Memories
Bowesfield Lane Schools opened on the corner of Bowesfield Lane and Parliament Street, Stockton on Tees in May 1881 where it remained until a new school was built in nearby Northcote Street in 1976.
Over the years, the school has seen many changes with lots of people having passed through its doors.
Here are some memories of their time at Bowesfield.
1900-1940
Ellen Oglesby was a pupil at Bowesfield Lane Schools 1918-1926.
Audrey Stokes says, " My mother is an ex pupil of Bowesfield Lane School. She is now 86 years old (memory sent in year 2000) and she started school in 1918 to 1926. She often talks about learning to write using a slate and chalk. I am writing this down for her, as she is now blind. Her name and address was Ellen Oglesby of 15 and a half William Street. She was an only child and her father had a good pension from the army so they were not as poor as some. Some of the children had to get shoes and boots from the Parish Officer, and only once a year. If they wore out they came to school in bare feet, even in winter. It was always a very clean, well-kept school and the classes didn’t have a lot of pupils. If the parents and older children were at work some small children came with their older brother and sisters. She remembers learning to read and write using a slate and chalk. When you could do joined up writing you were allowed paper and pen. She remembers getting a medal for Empire Day, but not the year. She had to come through Trinity Churchyard to school and at that time Holy Trinity School had both boys and girls. It was a more superior school and there was a waiting list to get in. She remembers some girls pulling her pigtails. The next time it happened she hit them over the head with her slate. She wasn’t bothered again! When she was learning to write she was left handed and the teacher used to tie her hand behind her back to make her use her right hand. When she complained to her mother there were ructions and the teacher never did it again."
Ellen Dobson nee Gillies
"In 1925 I remember going to Norton Church Yard and having my photograph taken holding onto the gravestone of John Walker (inventor of the friction match). That was our class day out. Going to Norton Church Yard, we caught a tram at the end of Parliament Street to the Church Yard, costing us one old penny and had a picnic on the grass. Miss Eden the Headmistress put the photograph on the wall of her study. I wonder if there are any girls left who remember that day. Another time we went to Pelaw Blacking factory in Sunderland and were each given a miniature tin of polish as a memento of our visit. I have happy memories of my school days and just living around the corner from the school in Pearson Street I didn't have far to walk.
Susan Heslop: My dad, Kenneth Heslop, and his siblings all went to Bowesfield Lane Schools. They lived on Adderley Street. My dad was proud of his roots and spoke fondly of his years at Bowesfield Lane. He won a scholarship to secondary school and went on to become the youngest local councillor at the time.
S Webster
" I attended Bowesfield Lane School from 1930 to 1939 at its old site. I have happy memories of a teacher called Mr Harry Roberts. When we all had good attendances for a month he would take us on a trip to Swainby on Crows bus and walk over to Osmotherly and return from there. Other teachers were Mr Florence, Mr Caslin, Mr Platt and Miss Hardwick and Miss Short."
George Thornton
“I went to Bowesfield Lane School in the old days and I remember clearly my very first day there. It was my fifth birthday, 7th September 1931, and I was taken down, my mother holding my hand, and introduced to the headmistress, Miss Pringle. I have lots of happy memories of the school, the teachers Miss Skinner and Miss Kelly (but not Miss Flynn – she smacked your hand with a thick wooden knitting needle!) Later, of course, I went on to the Big Boys School under the Headmasters Mr Hamilton and Mr Cohen, until I left to go to the Secondary School in Nelson Terrace, in July 1938”.
1940-1950
Joan Hall (now Rogan, living Calgary, Canada)
"I attended the school from 1940 until 1951, along with twin brother Raymond. We lived in Moat Street. Some of the girls who attended school with me were Jean Johnson, Audrey Doneathy, Thelma Knowles, Rita Clamp, June Walton (now living Calgary) and Pat Law. I remember that one of the teachers had a habit of throwing the blackboard rubber at any pupil who misbehaved. I can also recall getting beaten up quite frequently during field hockey. What pain that little wooden ball could inflict!"
