think that can wait for another day
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MY DAYS AT SCHOOL by ANN JOYCE
I started st Marys in 1953 aged 5 years . we were poor in those days and didn't have much . we use to walk very slowly to school shuffling our feet and many a time my father would ride up behind us and kick our butts and say get a move on . we were sometimes crafty though because there ere two ways into school . he would watch us go in one way and we would wait awhile ad sneak out the other way . lol.but now I wish i could go back to those days and I would work really hard to make a good career for my self and make my parents so proud of me .they were wonderful day s. 
I had a very large family at the school . cousins sisters brothers . my mum had two brothers and four sisters and all there children went to our school . you will know most of them . bradys-joyces-shaws-middletons-myers-giblins to name but a few . our parents attended the school before us when they were young and in fact were taught mostly by the same teachers.my mum was taught by mrs monks miss culkins and miss walsh and miss ryder . mrs monks was standard 3A then my mum got knocked down and was in hospital for 10 weeks when she returned she was in miss Cukins class she was also in sister mary phillps class standard 2B.THE GIRLS SHE RECALLED WERE DOROTHEY SEEKINGS AND AND JEAN HARTLEY ALSO NORAH ECCLES.these are all good memories and there are more to come . I am so proud to have been a st marys pupil.we all loved the plagy and went on there straight after school for half hour or so.the tuck shop was great and Iloved the dinners . of course they are not the same nowadays .we had cornflake packets hanging out of our sand-shoes . and nit nurse and health van always came round to the school .
most of us were rough and ready but I don't recall much bullying .anyway kids could stick up for themselves , that's how we were brought up . no running to mammy or daddy as you were a chicken if you did .our best game was hopscotch -or marbles . swap charms we got from machine outside shops down kent street=============================================================================
ST MARYS IN THE 1940, by GEORGE LAWSON
I was told of the site by a long lost cousin so decided to check it out. On checking it seems that there is no one listed who goes back as far as I do and that seems rather sad and definitely makes me feel old.
I attended St. Mary's in the early 1940's leaving eventually in 1946 to go on to Marist College which was then teh local Catholic boys grammar school.
I remember my day's at St. Mary's as generally pleasant with a few bumps along the way. The
headteacher then was Sister Mary Aquinas and other teachers I remember included Sister Mary Joseph, a nice sweet person, and Sister Mary Bernadette who could never be described as being a sweet person. There were no male teachers at teh school then though punishment were meted out in a very masculine way.Boys I remember included Keith Brady, Mike Wever, Arthur O'Neill, George Martin. Graham Souter, Brian Rooms, Cive Stancer and girls names that come to mind are Pat Wright who married George Martin and Cathy Davison.
These were the war years but I vividly remember V.E. day which was celebrated with street parties all over the city, amazing what mothers could do in those days of rationing, for many of us our father's were still in the forces so in those early 40's years it was very much the women who kept the country going.The school had no rugby team in those days but did have a football team who played and lost with monotonous regularity.
Sport though did play a big part in our lives and in those days Boxing was Britain's second most
popular spectator sport after football. The city had its two rugby teams as it does now and in those days Hull City were firmly entrenched in the old 3rd Division North until the arrival of Raich Carter
I am sure as I continue to read these thread's more memories will come back but it is nice to see that somehow St. Mary's lives on..
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SUSAN REID
SUSAN SENT IN THIS ARTICLE ABOUT HER MOTHERS DAYS AT SCHOOL
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 ,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. ============================================================================
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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don't often think about my childhood ,but this site has got me realy going through my memories . I remember most of the shops mentioned . Does anyone remember the rag man coming around ringing his bell? I think we got a few pennies if we gave him some old clothes.
I know one day I gave him a pretty new top of Mam's , I was mad at her at the time ! Then I felt real guilty afterwards- (My catholic upbringing) I used to look forward to the milk man coming , I would run out as soon as I saw him , and sit on doorstep- drinking the cream off the top .I was always a picky eater and a skinny kid, so Mam didn't mind! We had a fish shop down our street so on a Friday she would send me for some for our Tea , and I used to always ask for 'scraps' I liked them better than the fish -HA! I remember Dad getting up an hour ahead of us girls so he could get the fire going and warm the place up-it was always so freezing in a morning in winter .I must have been a wierd kid-I was always excited when the coal was delivered , and loved to watch as he threw it in our coal house in back yard -clouds of black dust flying everywhere! Tommy Mackew was his name. He used a horse and cart to deliver ! Us kids used to play in the bombed out house at top of our terrace There was one on practically every street ! We had a little grocery store in our terrace called Hudson's ,as soon as I had a penny or 2 I would go and get Kay-lie (Is that wrong spelling)and a liqurice to dip in it . I had to walk through an ally way to get home when I got off the bus at end of Craven St every day , does anyone rmember it-We called it Ping Pong Ally? I used to run like mad when the train came through-it was so loud!
