Photo Gallery of 57 St Kevins Teachers July 1985
Mon 21 Apr 2008
Posted by admin under: Memories of KirkbyPlenty of memories of Kirkby here!
As promised here is a gallery of 57 of the teachers from the old St Kevins School in Kirkby.
The gallery of individual teachers is taken from a photo of the staff, taken in July of 1985.
Below, this image has been altered to show Mr Masters with the old St Kev’s Tie.
We need help naming all the teachers, and to this end, you need to take note of the number of the larger picture which will be revealed as you click on the thumbnail image.
We can use the comments section here to this purpose. I know quite a few teachers myself – so I’ll start the comments with the 57 numbers and gradually fill them in as others confirm them. This will add to the written record of our history – and doubtless clear up 10,000 arguments worldwide.
Anyhow, without further ado, check out the gallery by clicking below.
Click Here For St Kevins Teachers Photo Gallery
Remember, you need to click on the thumbnails, which will then give you a simple navigation system and take you through all the images.
Enjoy.
Hope we hear from you.
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38 Responses to “Photo Gallery of 57 St Kevins Teachers July 1985”
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The names of the St Kevins Teachers
This will help us list the names in the gallery to the correct photos and to enable us mention what subjects were taught, and who was head of each House. Please correct any mistakes by simply leaving a comment.
Some spellings and other mishaps might need to be corrected as we go along.
Please, keep it clean!
1
2
3
4
5 Miss Pam Owens (English)
6 Mr Ian or Jon Nichol
7 Mr Eddie Lyons (English Science?)
8 Mr Shannon (P.E.)
9 Mr Gerald (Ged) Wheelan
10 Mr Eddie Lyons (Chemistry)
11 John Riley (Maths). John was the son of another St Kevins maths teacher named as a Mr Riley senior (Any help with this?).
12 Joe Donoghue
13
14
15 Mr Evans (Art and Craft) or Kevin Anderson (Physics) What say ye? Was it one man working two jobs?
16 Mr Brendan Wall (Religious Education)
17 Mr B Swift (History)
18 Mrs Bingham
19 Mr Rowlands (P.E.)
20 Mrs Eccleshaw (French)
21 Judy Bulstrich (Ran the catering lessons)
22
23 Mrs Tully (Spanish)
24
25 Mrs Cantalejo (French, Spanish) [name might not be spelt correctly]
26 Wendy Heap (Science
27
28 Mr Owens
29 Eddie Johnson (Woodwork) and also noted for being a fine saxophonist.
30 Elsie ?. Admin/Head’s Secretary?
31
32
33 Mr Alan Boyle? (History and PE) Reported so far as a Top Teacher. As I recall - he was hard but fair.
34 Mr O’ Hanlon.
35 Mr Bingham
36
37 Mr Mike Washington
38 Mr McGinley (an Irish man, who taught English Lit perhaps. Always helped the local elderly people as well as putting us kids on the right path.
39
40 Mr Tom Fitzimmons (Housemaster)
41 Mr Eric Rimmer (Housemaster Aquinas)
42 Mr Hart
43 Mr Tom Adamson
44 Mr Colin Trolloppe
45
46 Mr Cooney Snr (his son also took up a position in St Kevs)
47 Mr Tom Moynihan (Deputy Headmaster) R.I.P
48 Mr Ken Masters Headmaster R.I.P.
49
50 Gwen (Accounts / Bursar) - Adorable lady [anyone know the surname?]
51 Mr Pete Harris (Maths) RIP
52
53
54
55 Fr Mike O Connor
56 Mr Alan Baker
57 Mr John McDonald
21. Judy (Cooking Studies)
50. Gwen (Accounts / Bursar) - Adorable lady
52 is that mr “buster” keating..he also looked like roy kinnear
4 english teacher if that helps
5 mrs owens .english
7 eddie lyons (science)
8 mr shannon (pe)
17 mr swift…history
18 mrs bingham.
19 mr rowlands..pe
23 mrs tully (spanish teacher)
25 mrs cantalejo french
28 mr owens
29 he was a geography teacher
34 mr ohanlon..the physics teacher we thought was dead hard cos he did martial arts
35 mr bingham “captain nemo” on the basis that his art lessons always had a story with…you guessed it captain nemo in.
40 mr fitzimmons…who had the green left hand drive ford capri..also rumoured to be one of the hardest strap givers.
