Alistair Coulson Remembers.

Attended 1968 - 1973 and I was in Bede House. Brief history as follows.

I left St Oswald’s in July 1968 - Started initially at JCS in September that year in class 1B with Mrs Jenkins as form teacher.  That classroom was upstairs at the end of the "gallery" as it was called.  Stayed there for a couple of weeks before transferring to 1A and Mrs Phillips.  You have my form photo on your website for that year.  I'll never forget my first view of Mr Hopwood in his gown at morning assembly.  Batman we called him.

My classic faux pas, one that I was never allowed to live down, was that right up to the last minute I was supposed to be going to either Clegwell or the Central and we only got confirmation the Friday before the term started.  Consequently, my uniform was purchased in a bit of a rush.  My mother god bless her, in the panic, forgot to buy me a pair of long black trousers.  Consequently, my first few days were spent in short pants.  Of course, I would be the only one and I felt a right twit.

I ultimately took CSE'S and left in July 1973 to start work for A.Reyrolle and Co which as I recall when I told my form teacher (Mr Storey) is the only time he ever shook my hand and called me Alistair.

Nothing particularly memorable happened during my time there.  A gang of us started a school newspaper in second year (teacher was Mrs Zenner.) We compiled it and Mrs Armstrong got it typed and printed on a duplicator (no photocopiers then).  I think the asking price was 3d.  It was launched in a blaze of publicity and I seem to recall that we were interviewed at school by a crew from Tyne Tees Television - Kevin Rowntree I think it was.  Unfortunately, both pupils and staff soon lost interest and it fizzled out after a few issues.  I believe it was called the Central Star or something similar.  Somebody as I recall wanted to call it The Pupil's Friend, which I thought, was good. 

Do you remember Mrs Jenkins?  I was always in awe of her as she stood for no nonsense.  I met her again in the 80's and she had me round for tea one Sunday.  A nicer person you could not have wished to meet.

Other than the Astronomy Club with Mr Hopwood (the Headmaster) and a group of us freezing our parts off in the schoolyard one winter’s night staring at Saturn and trying to look interested despite the 5 below zero that is the sum of my memories but I’ll keep thinking.

Teachers at that time: 

Mrs Phillips - Music and English, Mrs Jenkins, Mr Jenkins - R.E, Mr Bennett - Woodwork, Mr Rooney -Metalwork, Mr Storey - Geography and P.E, Ms Pattie - Maths, Mrs Bell - French, Mrs Zenner - French, Mr Bohill - Maths (Occasionally) and Art, Mr Wardle - Art,

Miss Fagin, Mr Webster - English, Mr Mankin - Tech Drawing and Physics, Mr Charlton - Physics, Miss Dawson - Biology, Miss Clarke (Student Teacher) Chemistry, Mr Casey (he was great) History, Mr Woodhouse - English and Geography, Miss Davis, Mrs Armstrong - Typing and finally Mr Hopwood - the head.

Didn't dislike any of the teachers but there were a few I was very wary of.  For example, I was and still am useless at Maths so was always in dread of Miss Pattie's classes.  She didn't pull any punches either.  I never knew anyone who could be sarcastic as politely as she could.

I recall that in later years we had a vicar - the Rev Martino come in each Friday afternoon to talk about life in the 70's and how relevant the bible was to it all.  Yeah right -  try telling that to a crowd of 14 yr olds.  I've still got my Gideon’s, which we were all presented with in 1968. 

Alistair Coulson May 2006

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