It was scary when it was dark nights and foggy! We played Hop scotch -kick the can-or we roller skated up and down the street . Carol Campbell
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It appears that in the 1950,s there where many schools similar to St Marys these 2 items below where written from people around the country one could think they all attend the same school
We all attended the nearby primary school. There was a concrete playground which still remains today with
not a blade of grass in sight. It had no indoor toilets until about five years ago. I was hopeless at just about everything, possibly because I had bad eyesight and couldn't see what was on the blackboard. My Dad insisted on school giving me extra homework, mostly maths. He was only trying to help but the result was a horror of maths that I took with me throughout my schooling. School wasn't really a seat of learning, it was a place where you had to be very quiet and well-behaved. In 1956 when I was ten I went to senior school. It had no playing fields, just another sloping concrete playground with outside toilets, too awful to describe. For games lessons there was a corporation double-decker 'bus to take us to the local park where there were hockey and football pitches etc. We changed in the field, in the full view of people walking their dogs. Whenever possible I hid until the bus had left and preferred to do a detention instead. Our school had a boy's half and a girl's half and never the twain shall meet was the order of the day. There was a high concrete wall down the middle of the playground. Angela Southern, Street, Somerset, UK
l
was born in Brighton in 1954 and by 1958 I had started primary school. I remember a tiny school with a wood stove to heat the classroom in winter. The school had two teachers who had both taught my mother. They were kindly plump ladies who would sit a child on their laps at story time. I don't remember learning very much; we had slates to write on and naps on little beds in the afternoons. Playtimes were fairly boisterous affairs spent jumping off the old air raid shelters, I do remember noticing even at that age, that many of the children were poor, often unwashed and many had to wear plimsolls even in winter and the nit nurse was a regular visitor. However we all found a penny to buy an ice bun which was delivered with our milk each morning. Out of school, time was spent playing on the street till the stars came out, Sundays started with Sunday school, drawing pictures of miracles and parables, followed by homemade lemonade in the church hall. Hilary Petherbridge, Leyland, Lancashire, England
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgelawson | The 1940's | 3 | Oct 8 2009, 4:20 PM EDT by Georgelawson | ||
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Thread started: Sep 21 2009, 12:31 PM EDT
Watch
I was told of the site by a long lost cousin so decided to check it out. On checking it seems that there is no one listed who goes back as far as I do and that seems rather sad and definitely makes me feel old.
I attended St. Mary's in the early 1940's leaving eventually in 1946 to go on to Marist College which was then teh local Catholic boys grammer school. I remember my day's at St. Mary's as generally pleasant with a few bumps along teh way. The headteacher then was Sister Mary Aquinas adn oteh teahcers I remember included Sister Mary Joseph, a nice sweet person, and Sister Mary Bernadette who coudl never be descibed as being a sweet person. There were no male teachers at teh school then though punisments were meted out in a very masculien way. Boy I rmember inclded Keith Brady, Mike Wever, Arthur O'Neill, George Martin. Graham Souter, Brian Rooms, Cive Stancer adn girls names tht coem to mind are Pat Wright who married George Martin and Cathy Davison. These were the war years but I vividly remeber V.E. day which was celebrarated with street parties all over the city, amazing what mothers could do in those days of rationing, for many of us oru father's were stil in teh forces so in those early 40's yeasrs it was very much the women who kept the country going. The school had no rugby team in those days but did have a football team who played and lost with monotonous regularity. Sport though did play a big part in our lives adn in those days Boxing was Britains second most popular spectator sport after football. The city had its two rugby teams as it does now adn in those days Hull City were firmly entrenched in the old 3rd Division North until the arrival of Raich Carter I am sure as I continue to read these thread's more memoires will come back but it is nice to see that somehow St. Mary's lives on.. |
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| Marie140 | School Days | 0 | Sep 13 2009, 2:24 PM EDT by Marie140 | ||
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Thread started: Sep 13 2009, 2:24 PM EDT
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What a fantastic page. So many interesting stories to tell. Thank you so much, all of you, for being generous and sharing your memories with us.
They are brilliant. Marie |
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| carolcamp | remembering | 3 | Mar 24 2009, 5:57 AM EDT by mallybarnett | ||
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Thread started: Mar 22 2009, 4:46 PM EDT
Watch
I don't often think about my childhood ,but this site has got me realy going through my memories . I remember most of the shops mentioned . Does anyone remember the rag man coming around ringing his bell? I think we got a few pennies if we gave him some old clothes.
I know one day I gave him a pretty new top of Mam's , I was mad at her at the time ! Then I felt real guilty afterwards- (My catholic upbringing) I used to look forward to the milk man coming , I would run out as soon as I saw him , and sit on doorstep- drinking the cream off the top .I was always a picky eater and a skinny kid, so Mam didn't mind! We had a fish shop down our street so on a Friday she would send me for some for our Tea , and I used to always ask for 'scraps' I liked them better than the fish -HA! I remember Dad getting up an hour ahead of us girls so he could get the fire going and warm the place up-it was always so freezing in a morning in winter .I must have been a wierd kid-I was always excited when the coal was delivered , and loved to watch as he threw it in our coal house in back yard -clouds of black dust flying everywhere! Tommy Mackew was his name. He used a horse and cart to deliver ! Us kids used to play in the bombed out house at top of our terrace There was one on practically every street ! We had a little grocery store in our terrace called Hudson's ,as soon as I had a penny or 2 I would go and get Kay-lie (Is that wrong spelling)and a liqurice to dip in it . I had to walk through an ally way to get home when I got off the bus at end of Craven St every day , does anyone rmember it-We called it Ping Pong Ally? I used to run like mad when the train came through-it was so loud! It was scary when it was dark nights and foggy! We played Hop scotch -kick the can-or we roller skated up and down the street . Carol Campbell |
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