16-Feb-2003, 05:20 PM
Hi everyone I have just spent a very cold Sunday afternoon reading about your escapades at Balshaw's.
I particularly relate to Lady Griffin as I seem to have followed in her footsteps. I too went to Lostock Hall Council School from 44-50. I lived on Leyland Road close by Eccles furniture shop.I am Joan Eccles (nothing to do with furniture) and I remember a teacher at school called Miss Griffith (I think)she taught the nursery class where you had a sleep in the afternoon on camp beds which I strongley objected too.
I took the 11-plus there in 1950 and found myself at Balshaws in 1c I think Miss Dougherty was our class teacher. I refused to take Latin in the second year because Mr Leathley would teach me.I had forgotten that we called Mr Oldfield Victor Eustace. He used to come into the hall to teach us R.E and tell us to read some passage out of the Bible, then disappear until the end of the lesson only returning if the noise rose so that he could hear us in his office. You have mentioned many names that I recognise but none in my year.I left in 1956 when I was in the lower sixth because I did not want to be a teacher or a scientist and it seemed that they were not interested in any other career. I am only in contact with a couple of people, Valerie Ashton and Irene Ainsworth but I hear bits of news from Val. I married Ken Heywood who went to Wellfield lived in Farington and we now live in Derbyshire on the edge of the Peak District.
Keep up the good work I really enjoy reading all your messages.
I particularly relate to Lady Griffin as I seem to have followed in her footsteps. I too went to Lostock Hall Council School from 44-50. I lived on Leyland Road close by Eccles furniture shop.I am Joan Eccles (nothing to do with furniture) and I remember a teacher at school called Miss Griffith (I think)she taught the nursery class where you had a sleep in the afternoon on camp beds which I strongley objected too.
I took the 11-plus there in 1950 and found myself at Balshaws in 1c I think Miss Dougherty was our class teacher. I refused to take Latin in the second year because Mr Leathley would teach me.I had forgotten that we called Mr Oldfield Victor Eustace. He used to come into the hall to teach us R.E and tell us to read some passage out of the Bible, then disappear until the end of the lesson only returning if the noise rose so that he could hear us in his office. You have mentioned many names that I recognise but none in my year.I left in 1956 when I was in the lower sixth because I did not want to be a teacher or a scientist and it seemed that they were not interested in any other career. I am only in contact with a couple of people, Valerie Ashton and Irene Ainsworth but I hear bits of news from Val. I married Ken Heywood who went to Wellfield lived in Farington and we now live in Derbyshire on the edge of the Peak District.
Keep up the good work I really enjoy reading all your messages.