Kenneth Chard's Memories
Top row - Left to right:
Frank Norcliffe, Tommy Higginbottom, David Major, Kenneth Chard (me) Anthony Evens, Michael C Swift, Brian Whatmough, Paddy Jackson.
Welcome to the St Kentigern's Parish Website
Kenneth Chard's Memories Top row - Left to right: Frank Norcliffe, Tommy Higginbottom, David Major, Kenneth Chard (me) Anthony Evens, Michael C Swift, Brian Whatmough, Paddy Jackson.
Second row – Left to right:
Theresa Brewer?, Pauline Padgett, Stuart Staff, Anthony Tirrell, Bernard Parry, David Parker, Peter Stringer, Michael Swift, Maureen Hind, Maureen BrennanThird row – Left to right:
Joan Kirkpatrick, Brenda Burk, Bernadette Hannavy, Sylvia Westhead, Barbara Bishop, Anne Brew, Carole Baldwin, Eileen McDonaldBottom row – Left to right:
??, Christine Hannavy, ??, Pauline Eaves, Celia Brabaun, Judy Kirkpatrick, ??
The teachers at this time (1950-1954) were Miss Cross, Miss Nicholson, Miss Beaclare, Miss Hutchinson, Mrs Garvey, Mr Carter and Mr Branney. The head mistress was Mother St John.
The caretaker was Joe Staveley.
The Parish Priests were Fr Burrows, Fr Hogan and Fr Caton.
In the rec yard was a coke hatch (fuel for the boilers) sometimes during playtime we would scramble down it into the boiler room and then try to climb back up it un-noticed. In the school yard we would play conkers, marbles and milk-bottle tops. Every class had its own Christmas party and every child brought in cakes sandwiches or jellies for the party. The whole school attended a Christmas Mass before breaking up for the holiday at which we all received a blessing. WE also had nativity plays and our mums and dads came to watch us.
These were always held at Stanley Park Oval a day or two before breaking up for the summer holidays. The classes were divided into 4 teams: Red (Arrowsmith), Blue (Southworth), Green (Campion) and Yellow(Rigby). Each name represented a saint or martyr. The guest of honour was usually the parish priest, a school governor or both.
This was a big event in the Church calendar. Everyone was involved. The Children of Mary, the Catholic Women’s League, The Knights of St Columba and all the teachers and clergy. All the girls wore white dresses for the procession and all the boys looked smart in their school uniforms or Sunday best. It was a great honour for a girl to be chosen to crown the statue during the procession.
I attended the infants from 1946 and then the juniors until 1954. I remember all of the lady teachers on the 1947 outing photos on the parish web-site. Miss Beauclare took Junior 1. Miss Nicholson, who sadly died in the early 50’s, took Junior 2. Miss Hutchinson took Junior 3. Mrs Garvey took the art classes. I was quite good at the subject so I was always in favour with her. She was a very smart and lovely lady. Miss Cross was the music teacher.
My brother, Melvyn, was an altar boy and also attended the school as did both my sisters.
I have very happy memories of that time during the 50’s apart from the dreaded catechism which, if we had not learnt overnight, we were in big trouble.
I can still name 90% of the children on the class photo shown above. I would love to know where they all are now. I know that at least four of them have died.
I can be contacted at my e mail address on: kenw@blackpool.net