Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Schools Past & Present Wirral Schools now gone bye

Hi Colin, When I was there, I recall Keith Davies and Lily Pritchard having a bit of a thing for each other because they always seemed to be in each other's company (although this could've been because they both taught Art). Arthur Pearce taught P.E. (and another subject which I can't quite remember). Yes, I do recall the initiation of being thrown down the bushes when you first started there, but luckily I dodged the bullet because I missed the first week of the "big school" due to me being in hospital having my tonsils out.

I thought it was a shame when they decided to demolish the school and build houses there.

I lived directly opposite the school Dave in Tollemache road took me all of 1 minute to walk to school, I had moved away from the area by the time they knocked it down but for some strange reason my dad salvaged a brick from the demolition for posterity lol, the topic got me hunting the internet for more info and I never knew until last night that Lenny Malcolm had been at the school for years as a deputy head and was overlooked as a future headmaster, a guy called Sam Dennerley was my headmaster an Arthur Lowe lookalike lol, I thought it was rather poignant that they named the streets and closes that were built with names relevant to the old school

I was saddened to find my junior school, Pensby County Junior School in Greenbank Drive, had been demolished a couple of years ago. Also flattened was the annexe built during or immediately after WW2, a sturdy building that showed little wear for its 60+ years. I can't see many 21st century "ticky tacky" boxes lasting anything like 60 years, or even just 20.

Does anyone remember the Welsh Dragon, Mrs. Parry? She got me through my 11-plus.

Pete

Hey Colin, your Dad sounds a bit like me. When I moved out of Tees Street in 1994, where I'd lived for almost 40 years, I took some bricks from my old house (when they pulled it down, that is) and used them to build a brick fireplace in the house I'm in now. Sadly, I decided to get rid of the fireplace about five years later but it was nice having that special connection with my old house for a while.

Anyhow, getting back onto the subject of our old school... Do you remember the Top Shop in Tollemache Road/corner of Bidston Avenue? I can remember all the Tolley lads got barred from there because some of them were caught shoplifting. Well, I was only little for my age so I could easily pass for a kid from the nearby Bidston Avenue Junior School, so I'd charge the lads to go to the Top Shop to get their sweets and pop for them (although my fee was usually in sweets as well)

Yeah Dave I remember the top shop it closed down not long after I left and became firstly a shop that sold garden stuff then changed again and became Cheshire Gaming supplies selling all party stuff and bingo tickets etc,I saw a pic from 1994 I think on the site showing Tolly all boarded up and ready for demolition but I noticed that what was the dining hall annexe had been removed, if you remember it seperated the lower 2nd & 3rd years playground from the 4th & 5th years What was the name of the field in the grounds was it called "the Acre"

I can't remember "The Acre" mate, but I seem to recall something called "The Plateau" although this might have actually been the square piece of greenery in the middle of the school itself... Or was there two? My memory's getting a bit rusty these days, lol .

Mind you, I can still remember the four House names when I was there.. There was Somerville, Grenville, Mallory and Lawrence (I was in Somerville and our House Colour was yellow).

Your Right Dave it was "the Plateau" with steps on the junior side but level with the seniors yard, By the time I got to the school the house names had all changed and become 6 Tate (red) Westminster(blue),Davies(Orange) Cohen(white),Stitt(Green) & Aitkin(Purple)Its amazing what useless info you have lodged at the back of your brain lol,

I think you just hit the nail on the head, Colin. I can't remember all the useful stuff I learnt in school, but I'm a goldmine when it comes to useless information, lol.

Speaking of which, I remembered the name of another teacher while I was there. He was a Science teacher named Mr R. Looney and at the time I couldn't help but wonder if the "R" stood for "Raving" lol.

Dave ,

Do you remember Ray Hawthorne ....he lived in Tees St the same time you and also went Tolly ....think he left about 1962...he used to be in the Cross-Country team....like most people I think it was a mistake to close the school .....they should have just bussed pupils in as they do over here in the States

Cheers

Hi Dave, I went to Tolly and remember when they raised the lower section to make it one big Plateau. There was four big murals on the walls in the main corridor. One if each of the houses. When I was there I was one of the guys who painted Lawrence ( the Green House ) I went there from 52 to 55 and had a great time. It was a bad school until (The Gat,) our name for George Arthur Top became the head with his long flowing gown !! Arthur Pears was the PE teacher and math some times.He was the best teacher . Kitty was there and Jerry Jitterbug the other music teacher. I often wonder if there are any pictures of the 4 murals ?? I got School Colours for Cross country running. Hated English. Johnny one Ball was our teacher in them days. Ivor Walker was good geography teacher

It was Tommy one ball not Johnny one ball. His name was Tommy Kinley and he taught English. I met him many years after I left school in '59. It was about 1978 and he was getting on a bit. I gave him a lift into Birkenhead town centre.

Raymondoj....and others ....wasn't his name McKinley ...and he became the Assistant Headmaster ....sometime about 1957-62
Arthur Peers was an excellent PE teacher also Jock Mowatt...Fred Phillips taught Technical Drawing and Maths ....do you remember the ice slides that everyone used at the Flaybrick side playground .

Cheers

Anybody know anything about Cavendish Secondary School for girls I was there 1955 to 59?

Dave .....his name was Mr Rooney not Mr Looney.....he taught Religious Instruction (R.I.)

Hi does anyone know the name of the school that used to be opposite where The Queens pub now is in Storeton Road Oxton? Thanks.