42 mr hart “2 hart”..science
44 mr thorpe…
53 mr carson i think
Ed: Cheers mate, but remember a few of the teachers families might or will read this, so try not to leave nick names that were, are, a little unkind.
I’m sure we’d not want to know what a few teachers called us at times!
10 the maths teacher we called magnum…mr reilly i think
They must have been after my time.I remember Coony but none of the others.I can’t see elmer fudd,can’t remember his name.Or Hispanola the spanish teacher.Mind you when I was there Kevin Dooley was in the 6th
The site is taking ages to load.You may need more bandwidth.
Spit, this should be before your time…
From the personal files of KJ Masters (more to come)
“‘Personal file … 1960′
‘Excellent progress is being made with the construction of St. Kevin’s R.C. Comprehensive School in Roughwood Drive, Northwood, Kirkby and this week sees the completion of a block of 30 classrooms.
When completed in July of next year the school will be the largest single-sex comprehensive in the country. It will also be the first Roman Catholic comprehensive school for boys ever to be built in Great Britain. It will provide accommodation for some 2000 boys who will come from the various Roman Catholic junior schools in what is a practically new town’”
Amazing to think that St Kevins was the first Roman Catholic Comprehensive School for boys in the UK!
Truly, history in the making.
No 47 is Tom Moynihan who was deputy head. He was a friend of mine and he passed away some years ago.
41 eric rimmer, house master aquinas…..you also haven’t updated all the names ive given….
I think I recognise…
10. Ray Lyons (Chemistry)
11. John Riley (Maths). John was the son of another St. Kevin’s maths teacher known to me as Mr Riley senior (never knew his first name).
12. Joe Donoghue
15. Kevin Anderson (Physics)
2. A chap we knew as Eugene
26. Wendy Heap (Science)
29. Eddie Johnson (Woodwork) and a fine saxophonist.
30. Elsie ?. Admin/Head’s Secretary?
33. Possibly Alan Boyle (History and PE I think)
38. Looks like John Channel to me - History teacher and Hosemaster of Augustine.
43. Tom Adamson
51. Pete Harris (Maths) RIP
number 33 is Mr Boyle a top teacher
mr mcginley is number 38
9 ged whelan maths 10 ray lyons science 11 john riley maths 13 joe donohue 15 kevin anderson physics
16 brendan wall re
17 b swift history 18 lynn bingham history 19 martin rowlands pe 2 billy green
20 terry eccleshall french 21 elsie cantelejo spanish 28 wendy heap chemistry 27 geoff owens economics 29 eddie johnson dt 8 jimmy shannon pe 7 ed lyon biology 43 colin trollope 32 steven whelan maths 33 alan boyle english 35 dave bingham art 36 paula strudwick geography 37 mike washington english 4 howard thomas english 42 phil harte biology
My god,what a great feature,thank you so much for bringing back many memories,i left st kevs in 1979,i was in aquinas,we lived on the old hall estate, and befor that on simonswood lane, my dad had the mobile by the molly and also taxis,we left kirkby in 1983,i have two elder brothers,Anthony and Peter who were in fisher house,and an elder sister,Mary who went to st gregs,
I have great memories of kirkby and try to visit when i can, i moved back to liverpool in 2001 after living in scotland for 17 years,i was executive head chef for a scottish hotel company.
thanks again for a great site,and hope someone remembers me,,,
martin.nolan@live.co.uk thanks,,,,,,
Sorry, i never mentioned any teachers, remember when mrs bingham was miss quigley,they were great teachers in aquinas,i remember sister mary riding her bike up old rough lane,mrs boulstridge(sorry about the spelling)was a great influence to me, i got through out of moter engineering(for always combing my hair,lol,)(wish i had that hair now. and mrs b was the only one who hada space and took me in, i went on to be the first one to get an “o”level in catering in st kevs,,,
mr rimmer and mrs bingham were great people as were most of the staff and i would like to thank them all as it wasnt an easy job teaching us shower,,,,
i also have fond memories of mrs williams(art and craft),miss bell(pottery) and mrs boyce(mrs boulstritdges assistant,she was also the caretakers wife and lived in the house on the field by the bike sheds,im going to keep on checking this site so please reply,, thanks,,martin nolan
I was a pupil there from 76-81. Tommy Fitzsimons was my house master, and boy he was leathal with that strap! The number 38 doesn’t look nothing like Jim McGINLEY AT ALL. Indeed, Jim taught A. level later at a college in Walton. I was a pupil there, too. He (jim) had a sharp nose and very thin lips. A brilliant and caring man! Anyhow, my memories of the teachers were mixed. Young mr Evans(welsh)had the whitest set of teeth and the loudest mouth of all the teachers. Eric Rimmer taught us maths(though mostly the history of Elvis and the Beatles!)and was a really nice fella. Okay, where the devil is Mr.Todd (engineering)Mr.Jevons (hard Scot who was head of Gymn)Father Mannion and young Father McCOY? Oops! Not forgetting Father O’Sullivan (he had an Art Garfunkal hairdo and glasses. I now live in New York with my wife (A New Yorker) Thanks…Darren
Hello again ex Kevites,
Here’s my memories of a few good and not too sociable teachers from the old school.
