Accy grammar student?
 

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How old were you when you left ? Could have been 16 or 18 years, this is what I find difficult about another site mostly. Would seem you could have been born in 1943 same as me, and my brother possibly a year older than your brother, but he left Accy Grammar at 18 .. he was born in 1939 .. May 3rd actually, (Happy Birthday dear brother in 15 mins time!).

BUT, your brother may have left at 16 years so could be 58 or 55 .. get my meaning, very difficult when people don't put their age in their profile (can't get away from it anyway). So come on spill the beans, sure I knew some of the lads that went to the Grammar then ...:D

I left Accy High in 1960 at 17 years.

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looks very complex to me.

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I was 15 when I left......I was asked to leave.....:o ..for being a bad boy....I guess.......I lost interest in science subjects.....and preferred arts subjects...but was put into 4S.....science....grrrrrr.....I excelled at history ,geography, english.....but made stink bombs in chemistry....buggared up the teachers experiments in physics......hated algebra.,loathed mathematics.....:) .and couldn,t glue a joint together in woodwork to save my life....and had a running battle with Bentley the sports master....who hated me just as much as I hated him...I mean.....what useful purpose does it serve to vault over a bloody horse?..:D .I had Wigglesworth as form master......what a delight he was....:eek: .."got a sweety there laddie....going to share them out"??.. Mr Owen was maths teacher......but we all called him Gobbin..and used to bait him by dropping desk lids,farting in class,and shooting peas fom a pea shooter aimed at where he was gonna tread.....if you were caught.......up to headmaster Ben Johnson .....for the pump...:eek:
OH DEAR......I was a bad lad........and had a sore backside quite often.....:D

Tal........

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Hey Katex you might know my oldest friend, David Ratcliffe, from Bash. He was born in 1942 and went Accy Grammar. I'm 1943 vintage like you.

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[QUOTE=talentedbutslow][B][COLOR=blue]I was 15 when I left.QUOTE]

OK, so you were 15 when you left .. in 1961, 61 - 15 = 1946, so you must be 60 years old (too young for me to bother with then !)however, your brother was 3 years older than you so >> 60 + 3 = 63 years. Almost my age, so more likely to know him. Will have to have a good think. Is it these mathematical questions that got us to Grammar School in the first place !! :eek: You do enjoy being a man of mystery, don't you tbs :D

JohnW .. rings a bell, but not sure, love the site,by the way x

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[quote=katex]Thank you Katex, glad you enjoyed it.

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Hi JohnW,
My brother Norman, went to Accy Grammar, he was born in 1948, and graduated in the 60's maybe 65? His name was Norman Goody and used to mate around with David Griffiths and another guy called David Ainsworth.

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You may be interested to know TBS that Mr Owen the maths teacher was a new teacher that came along whilst I was there and me and my mates had the privilege of christening him "Gobbin":D . There wasn't much he seemed to be able to do with us lot and of course we took advantage. Remember 'Froggy' the french teacher and Portno(second in command) with his mortar board and gown? Frightening man that one.

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I have a vivid memory of Pug Portno sweeping down the corridor, his tattered old gown streaming behind him, and grabbing some unsuspecting miscreant by the ear, while shouting "rabbit brain!".

Why did your christen Mr Owen "Gobbin"? Did he come from up Ossy way?

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It just seemed to us WH that he looked like one. A gobbin I mean. Not that anyone knew what one looked like but just our idea of one. LOL

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Well, he certainly did look like one (whatever one is) although it had been shortened to "Gobbo" by the time I arrived there. We certainly carried on the grand tradition of disrupting his lessons, though.

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I was in the same year as the Portno's daughter, and my brother in the same year as the son. Yes, Mrs. Portno did teach French there; made sense really, think she was French herself.

Did your brother ever have one of those panoramic photographs that were taken every 5 years of the whole of the school? My brother was in the Vl form so a good chance your brother was on it too. If he has one, let me have the row and number and I will look him up. He is now 67 so don't think you will be on it.

Last weekend, my brother went to an Annual Reunion they do for their year. This year was at Wrightington, next year in the Lakes. Includes a 'lad' called Michael Cordingly (his father taught there too) and the runner Ron Hill, whom I am informed still does a decent 10 mile run daily.

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Sam Wignall was not a man to get on the wrong side of. "Pop" Cordingly was firm, but kindly, as I remember. I was similarly useless at woodwork - the coffee tray I'd attempted to make was such a mess that Pop fished another out of the cupboard which had been made by a lad who'd left. He gave it to me, saying "here you are, just varnish this one up and tell your parents you made it." It lasted us for years!