Bill Webb
" I attended Bowesfield Lane Boys School until I left to start work in December 1946. Our teacher during the war years was Mr Charles (Paddy) O'Hara. Head teacher, Mr Scase. We never saw the inside of our school until the end of the war because it was commandeered as an emergency hospital."
The school punishment book shows that Bill received 2 strokes of the cane on the 8th of June 1944 for being one of many spectators to a fight held in Holy Trinity Churchyard. Although he has no recollection of this particular event he tells how it would have happened.
“In June 1944 we would have been attending Lightfoot Grove church for school lessons. If a dispute arose between the two boys mentioned then they would have arranged to settle the manner after school in the churchyard. After class they would walk down Trinity Street and go through the gate at the bottom of the street. Immediately inside the gate, on the right, was a tree and a small grassy area where these things took place. I never knew of anyone being hurt at these events, in fact the boys would shake hands afterwards and go off home together.
As for the cane, you were asked if you were right or left-handed. If you were right handed then you were caned on your left hand. The reason being that your hand would be red and swollen so that you were unable to hold a pen to continue your work and that would never do!”
Cyril Tuck
"I attended Bowesfield Lane School at the Bowesfield Lane site from 1942 to 1948. Two of our teachers were Ma Short and Mighty Joe Young."
Michael Instone
Brother Lewis, sister Doreen, cousins Keith, Billie, Joan + Leslie all attended Bowesfield Lane School. Michael says " The teachers in my later years at school were as follows - Headmaster, Mr Maddison, Deputy, Mr Mathias, Art Teacher, Mr Bainbridge, History+Geography, Mr Smith, Sport Teacher, Mr Parker. The other teachers were - Miss Patterson, Ma Raine, Mrs Hill, Mr Sommers + Howard Brain."
Eileen O’Donoghue
“I attended Bowesfield School from 7 years old to 10 years old. I recall teachers Miss Harper and Mrs Longstaff."
Brian Kitching
“I was brought up at no 22 Northcote St. In 1941 I was sent away for my safety after a large bomb demolished some houses on the west end of the street, many families were lost and all our windows were blown out. My mother had just had twins and my father was away fighting for our country. I was sent to Darlington to live with my Aunt, I lived there for the next 3 years. After the war my mother came to collect me, I was 6 then.
After returning to Northcote St I was sent to Richard Hind Infants School, for some reason not known to me I did not attend school in Darlington. So I was 2 years behind everybody else.
I never made those 2 years back up and was always behind the other kids, nowadays I would have gone into the first year class, yes it would have been a little embarrassing but at least I would have been taught the three Rs quicker. Consequently I failed my 11 plus and was sent to Bowesfield Lane Seniors.
If you were not paying attention most teachers would throw things at you , books and blackboard rubbers, if they hit you and often they did, you would be sent out to stop crying and mop up the blood. I am sorry to have to say they were the worst years of my life. I was told I would never amount to much in this world. But I proved them all wrong, I went to night school and re-educated myself and then ran a successful business for 30yrs and made sufficient money to be able to retire at 55.
I can remember inside the school was always cold, the class rooms were so large impossible to heat and we would often do our classes in our coats. Unlike today each class would march from Bowesfield Lane to Stockton swimming baths and back again. Also we would march to Ropner Park and back, went there for PE football etc. Just opposite the school was a concrete prefabricated building we would go there for our school dinners, they were quite revolting! We were convinced the stew was horse meat it was all gristle, potatoes were full of lumps and the rice pudding also, when I say lumps they were the size of golf balls! I believe we all went for school diners then, making sure we had at least one good meal a day, after the malnourishment of the war years. Just over the road from the school is a row of shops. The second one next to the newsagent used to be owned by Jimmy James and his brother Cass James, Ely his side kick were always in the shop as well. He would often give use kids a free show if we pestered him, he was very popular in the 50s and often on TV. Half way along Northcote St is a back street facing north and south, it was always called the Raggy Back, I believe during the depression there was a shop that sold cast of clothes etc to the poor in the area."
1950-1960
Laurence Henderson
I was a pupil at the Boys school from 1952 to 1960. There was still rationing certainly in 1952 and it finished completely by 1954 I recall. I lived in Camden Street, until 1958 when the family moved to Norton. I elected to stay at the school and travelled each day by bus.
