School Days - memories & outings

Can any one recall when the cathedral was built, being given to each school child a book marker with the stain glass window on, which all the school children contributed to. I asked the museum if they sold them they said no the cathedral might but is under refurbishment at present.

I don't remember having a book marker but I still have a book that we were all given at school about the Cathedral. I went to Hill Farm Punishment Centre or school as others called it.

I went to the same school I only recall the book marker with a picture of the shcools stain glass window can't recall a book. laughing at Hill Farm Punishment Centre, I recall girls or boys in the juniors, if they swore had to eat a bar of soap and Martin Prewett always getting the cane in the juniors, perhaps thats why it got that name has nt times changed. Were you there when one of the teachers died Miss Moxen she fell of the desk so I heard and hit her temple killed her straight away in the class room. I recall Miss Penny in the infants as head mistress later married she was called Mrs Richards, Mrs Cooper, Mrs Clough, in the juniors, I recall Miss Moxen, Mr Evans Head Master who was welsh, Mrs Norfolk, Mr Tucker.

That was my name for the school. I was there in the early 60's and remember Mrs Clough and Mr Tucker. The Junior head was Mr Thomas. I seemed to be in Miss Jones class a lot and she was a nasty *****. I am no good at maths and have dyscalculia but it wasn't recognised then. She said I was stupid and her answer was to slap me nearly every day until mum went in and had 'a word'. The day I left that school was the best day of my life but in a strange twist, I passed my 11+ and in the secondary school I was in the top form for maths. Just shows how a bad teacher can influence your life.

Yes Elaine I too was in the early sixties, some of those teachers could nt keep their hands off could they, I recall Miss Jones now you mention her small with dark hair I recall some mothers going up to have words with some teachers too. Another one who was always shouting and slapping was Mrs Anderson, I was in the huts where she taught next door to Mrs Norfolk, Mrs Anderson then went on to teach at Kersesly Grange I had real trouble with her as my son had her, she use to slap them around the head and stood them out in the rain with no coats for the full lesson, she did nt like boys another teacher told me. Yes I fully agree that teachers can influence your life. So pleased you passed your 11+ and got to the top form well done you.

Hi Morgana i remember the book mark and we as children attended a service it the New Cathedral.

Thank you Bernie1 so pleased you remembered too, I can recall the school taking us on a tour of the Cathedral but no service, I tried along with other to pick the pennies out of the floor

I remember looking at the pennies, but we did have a service from the school's to thank the children for the donations towards the baptistery window and on the way out we were given a book mark about 5/6" long and very colourful.

Yes it was very colourful thank you for the name of the window, I shall ask my daughter to ask at the cathedral if they sell them, when they reopen.

Lovely memories, glad I was not the only one to try and get a penny out of the floor. BUT i am fairly sure the school's window was NOT the babtistry window. It was one of the tall narrow ones on the right. I remember not being impressed with ours -very dark with reds in it I seem to remember.

My schooling in Coventry (Holy Family and Cardinal Newman) was marred, not so much by cruel, brutal teachers (although they were there), but stupid and lazy teachers who did the minimal required and left it at that. Did anyone else experience these establishments?

My brother attended All Souls school on Hearsall Common in the 1930s. We're not Catholics so he escaped the Monday morning line-up of those who hadn't attended Sunday school the day before, for the priest from the church next door to come and give them a thrashing with his heavy leather belt. It put him off religion for life.

Hi Elaine, I went to Hill Farm too, I left in 1963 (I'll be 60 this year) I remember having Mrs Jones 3 years running, I don't recall her being mean to me, don't remember much about her at all! The whole school went to the consecration of the "new" Cathedral and we got a book with a picture of the tapestry on the front - I think! My name was Barbara Turner then, so long ago! I've never been able to ask anyone this - do you remember an old lady in Foster Rd who used to sell home-made sweets, sticky lollies and cordial from the back of her house?

Hi Barbinoz, I am 56 so we wouldn't have been at the school together, apart from the fact that Elaine is my middle name so you wouldn't know me by that name anyway. Yes, that is the book that I have and I also have a badge but I can't remember if we were given that by the school or it might have been Sunday school. I keep it with my Tufty Club badge in a little box as my contributions to family heirlooms. I dont remember anyone who sold sweets in Foster Road, we lived in the middle bit so didn't know everybody but I will ask my mum if she knows who it might have been.

Hi all I have added a second part to this topic title, as the posts have taken the subject in that direction. I enjoy reading intereaction posts, as here, as all sorts of little gems come out. Can someone tell me what the Tufty Club was? I must have missed out on that!