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Can just imagine that was the sort of kind deed 'Pop' would do. I was also at school with his lovely daughter Judith. She now lives in Texas and a couple of years ago (or thereabouts), Judith was in Accrington visiting her father, got in touch and her and her father invited me to their house for lunch.

He was still very much the gentleman, so kind, polite and what impressed me the most that he had on his suit, clean shirt and tie and not his houseslippers. I was very impressed that he knew how to treat a visitor.

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any one remeber jock bentley p.e teacher and p h simms scienceteacher also the teachers rest room halfway up the leftsteps as you entered the main entrance,also rolo rawlinson(he got done a few years ago for molesting young kids) also the famous mr roberts a.k.a SPIKE.

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I remember Jock Bentley all right.........he could never understand why I couldn,t shin up a rope like he could.........when I slyly suggested that he,d probably given up using his equipment at his age and that I wanted to preserve mine........he sent me to the head for the dreaded .......PUMP..:eek:

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Spike was the complete opposite of Jock. He simply couldn't control a class of boisterous lads to save his life. More often than not, his classes descended into noisy chaos and a teacher from an adjoining room would come to investigate and admonish us. I think he eventually left teaching and became a travel agent or something similar...I hope he was happier there because he was a really nice bloke.

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Don't forget Flossie Ferguson, Winkie Barrell and Cordingly.

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Jock Bentley was a psychopath.

Spike was a nice guy but we were kids so we did what kids do...
...made his life hell.
That's what kids do.

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It is indeed and I was as guilty as anyone else in the class. Looking back on it now, though, I can't help feeling sorry for the bloke when I remember the look of embarrassed humiliation on his face as he stood there helplessly while a "proper" teacher brought the class to order.

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Dave Ratcliffe is my uncle.I to went to Accy grammar but not until much later(71 to 76).Our Dave asked me to tell you (if you did'nt know) that my grandmother Lucy sadly passed away in June.She was 99.

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Spike left the year before i started but i had the dubious honour of being "taught" by some of the following......Jock,Simms,Mrs Wallwork,Harry Roberts,Baggy Shaw,Pinky White,Mrs Scull,Michael Dennison,Mrs Rushton(Bio),Pop Cordingley& a posse of others whoes' names have began to fade with the passing of time.Ralph was headmaster,no one knew i was there,& it did me no good what so ever!

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I attended the old pile between '57 and '62. Gobbin I remember, and the chemistry teacher RP Owen .. Welsh he was ... used to get him to say Avogadros Hypothesis, anyone who remembers him doing it might still get a laugh. Jock was not a psychopath, he was a sociopath. And Sam Wignall "Oi laddie, cap". Mrs. Scull was cool, anyone remember trying to get her to bend over a physics expt. to get a better view of her ........

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Ah fond memories from all of you, thank you so much. Was there myself from 60-65 in the 's' forms 1 through 5, Mr English was a new boy in my time, do remember Mrs Ferguson and Mr & Mrs Scull. Anyone remember the Ban the Bomb strike the school went on? Probably Stewart Hartley and his cronies came up with that idea. All very brave then fizzled out in the end. What about Mr Whittaker the janitor with the gammie leg? Pinkie White and the Biology teacher, can't remember his name. We also had a chemistry teacher who's experiments never semed to work quite like they should

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It was actually a Hands Off Cuba protest during the Cuban missile crisis of October, 1962. It started off as a petition organised by Stuart Hartley and his beatnik-type buddies which escalated into a full-scale march to the Town Hall. I well remember Gobbin standing in the middle of Blackburn Road trying to persuade the lads to turn back to school. They just swept past him like the tide, although I think most of the lads regarded it as a bit of a lark, without really knowing what it was all about.

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Maxwell Silver
all those teachers names ring lots of bells what years were you there?

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In 1958 (I think) "Lancashire Life" did an article on the old slum. I do believe it was called "The School Which Produces Proffesors." Anyone familiar with it? I think my ugly mug appeared in a photo taken in the Phyics lab, Jackie Foulds - he of the loose fitting false teeth - presiding.

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Jackie Foulds - now there was a figure to strike fear into the heart of any hapless second-former who didn't know his ohms from his watts. I can see him now, standing in the corner of the physics lab, a brooding look on his face, his ever-present fag protruding below his nicotine-stained moustache, as he surveyed all before him with a look of well-cultivated distaste. Definitely one of the old school!

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Why were there so many characters? ... did the job of teaching at a grammar school attract them? ... anyone remember Holy Joe McIvor, I remember once someone placed a stink bomb between the lid and the frame of the desk HJ used to lean on. A wad of blotting paper cushioned the pressure on the bomb until HJ leaned on it. He droned on and on in spite of the stench. Maybe he didn't notice it, or, more likely, he did not want to acknowledge the prank.