I was in class J1 to S4 playing for the football team from the age of 7 to 15 * and was a member of the schools successful Town Champions cricket team in 1960. Following my appointment as Green House Captain, I became Head Prefect in my final year. In my final year I was the only person, and first person from the school, to go to Stockton Billingham Technical College where I gained 5 GCE'S following a 2-year course.
The Headmaster, I believe, was a Mr Maddison, a teacher was a Mrs Raine, [ruled with an iron rod], and my last teacher, I believe, was a Mr Matheson whose final words I still remember "You are doing the right thing going onto further education".
Six strokes of the cane was a regular event at assembly for the pupils, including myself for accidently kicking a football in the playground through a classroom window.
There would be around 20 in my class and my early thoughts are of a female teacher of small statue conducting Monday morning, in J1 class, the “Times Table” which had to be repeated in quick fire time. She would walk around the class with a twelve-inch wooden ruler in hand and if she heard you getting it wrong then it was the ruler over your knuckles. We all learnt the times tables!
There was quite a bit of what we would describe as “poverty” today in the area. Kids with toes pushing out of shoes, some unkempt, welcoming the milk break as they may not have had breakfast, that was the times in the '50's.
Notable events were the first school trip to Scarborough, probably around 1959. A lot of my classmates had not been to the seaside before. I wore a pale blue Teddy Boy style jacket with white speckles, shirt, tie, black long trousers, and “winkle picker” Italian shoes. When the coach stopped for a toilet stop in Helmsley it was Market Day. We all had pocket money to spend. As the coach was about to leave the local uniformed beat bobby appeared on the coach taking his helmet off as it was scraping on the coach roof. “Right lads, the Stall Holders tell me some of you lads have taken items off their stall and not paid for them. Get off the coach now and take them back, otherwise the coach is not leaving and I will search all of you”. Six lads left the coach, did the right thing and returned. We then headed off to Scarborough where unfortunately I can't remember the rest of the day.
In a science class Mr Mathias was conducting and experiment regarding halogen gases, when suddenly a green thick cloud of gas rolled out of the glass beaker engulfing the nearest, Alan Richardson, Alan Tarry and myself. The rest of the class also started to cough. Poor Alan with tears rolling down his eyes, gasping for breath prompted Mr Mathias to get matters under control quickly and evacuated everybody to the playground for fresh air and a game of football. We couldn't run for coughing!
There was also the first “Games Night” organised for Class S4 by the Teachers for Christmas 1959 (?) My achievement was to be Draughts and Dominoes Champion, but the memorable moment was the large Christmas tree that had been installed in the assembly area with clip on candle holders sporting four-inch white candles. Mr Mathias lit the candles triumphantly and moments later the tree was on fire much to the delight of Class S4!
I only really remember Mr Mathias, Mr Brain who threw chalk at you if you were not paying attention, Mr Summers [PE], despite playing football for Billingham Synthonia, an established football club, he never passed on his experience to the junior and senior teams. I remember as a junior wearing my blue and white striped shirt and blue socks all day Saturday having played for the school team on the morning, walking along Camden Street thinking “Look at me, I play football for my school”. Mrs Raine I have mentioned to you and formidable is a good description. I accept she was probably a good teacher, I did not recognise it at the time. Other teachers I recall but vaguely.
What I do remember was that we enjoyed being at school, accepted when in the wrong, took the punishment, and respected the teachers, although there was always the cheeky chappie who would "push it".
(*In early 1960s England it was normal for children to leave primary school at age 15, however some went on to attend high school or technical college.)
