School Memories  of JCS 1949 to 1953

Running the gauntlet on day one,
Mr Younson and Miss Mackie dressed up as Batman and Robin.
Why were all French cats female? (how did they breed?)
Did Bob Copeland ever have a day when he lost his temper?
Did Pop Young ever have a day when he didn't lose his temper?
Handball in the drill hall.

Volleyball in the schoolyard
The smell of cabbage in the dinner centre.
The smell of paint in the art room.
In assembly; What was the second line of the prayer that began "Oh Heavenly Father"?.
Football at Jarrow Park and the inbuilt showers when the rain came through the broken windows.
Penny ice lollies at Bill Arnotts.
Penny toffee cakes in a backyard in Jarrow; later closed down as a health hazard.
Getting thrashed by Ollie Overton on my birthday for not attending a football meeting at playtime.
The realisation now, that a lot of the teachers were only in their twenties.
The realisation when I started work that schooldays really were the happiest days of your life.

Ron Niven