Tom “Fitzy” Fitzsimmons: My old house master at Aloysious house hall. He was a very tough, yet fair fellow who was fine with his pupils if they behaved. However, as a kid I was a little too laid back and “half-arsed” when Fitzy gave us lessons in my first two years there. He quickly became annoyed at me (especially being late a lot)and became generous with that strap. I wasn’t too keen on old Fitzy, but I had a lot of respect for the man. Rating…6 out of 10
Jim McGinley. Jim taught me how to read and write very well during my first year there. He was a focused and great teacher, who had the interests of all his pupils at heart. He wasn’t loud or bullying (unlike a lot of Teachers then)and was very placid in his approach. A great Irishman, literally! Rating…(9 out of !0)
Mr.Evans: During my first two years there, Evan’s did the history lessons. A young welsh man, He had a fresh complexion and great teeth. Unfortunately, Evan’s (dressed in a blue Addidas track suit) was a bit of a condescending p**s taker. He was always curt and smirking towards the quieter kids (me, too). He frequently shouted with a very loud Welsh voice. Anybody remember that? This guy wasn’t my favourite cup of tea. Rating 1 out of 10
Mr.lane. This guy looked the image of the late 70’s cop Eddie Shoestring. He sounded like a Mancunian, and was the least effective maths teacher I ever had. He jotted two or three equations on the board, and let you get on with it while he read The Sun. If you asked him to explain he’d get very huffy and condescending. Hence, we kept quiet and learned nothing. Rating…1 out of 10
Mr.Owens: This guy was small, boastful and Welsh. He also did the Footy classes. Like Evans, he was always prancing about in his track suit, trying to look macho. He used to boast a lot of nonsense eg: “The Hulk actor comes from Wales”. In fact, the actor was American, and: “A mars bar a day cures cold”. And my personal favourite since 1977: “David Soul is Welsh”. This guy would think that the towl slapping trend (in the showers)was okay and funny. In fact it wasn’t! It was painfully humiliating for the victims (Not I, THANKFULLY). nEEDLESS TO SAY THAT i COULDN’T STAND THIS GUY ONE BIT! Ratings…0 out of 10
Father O’Sullivan: He was my Religious teacher from year one until my final year. Although very conservative and a little starchy, he was a good man who would be happy to help with any religious questions. He wore buddy Holly-type glasses and had an Art Garfunkal-style hairdo. Rating…7 out of 10
Mr. Johnson: He was my Engineering teacher in the late seventies/early eightees. He had a beard and was always well liked by the class kids. He was always encouraging the kids to “keep it up”, and called you by your first name. Unfortunately, he had (i think) a stroke during one of our classes in 1980. The class was dismissed that day, and nobody told us a bluddy thing! Thankfully, he recovered soon after.A lovely fella and one of the very best. rating…9 out of 10
Okay fellas, here’s my list of the teachers that I recognise from the photos:
1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. Don’t know (albeit, remember) his name, but we called him “Kreskin”. This guy was really tall and was a staunch supporter for the Anti-Abortion Lobby.
5. ?
6.?
7. Mr.Lyons the Biology teacher
8. Mr. Shannon- firey sports teacher who played for the England under 21s in his youth.
9. ?
10. ?
11.?
12?
13. Mr.Johnsone (or Johnstone)taught us maths back in our second year of 77. He looked quite Mexican or latino, and was a very, very nice teacher. He once told us that he “shook” the hand of Terry McDermott (the night before)as if it were a religious experience lol!
14. Mr.Evans. The “Taffy” history teacher that I didn’t like too much.
17. mR.Swift. Head of the history dept. This old hippy reeked of pipe smoke, which he didn’t mind blowing in your face when giving out rollockings. He wasn’t a pleasant person at all.