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surprised no-one mentioned George Crick the music teacher in their list of 'famous names', and what about Alf the Caretaker with the gammy leg who wanted moere authority than he had?

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George Crick - another teacher very much of the old school, who didn't suffer fools gladly. He once entered the room with the class exam results, gave me a long-suffering look and said "you're in trouble, boy!"

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He did the same to me in '59. Used to hate it when he got together with Ben Johnson to make us sing the morning hymn 50000 times until we got it right.:eek:

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"Turn back to the hymn!"...I can hear Ben's stentorian tones echoing around the assembly hall now!

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The one that Ben seemed to use most in this musical torture was "God our Help in Ages Past." Maybe the old tyrant just liked to hear it. Practicing the hymn postponed the fun part of the cermony: learning which lucky bastards were in for 6 of the very best.

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At least you didn't have to suffer "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" which we inherited from The Girls' High School upon merging with them.
It was a bit like being billeted with someone who seems attractive but has a terrible hidden habit, like chronic, random flatulence...

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My God . . . this thread takes me back. Who's got my Maths homework. I was supposed to hand it in on Monday [March 14 1964]

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I was always in favor of merging with the Girls' High School, but only one girl at a time. Or maybe two.

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Oh, God forbid !! I would never have got any work done (never did much anyway).. :D Neither I suspect would you .. but that is another subject isn't it? coeducation .. better to be separate, no distractions like. :rolleyes:

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Late detention from Gobbo for you, boy! :D

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Think Eric deserves a detention for missing the 'u' out of favour .. can tell you now 'de-Anglotised' ..lol.

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Ouch ... that makes me go a little red with embarassment ... of course, red is my favorite color.:o

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I am Hon Mem Sec of the Old Boys. Drop me a line and I will try to help. I will put you on the register. Bob Dobson

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Great to meet you Bob:-

Landy Publishing - Bob Dobson

Stick around .. could be an interesting member.. x

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I have spent the last hour sending messages to all (except Eric) who have posted. I hope this will result in getting more lads on the register, which now has 340 names. Our new President is Derek Chatburn (54-59) and we oplan a social evening in Acc 1.4.08.

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Derek was in the same year as myself at Peel Park. Obviously, can't attend your social evening (being a female) but hope it goes well.

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Hi Bob,

I've just sent you an email.

All the best,

Roger

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Brother has had a call from Michael, 'Pop' Cordingley's son to say that he passed away on Wednesday. I am sure you will be wish to know.

He was well into his 90's (sorry not sure how far). What a lovely man he was.

I know the funeral is on Thursday afternoon .. forgot to ask where etc., but will post details later should anyone wish to pay their respects.

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Really sorry to hear that, Kate. He was an excellent teacher, firm but kindly. I was undoubtedly the worst pupil in the class (couldn't even saw in a straight line!) but he never once lost his rag with me.

One of nature's gentlemen...RIP Pop.

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Pop Cordingley
Now if ever there was a gentleman - that was the gentle man.

Pop Cordingley anecdote - would someone please pass it on to his son, it may offer some comfort at this sad time.

Back in 1974, I made my 'O' level choices and as my father was a joiner and I wanted to follow in his footsteps and do woodwork, most of the lads wanted to do woodwork so the split was decided in, what I consider, an unfair manner because those lads whose surnames were at the start of the alphabet were allowed to do woodwork and those of us whose names were at the end of the alphabet had to do metalwork. I complained bitterly and I have to admit, felt a tear roll down my face as I would not be allowed to follow in my father's footsteps. Pop Cordingley was concerned about my distressed state and explained that a decision had to be made and that he was sorry but I was destined to do metalwork, not woodwork. I was annoyed but he made me promise to do the best I could in metalwork, make my own Dad proud and get my metalwork 'O' level.

Two years later, despite the valliant attempts of the 'Comprehensive Brigade', and much to the astonishment of a certain Mr Teale, I got got that dammed metalwork 'O' level and I still have the wooden tray which I made in Pop Cordingley's woodwork class.

Mr. Cordingley - I thank you for being a guiding influence in my life. RIP

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Sure I will be able to get this passed on for you Morecambe ...lovely story.

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The funeral is at Accrington Crematorium at 3 o'clock for anyone wishing to attend.

I think he was 97 years of ge.

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Remember him well ... helluva a nice guy ....

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Thursday of course ... 30th April ... sorry.

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Mr Cordingley was a real gentleman and a good teacher, despite his failure to instil any woodworking skills into me. At least he made me realise that I had no future in brain surgery. I went to the funeral - a very nice non-religious service, although I was sorry not to see more Old Boys there.

