Memories of Oystermouth Junior Comprehensive School by Michael Charles

Part Three- Oystermouth School

I started in Oystermouth Junior Comprehensive School when it first opened in September 1970. Our stay would be for only two years, whence we were moved on to Bishop Gore Senior Comprehensive School.

The Victorian building, which had opened in 1878 as a Board School, became a Council School in 1903 and had also been home to the Oystermouth Secondary Modern School, consisted of a large main hall and classrooms going off all around with cloakrooms at the end of the hall and separate entrances for boys and girls. There were also other classrooms and a dining hall in the grounds, made of breeze blocks, plus a cookery room and science room, which were made of wood. There was a central heating system with big iron radiators which worked well. The school gym was added in 1971.

The Staff consisted of

Head Teacher, Mr. I. Davies,

Deputy Head, Mr. Steve McGairl,

Mr. Thomas (Maths),

Mr. Williams (Science),

Mrs. Croot (Religious Knowledge),

Miss E. Morgan (English, Geography and Needlework).

Mr. Evans (Art),

Mrs. Davies (Music),

Miss Cox (History),

Miss Beynon (English and Drama),

Mr. Aston (Geography),

Mr. L. Williams (Engineering Drawing) and Miss Chivers (Cookery), who was wont to call out ‘Hey you Swivel Head’ to anyone seen turning round and talking in class.

They were joined later on by Mrs. Edney (French),

Mr. Jones (Science)

Mr. Jones (Metalwork)

and Mr. Edney (Deputy head).

Some had nicknames — the Headmaster was known as ‘The Beek’,

Mr McGairl as ‘Slag’, Mr. L. Williams as ‘Sparrow’, Mr. Evans as ‘Hitler’, Mr. Williams as ‘Bull’ as he had a habit of saying ‘You can do this till the cows come home,’ Mrs. Davies, as ‘Tweed’ and Miss Morgan as ‘Mini.’

There were many characters among them - Miss Cox used to watch a TV programme called ‘Up Pompeii’ which was a bit rude by 1970s standards and being a very short person could only write a few lines on the bottom of the board. She certainly brought history to life! Another was Deputy Head, Mr. McGairl, who could be very kind and fair but also very strict. Being a woodwork teacher, after every lesson we had to check our benches to see we had the same number of tools, the same order of tools being read out — one saw, two hammers, three chisels, one plane etc. This ritual became like singing the National Anthem at the end of a musical concert!

The classrooms and a dining hall in the grounds

Lessons were now more varied than the junior school and we had to change rooms for each lesson instead of being in the same classroom for most of the day. Also lessons such as woodwork (boys) and cookery (girls) were new, as were occasional lessons of dancing and drama, held in the hall. Gym lessons were also held there until the new gym was built. Assemblies were held most days and there was a competition for the form with the best monthly attendance, who would win the banner which would be put up on the wall of the classroom until another form stole the title, which would be greeted with a round of applause in the first assembly of the next month. The Assembly took the form of hymns, readings and sometimes a talk from the headteacher about school matters.

As in Dunns Lane school, we were put into Houses and again these were painted above the classrooms around the hall — ‘Fairwood', ‘Norton’, ‘Murton’ and ‘Castle’. Games were held in Underhill park under the direction of Mr. Aston, Mr. Evans and Mr. L. Williams. School hours were much the same as Dunns Lane School, lesson times being indicated by the bell boy running running around the school starting at the hall and finishing in the school grounds, ringing a small hand bell as loud as he could.It must have been cracked as it made a distinct ‘donk’ rather than a ‘dong’. End of break times and lunchtimes were indicated by the whistle being blown very loudly, which meant ‘into lines and stand up straight.’ Each class went in turn and in silence as prefects would be posted at all corners and in the hall, waiting to catch the talkers!

Discipline was strict but fair, the cane being used on occasions for more serious problems. For non-attention in class, the chalk or even the board rubber was thrown with great accuracy at the culprit and woe betide anyone caught laughing! Other punishments were litter-picking for the week around the playground and detention. Prefects in form 2 (the older pupils) were also in operation and a rota, which lasted a week, was drawn up of all areas to be covered, everyone having a turn to be head prefect. One teacher even ended up being locked in a cupboard for ten minutes, but the perpetrators certainly paid for it.

Out of school activities included a Carol service, given by the school choir under the direction of Mrs. Eirona Davies and held each year at All Saints’ Church. We had school trips to places such as Clyne Farm, Kilvey Hill and the ‘Valley of Castles’ in Carmarthensire.

Another memorable length of time out of school, which lasted nearly six weeks was the Council workers strike of 1972 when all caretakers, canteen workers and dinner ladies throughout Swansea went on strike. We had to report three times a week to Underhill Park to exchange homework in the Pavilion. We still had our holidays (half term and Easter) despite being off school for all that time!

By 1972, I was transferred to Bishop Gore and school days in the village came to an end.

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