18. Mrs. Eccleshall- French Teacher. Strict, starchy but fair.
19. Mr.Rowlands. Doubled as a sports/English Teacher. He was a strict, but nice teacher. He just wanted one to knuckle down with the work. Any clowning, and he came down hard. However, plenty of respect if you toed-the-line.
21. Mrs. Judy Boulstridge-head of catering. she took us for our final two years 79-81, and hated our class 4c4 and then 5c4. She was okay with some of the lads, but very condescending with the clowns (especially my mate, Tony Archer). My class was suspended for a week for giving the old girl hell. However, the lads had a lot of respect for her assistant, old Maggie Boyce. Judy was given a very hard time by my old classmates. Sorry Mrs. B, WE WERE JUST STUPID KIDS THEN!
23. mRS.Bingham. She took us for history lessons during years one and two. Married (and frequently heard arguing with her teacher hubby Mr.Bingham)she was very nonchalant in a strange kind of Mr.Spock way.
29. Mr.Johnson-Engineering. One of my bezzy teachers of all time. this guy went out of his way to talk with you and encourage you constantly. He was the only teacher to “God Bless” the lads during our final lesson. Thus, wanting us to all do well and avoid crime etc. A wondeful fella!
32. Mr.Hart. He was a timid type of fellow that taught us Biology in our final two years.
34. Owens. ‘tAFFY” The typical 70s Idiot sports Teacher with agressive attitude.
38. Mr.Channel- House master of Augustine. Some of your commentators have said that this is Jim McGinley. It looks nothing like him (unless it’s an odd picture of him. But I swear that it looks like Channel.
39. Mr.Monaughan. One of the Chief Deputy Heads at the School’s central office. A little timid, inoffensive fellow.
40. Mr.Fitzsimons- Head Master of Aloysious house hall. Self nick named “Tough Spud”. Unfortunately a name that he hoped would catch-on with the students-it didn’t! Without doubt the hardest man in the whole School…nobody messed with this guy! His strapping was legendary and painful..and I should know!!
41. Mr. Rimmer. House Master of Aquinas house hall. He taught us maths, but digressed a lot to the subject of pop culture. A nice fella who had the respect of all the lads- maybe because he wore a trendy pork pie hat..very mod!
44. Mr.Trollope- head of remedial class. Although I wasn’t in the remedial class (Higher mainstream)he took us for one lesson and started talking to his strap (Daisy!!)The boys were so freaked out by that gig, that they never gave him any trouble. Certainly the most unorthodox way of calming the boys into submission during my five years there.
46. Mr.COONEY SNR. A great and funny head teacher, well liked by all of the lads. He never lost his temper, but rather used his razor sharp wit to quell a situation. His son (Kevin)taught our English class during our final two years there. He was well liked, too.
48. Mr.Masters “k.jay”- head master of the School. A very softly spoken and old fashioned man, with deep religious beliefs. Took the assembly at the main hall each morning.
Okay, that’s my bit over with. I hope that my info does some good. I look forward to revisiting this page again and again. Remember the old School motto- Respice Finem! Go figure!
A school rife with bullies thugs and petty criminals.
Thank god I left after two years, or I would have shared the fate of most of its delinquents. God knows why you have such affectionate memories, perhaps you were the bullies? Knowlsey rightly closed it down not a moment too soon. I just hope the education now provided is better than it was when I left in 73, hard to imagine it could be worse. A place where kids who wanted an education were ridicules and humiliated by the ignorant who wanted to remain ignorant.
I have it on good authority that that picture was taken on the FINAL day of St Kevin’s. More pics soon … plus I’ll fill in all the missing names …
Are people aware that St kevins have a bi-annual reunion? It is well attended, you can play golf during the day then attend an evening function OR you can just attend the evening function.
I was a pupil at St Kev’s from 1977 and I still have fond memories. The staff certain of in the photograph are:
4 Mr Thompson / Thomas? An English teacher. I can remember him reading out the dictation as part of the English assessments in the assembly hall.
7 Mr Eddie Lyons (Biology). Great teacher. Took me for 0′level Biology.
8 Mr Shannon (P.E.)
11 John Riley (Maths).
13 Joe Donoghue. An english teacher who was head of Gregory house when I started in 1977 and then went on to be head of 6th form in the early 1980s. Gave me the strap once for missing out a couple of full-stops in a piece of homework!