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I thought myself would have been a few more old boys there too Balbus ... although most of the them are 'old boys' themselves now. I went with my brother who himself turned 70 on Sunday.

I thought the civil service was lovely, always wondered what I would request when my turn comes and told this lady she could do mine ... :)

Although a sad occasion, funerals can be enjoyable in a way, and I really did love seeing my ex school colleague (Judith) again and we all had a lovely chat about times gone by.

Mmm . Balbus ... think I may know who you are ? Did you go to Peel Park, and in the same class as Judith ?

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Yes. See message on Friends Reunited.

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Got that ... did look on the dating site first... LOL.

What a shame that I didn't know you were there ... 'course wouldn't have recognised you without knowing you were there (if that makes sense), still worked both ways I suppose. Would have been good to reminisce.

You were the one with the brains and an I.Q. that must have bust the scale .. x

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I've just returned from an Old Boys committee meeting. We talked about the staff. Last week we lost Pop Cordingley. I spoke to ken Marsden then and I have learned that Walter 'Willie ' Wain is still alive and kicking somewhere in Barnfield area. Terry and Mrs Jones are staff who are on the Old Boys register. I would like to hear from and of any more. I am always thinking about Latin master John Howe.
I will use this posting to publicise the Old Boys Association - please make contact with me.

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Last address
WALTER WAINE
4 GARFIELD STREET
ACCRINGTON
LANCASHIRE
BB5 2AG

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Great to hear that Ken and Wally Wain are still knocking around. There must be summat about that school that makes for a long life!

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Couldn't have been the school dinners ... maybe all that walking up and down those bloody stairs strengthened the heart and lungs ... ;)

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Shame that EJ always got and still gets a bad press as a teacher. I always thought that as an individual he was good at maths.

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I was told that Alan Butcher (Art) is still alive and living in York, although not in good health. I agree about E J Owen. Can't find any trace of Johnny Howe - I think he went back to teach at Bristol Grammar School where he'd been a pupil.

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Wasn't Alan Butcher the one who used to punish boys by having them copy out massive chunks of "The Listener" long hand? I don't know about Gobbin's math skills; but he sure as hell couldn't control a class.

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I was at the grammar from '50 - '55, left from 5B. Memories, Pug Portno, kicked me out of French (but now live in France), Pop Cordingley who inherited me from Pug, who was so much a gentleman - the coffee table lasted to the mid '80s."Boris" Wignall, County rugby player who introduced the game to the school to the dismay of so many.
? Marsden taught English I think and played cricket for Enfield, ? Slater an English teacher and dramatics who had me play Christy in the Devil's Disciple at the Town Hall.
The socail life in those days - the Melbo, Joe Mort's, Knowlemere street, The Con Club, the Ritz - and for the younger ones (my generation), The Australian and Cattle Market pubs.
I hope I can establsh contact with some of my old contempories, I still have some great memories of those days. Of course that was all before i met my Anne - then it all (almost all) stopped.

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I didn't start till 57, but I know what you are talking about ... except "'Boris Wignall'" .... :confused: Is that Sam Wignall?

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Hi Eric, "Boris" arrived when I was in 3B, he taught Geography and assisted Frank Hartley the Sport's Master - something of a rough diamond

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"Rough diamond" isn't bad ... Jock Bentley tended towards the sociopathic end of the spectrum ... Wignall taught me history and the art of wearing a cap.:D

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Once walking through town with my cap stuffed in my pocket when I heard Sam Wignall's stentorian tones booming out: "Oi, cap, laddie!" Dutifully plonked my cap on my head and carried on, only to be assailed by Sam's bellowing command: "Oi, laddie, now raise your cap when you see a master!" Sam...a true AGS legend.

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I agree: to know him was to .... well, know him. Although there were those who continually ran afoul of him; one that comes to mind as a poor soul often on the receiving end was a lad called Utley (I think his first name was Stephen) ... not a bad lad, but his mere presence seemed to send Sammy ballistic.:eek:

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Yeah, I had a similar effect on Jackie Faulds. My very appearance in the physics lab would drive him into a fit of grimacing, moustache-chewing fury. :D

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In the not too distant future, the AGS Old Boys will have a website. I haven't been on this site for over a week and haven't seen this thread for some weeks, so reading about John Howe and sam wignall has been specially pleasing. I have PMd Barrie Yates, who I remember at school. I remind others that I am Mem sec for the Old Boys and will be pleased to enrol others onto the register and help put them in touch with their schoolmates.
We have recently been given a school cap of 1950s vintage. It will become the president;s badge of office. The first wearer will be Stuart Holbrook at the dinner in November.