Ravensdale School

Having found this post, I have enclosed a photograph taken at our leaving of the school in 1956. All the faces are still familiar but I have forgotten many of the names. However, of the following, I am reasonably sure. I must apologise in advance for any errors, omissions or mis-namings. Perhaps somebody can help to fill the gaps or correct any mistakes. Front row :- l to r. Norman Gault, Roger Liggins, Colin Sheldon, ??, Jeffrey Wass. Second Row :- l to r. ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, Lillian Proctor, Rosemary White, Vivienne Nelmes, ??, ??, Pam or Pat Hill, Madeleine Cook (?). Third Row :- l to r: Miss Lucas (Headmistress), ??, Catherine Beresford, ??, Pauline Drew, Gillian ?, ??, ??, Diane Best, ??, ??, Mr D H Jones. Back Row :- l to r. Peter Delaney, Alan Ashby, ??, Michael Johnston, Paul (?) Bonham, ??, Christopher Pacey, ??, Phillip Sadgrove, Neville Wade.

This photo with son in it (2nd from right on front row) was taken about 1980 in his 4th year at primary school (he was born 1971) at RAVENSDALE SCHOOL, WYKEN, Coventry. Mr. French as headmaster. That's all I know of names, I'm afraid!

Anybody got any photos of Ravensdale school from 1959-1965? I remember Headmistriss Miss Lucas, teachers Mrs Ison, Mr Knight, Mr Crossman, Miss Seville.

Ref. this photo posted by Rob Orland, I remember the teacher on the back row second in from the right. Although I'd left Ravensdale Rd before the photograph was taken I believe his name was Ray Challis. He was a member of the Communist Party and could be seen selling copies of the Daily Worker in the centre of Coventry on Saturdays.

I attended Wyken School (later renamed Ravensdale) from 1947-1953. I was taught by several of the teachers in the photo of the Junior staff. I can identify most of them as follows. Back row L to R - Mr Davidson, Mrs Spencer, Mr Hart, Mrs Davies, Mr Challis, Mrs Harris? Front row L to R - Mr D C Jones, ??, Mrs Ison (deputy head) Miss Lucas (head), ??, ??, Mr Tucker

Reference the Ravensdale photos, I am sure the two Headmistresses are Mrs Liggins and Miss Lucas. Back row includes Mrs Spencer (my last teacher there) next to Mr Hart (him and me just didn't get on!). Isn't the BIG lady Mrs Davis (always shouting) and next to her Mr Challis. I liked Mrs Ison, lived in Longfellow Road. Ah, happy days though not sure we thought so at the time.

I think you're right Connaught, the big lady is Mrs. Davis. I was in her class in 1949, a very large class of about fifty pupils. She kept perfect order by bellowing at everyone and she used to call us all 'vulgar children'. Another teacher who hasn't been mentioned was Mrs Balloch, a lovely lady who tragically was murdered by her own son in 1955 or 1956. She was bludgeoned to death with a marble statue of a horse. She was living at the time in Longfellow Rd.

Hi. I was at Ravensdale to from 1962/3 to 1967.

Hi all, here's another Ravensdale pic, in colour too! Taken in front of the infants school on Ravensdale Road side of the school, probably in the mid/early 60's. I'm in the back row, 3rd from the left in the green jumper I can remember lots of the names so my grey matter is not all slush yet. I've got another one somewhere, so if anybody's interested I'll look it out. Btw Lana, your old footy buddy Terry Holcroft is in the front row on the rhs. My yrs at Ravensdale were 62-69.

Hi Poetscorner, it was me that played football with Terry Holcroft!

Hi there, Beesman! I'm a new member (as of 5 mins ago) and was wondering if the Terry Holcroft you mention was related to Mrs. Holcroft, my favorite teacher at Wyken Croft School. I was at Ravensdale Infants from 1948-50 (?) while they were building Wyken Croft School and then got transferred to Wyken C as soon as it opened. Damn, what a change that was! From an old Nissan Hut, with a coal/coke stove for heating, to a brand-new, state-of-the art palace! And only a 5 mins run (across the Ansty Rd from Farren Rd) to school each day, instead of being dragged for 30 minutes, halfway across Wyken, by my big brother, Roger, to the Ravensdale annexe. My lasting (and, frankly, only) memory of Ravensdale was not knowing what 8 fours were during our "Times Table"' test. Miss Lucas (who was, I am sure, a fine lady, but who scared the bejeezus out of me and everybody else with even the slightest bit of self-preservation instinct) made me stand in the corner, in front of that blazing, pot-bellied, stove repeating how many 8 x 4 made for what seemed an eternity. Would, without doubt, have been classed as child abuse nowadays, but it worked and, trust me, I may still have trouble with 11 x 11, but, dammit, I know 8 fours make 32 ...... or is it 33 ....? Aahh ..... nostalgia, eh.

Bottom right was Mr Tucker.

Does anybody remember anything about the holiday to St Margaret's Bay Camp at Dymchurch around 1952? Who was selected / chosen to go on this holiday? Was it only for a week? I remember being told about washing in cold water before we went and a long train journey to get there. Also the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway being nearby.

Boy on the back row extreme right is my younger brother Keith.