15 Kevin Anderson (Head of Physics)…had the nickname “the Devil” due to a little devil like beard he once had.
17 Mr Barry Swift (History)
18 Mrs Bingham (History?)
19 Mr Martin Rowlands (P.E.)
33 Mr Alan Boyle? (English teacher…took me for English Lit and Language. Also ran the 1st 15 rugby team)
34 Mr Dave O’ Hanlon (Chemistry teacher). Once, with the help of some other lads from the rugby team tied him up in one of the chemistry labs for a joke! He got his revenge during a subsequent rugby training session were he split my lip!
37 Mr Mike Washington (English teacher) Taught me while I was in the second year.
41 Mr Eric Rimmer (Housemaster Aquinas. Also ran the school drama society which did shows jointly with St Gregory’s…I can remember Guys and Dolls, Fiddler of the Roof, 7 brides for 7 brothers etc.
42 Mr Hart (Biology teacher). Took me both for A level Biology.
44 Mr Colin Trolloppe…can’t remember his subject but he looked after the students who were basically taken out of mainstream teaching….either because they needed extra help or were disruptive.
46 Mr John Cooney. Taught in Liverpool before Kirkby. I think both of his sons ended up as teachers. An ‘old-school’ teacher who knew how to handle kids.
47 Mr Tom Moynihan (Deputy Headmaster)
48 Mr Ken Masters Headmaster
55 Fr Mike O Connor…played a mean game of squash!
I’m sorry that I cannot remember any of the teachers by the photographs in the gallery, but I can recall one or two of the first teachers at St Kev’s.
I attended St Kevin’s from 1961-1965. I was in Fisher house for the whole period. My house teacher, history teacher, and religious instructor was John Channel, without a shadow of a doubt a terrific guy who must of felt the strain of being freshly out of teachers college himself, and only in his very early twenties at the time, being thrown headlong into an environment at the time of unexpected, strange, and violent anarchy, and not to forget testosterone fuelled confusion. I (pleading guilty) being one of his most antagonistic challenges.
If John Channel is still with us I would like to thank him from the bottom of my heart for the understanding he showed me, the compassion when needed, the belting’s when deserved, the soccer tuition that he loved, and the confidence to leave England and work towards earning my first million quid through entertainment here in Australia where I now live.
God bless you John! You instilled in me morals and respect which you may not have recognised in me at the time, plus the belief that I had talent enough to take me anywhere that I wished to go if only I used it correctly. I think I did Mr Channel. I am now an accredited author, screenwriter, and music producer. Plus I have had the pleasure of being successful as a performer on stage and in film. You didn’t waste your time, your diploma of education was meant for the likes of me!
The house master at this time was a Mr Callan. A very serious and rightfully strict master, yet extremely fair in his administration. This same gentleman who had to administer the strap to me on more occasions than I had to drink my free milk.
Never the less, this same man had worked tirelessly behind the scenes on my behalf during my final two years to instigate professional help so as to set in motion an initial career for me in entertainment. He was privately responsible for calling on the aid of his own circle of friends and professional contacts within the education department to help me win a scholarship to study at drama school. This information was only revealed to me when I entered Mr Callan’s office to receive my school leaving certificate. No greater gift have I ever been given!
This I believe stemmed from my involvement in the first school pantomime that St Kevin’s ever staged, it was a production of Aladdin. I played a principle role, that of Widow Twanky.
My original involvement came completely out of left field. Although at the time I must admit I was rather a hyperactive and disruptive little scallywag. Between Mr Callaghan,(English teacher) known more commonly to the boys as “Elma Fudd”, and Mr BERG,(music teacher) commonly known as “Lam-burger gessler” they had both convinced me to audition for the part of Widow Twanky.
Other names I recall are Mr Scott. (Maths teacher). His two boys attended the school also. He was one of the teachers who accompanied the boys when we went on the school trip to Rosas in Spain in 1962. Mr Cooney. Mr Rimmer. Mr Bermingham (PE teacher) Mr Moorehead (school principal) Mr Roger Mcgough, the guy who became a member of the famous Liverpool comedy trio “The Scaffold.” Now I am trying to stretch the memory!
Thanks for the opportunity for me to remember more than I thought I did.
I worked at St Kevins between 1974-89 before moving to All Saints so I know quite a few faces!…
1. Harry (can’t think of his surname - my late husband replaced him when he retired in 1988) - he was the CDT technician
2. Ray Lyons - science teacher
3. John Riley - Maths teacher
13. Joe Donaghue - English teacher (Senior Master - Gregory House). Still a good friend of mine
24. Cath Chapman - English teacher. Another good friend still.
27. Me!!!!!
31. Joan Hanley - secretary. Still a good friend
49. Brenda Tinniswood - secretary who married…
54. Vernon Halewood - CDT teacher
I left St kevs in 1970 as thick as when I entered. I dont have any good memories of the place other than when I left.
I was in Newman house and the house master was Mr White who was brilliant as a teacher and house master. He was also brilliant at getting the tips of your fingers with the strap especially in mid January when the winters seemed to be really cold.
He gave me a really good report when I left which got me an apprenticeship in engineering which I still do to this day in the merchant navy.
Its great seeing the pics of some of the teachers which bring back memories.
Mr Riley Senior was known as “Jazzer Riley”, his favourite saying was “Go to room 9 for punishment laddie” or he would make you stand on one foot on one floor tile if you got a maths question wrong or were talking, when you put the second foot down, yes, you guessed it, “go to room 9 for punishmnet laddie”
Brilliant memories of a school that was quite definetly an institution in more ways than one ,the teachers and kids making a combustible cast. I was there till 1986 when i was kindly asked to leave by my then housemaster brian mckeating who bore an uncanny resemblance to van morrison . there was also mr fitz who did an excellent job of looking like jack palance whilst wearing an ill fitting 70,s tracksuit.It staggers me that any of the pupils amounted to anything, but it taught you to be resourcefull as well as streetwise and a lot of the lads have moved on and done well,as us kirkby lads are a transient bunch. Sad to see it pulled down, just a little mention for some of the better teachers there, who made an impression,mr evans(pe)mr ohanlon (science) mr baker(motor veh) mr mcdonald (english)
mr cooney.
9
A priceless site! - also hilarious that John Orrett says anyone who wanted an education were ‘ridicules’ - so that would no education then John?
I personally loved my time at St Kevin’s - some great teachers, good sports and you learnt to stand on your own two feet, what more do you need? Special praise for Mr Barry Swift (History) , inspirational and a big softie under the beard! - Brian Davies ( Economics), now headmaster of Quarry Bank (? ) - too cool for school!, Mr Masters, Headmaster - a scholar and a gentleman, Mr Moynihan,(History) - announced to my class I had scored the hightest ever History exam score the history of St Kevin’s in my mock ‘O’ level! Mickey Doolan and Stevie Owen ( Sports ) - 2 great teachers and a good laugh ( Text House anyone ? ). They were the goodies - baddies included any priest especially Father Sullivan, Mr Owen, head of the 6th Form - a right twat, Mr Anderson ( Physics ), a patronising, smug figure (I’ve got mine, have you got yours?’).
I was lucky enough to be one of the last pupils to start their first year at St. Kevs in 1985, until we joined the girls at St. Gregs to become All Saints.
Alan Baker was my form tutor, and was a really good laugh, I was in 1 Agustin, dubbed 1 Disgusting as the whole class was on detention for almost the whole year and on class report!!.
Alan used to teach Motor Vehicle Studies. He then went on to Kirkby College. I followed him over there, as I did GCSE Motor Vehicle, BTEC 1st and BTEC National, then onto Coventry Uni.
I’d say Mr. Baker had a big influence on me going to Uni, as I never even give a thought!
Other teachers I remember, Mr Evans, he was my PE teacher in my final year at All Saints.
Mr.Shannon, he was my PE teacher in my First year at St. Kevs and took no prisoners, he chilled out more when he moved to St. Gregs.
I remember Mr.Donaghue quite well, I remember the very first class we had with him and he said, “I can be your friend or your worst enemy, it’s your choice!” I don’t think anyone spoke for the whole leason!
Miss Tully taught us Spanish, not going to post what her nick name was!
Miss Rowlands, now she used to come over from St. Gregs to teach Swimming. She, also used to teach us when I was at St. Joey’s Primary, god she was a ball breaker, but she did teach me to swim!!
I only have found memories at St. Kev’s, even though it was a pain in the backside getting to school in the morning. Had to get the 151 from Broad Lane Shops, but only cost 5p, think it was the old style green bus ticket!!
I’m probably one of the few who loved school, only because I had all my mates in the same place. I now live in Reading so find it hard to catch up with them.
Thanks for letting me remember my time at St. Kev’s.
I was at good old St. Kev’s from 1966 - 1971. It was a big shock
to my system after St. Joeys juniors.
I was never bullied myself, despite being as hard as jelly, but I
know a lot of other kids were.
When I think back to the facilities available at that school, it makes me wonder how I managed to learn so little.
The metalwork classrooms with at least three lathes, shaping machines, forges, and every hand tool and measuring device you could think of.
The woodwork shops were equipped to the same level too.
Then there was the motor vehicle workshop, I remember one class
built a working go-kart and took turns driving it around the running track.
The art and crafts block had potters wheels and kilns, we had our own library and chapel too.
The main hall used for assembly was also a giant gymnasium with all the equipment, and doubled as a theatre with changing rooms beneath the stage. The stage itself had drop down scenery
and good lighting, and the annual Christmas productions always sold out for the three nights run.
I remember Wizard of Oz, and HMS Pinafore, both produced/conducted by Mr Berg the music teacher.
Then there was another fully equipped gym, the one I and all the other smokers went behind every breaktime for our fix.
I remember blowing things up and causing fires in the chemistry labs, and teasing the rats in the cages in Mr.Carson’s
biology lab. There was also a monkey, ferrets, pigeons, hamsters, guinea pigs, locusts, snakes, and that was only his lab.
Some great teachers too, some real bad ones as well, but they will probably know who they are.
Good ones I remember, in no particular order.
Mr Peter Maloney, English lit. always bored me until our class got him for a year. He was so good I even started to like poetry, for god’s sake, this was St. Kev’s
Mr. Fitzsimmons, who is mentioned a lot on here, was my House
tutor, he looked hard even then, his hair was cropped really short. I don’t think he gave the strap at that time, and I remember him as being quite likeable.
Miss Ann Parry - English lan. My first ever crush on a teacher.
We only had her for one year, I spent every lesson glued to every word she said, just so she would like me.
Miss Leigh ( Lee ? ) Took us for biology, she treated us like grown ups, we all treated her with respect.
Mr Hope Gym. He was really built, a big square face on a neck like Mike Tyson’s. No one messed with him . He broke up a serious fight once,called in after other teachers had failed.
He held the two lads upside down, one in each hand, by their
ankles for several minutes till they calmed down.
I remember going on a field trip to Chester in Mr. Trollope’s
old single decker bus, he drove it too. As well as teaching the more difficult kids, he also ran the army cadets, known as
‘ Trollopes Barmy army. He was a great character and most of the school loved him.
I only remember one good maths teacher, Mr Shaw, I think he was a southerner, he used to dismiss any pupil who had the audacity to knock on his door and interupt him mid flow, with a loud, ‘ Shu arp, un git out ‘
Mr. Tierny took us for Geography, he was also a brilliant hypnotist and would put on demonstrations for the school.
He could strap, you knew you had had it when you got it off him.
As an after thought, once all of the teachers identities have been confirmed, how about dwelling on the positive and contribute to a list of boys names that they collectively taught, and who may have appeared to have been on the downside of accedemic brilliance or perfect behaviour at the time of their attendance at St Kevins, but never the less went on to become highly successful, or famous personalities.
As an example I would like to start by proposing just two names that are internationally known. I’m sure the list could become quite lengthy.
1. John Conteh. W.B.C. World light heavyweight champion.
2. Andrew Schofield. Television + film actor.
i hated glennon in campion
mr glennon looked like plug out of the beano ,he hated anyone who had a brain.
wiggy wilson were are you?
Glennon was my Housemaster in Campion. He portrayed all the hallmarks of a smug twat - he patronised, he condescended, he riduculed unnecessarily - in short he was a wanker!
My mate Mark Brookes used to stand next to me in assembly and shout out’What’s up Doc?’ when Glennon was taking Assembly - a non too subtle reference to Glennon’s buck teeth! Brookey used to also fart very loudly then say ‘Mr Glennon sir, Cochrane smells!’ I couldn’t protest as I was too busy pissing myself laughing.
Gary,don’t recall a school motto - may be my memory but for all of you who didn’t have the experience of Albert Tatlock’s Latin classes - Respice Finem means ‘Look to the end’ - not exactly Nil nisi satis optimum but there you go!
If anyone would like to attend a St Kevin’s reunion there are 2 events this Autumn.
Sept 13th - Golf day in Formby
Oct 9th - Dinner at Suite’s Hotel, Kirkby.
If you want info. just email me,
See you there.