Carol Lupton (nee Burlison)
"I have vague but happy memories of the school which I left in 1957; the head teacher I think was called Miss Heavisides. There was also a marvellous teacher called Mrs. Robinson (whose husband had the dairy/cafe next to Thornaby baths) I also remember a Miss Petty. The area had a good community and in nearly every street I had a relation. I seem to remember a huge wicker basket full of tangled knitting wool which we periodically would be told to roll into balls and I still possess some hand embroidered material we were encouraged to do. I remember writing on broken pieces of slate in the infants, making a terrible job when the chalk kept sliding off the slate. Then when we wrote in ink all the problems of blots, crossed nibs were a nightmare. I had trouble spelling "cupboard" and was sent back to my desk many times to try and spell it correctly. I either missed the p or b out but I was never helped with any clues, how different from today's teaching. We all seemed to enjoy school but I never felt any pressure to do well for the 11plus, there were no cramming sessions. Several of us passed for the grammar school and our paths diverged. There were many good friends at Bowesfield School. I remember Christine Harrop, Geraldine Mahaffey, Margaret Wall, Margaret Russell, Pat Arnold, Sandra King, Glenda Bavistock, Jennifer Perry, Barbara Fowler, and amongst the boys I knew Gordon McWhinney, who was tragically killed in the potash mines at Whitby. There are still faces in Stockton I remember but can't put a name to. Geraldine is now in Australia and another girl, Lynne Thorpe, lives in South Africa."
Jeff Williams
“I attended the school on its old site on Bowesfield Lane, transferring from Newtown Infants in, I think, 1959, and stayed until passing the eleven-plus meant a move up to what was then Grangefield Grammar in 1963. Although it is now more years ago than I can at times believe, many aspects of my spell there remain fresh in my memory - not least the readiness with which the then headmaster, Mister Maddison, was prepared to reach into his cane cupboard in response to the slightest misdemeanour. I believe my class teacher was called Mrs Rain, although the names of other members of staff are long forgotten.
My mother then called Hilda Waites, lived in Chalk Street, just behind the school and was also a pupil there, her stint coming during the mid thirties, finishing when she too passed her scholarship and moved on.
I recall a small school of what now would be thought of as very basic amenities, with a disciplinary approach that seen from these enlightened times might probably appear approaching the barbaric. But I have no complaints. On the contrary, my time there was in the main happy, I made good friends, and generally have no lasting scars. I also believe that many of the lessons I learnt there, both in the classroom and the playground, have stayed with me across the years."
Vincent Lofthouse
Vincent attended Bowesfield Lane School in the 1960’s. He remembers the headmaster, Mr Maddison and teachers Mrs Raine, Mrs Durrant, Miss Pearson and Miss Robinson.
1960-1970s
LEE C.
I have some lovely memories of my time at the school, particularly of Mr Coombs-a wonderful teacher. Equally I have some dreadful memories of certain ‘teachers’! Things were certainly different then where teaching methods were concerned.
I started my education in those old history filled buildings and have never forgotten the times I had there .There must be so much untold history. I can remember my very first day there. I was terrified! There were certain rooms that were always locked. We would often try to look inside and I can remember getting a glimpse of an abandoned classroom, the floor littered with paper. When the school was demolished there were dozens of old registers left lying on the ground. Some of them dated back to the 40’s.. I wish now that I had kept some!
I would love to know what happened to some of the teachers that were there all those years ago, people like the lovely Mrs Beiver -she retired as I was starting there. I wonder what became of Mr Maddison?
Elaine Tweddle
Elaine Tweddle (now Elaine Fitzgibbon) has sent in her memories of her time at Bowesfield School. She says;
"It is with great fondness recollecting memories of past schooldays. The Bowesfield Lane School is remembered with great affection. I recall teachers; one particular teacher I shall never forget was Mrs Wilkinson or rather her teaching method of learning to read. If I forgot a word during shared reading I was rewarded with firm prods in my chest and her only phrase, "You do know that word". I had to exercise the greatest control not to cry, but my reading improved radically!
I remember the Infant school had this wonderful mural depicting all the characters from nursery rhymes, I believe Mrs Wilkinson hand painted these marvelous treasures for children. The Hall had a huge slide tucked against the wall; one slide was permitted to reward very good children. I recall my very first slide with eager excited anticipation- what a glorious treat for any child.
The junior school had a tuck shop that sold crisps for 2p. As a reward for good behavior I was allowed on occasions to help serve other pupils. The library had a frieze showing the Bayeux Tapestry, I marveled at this instead of reading `Roger the Red' and `Gregory the Green'. It is quite amazing how much detail can be recalled from schooldays.
It was a very sad time to watch the `old' school be demolished.
Progress had provided a `new' school in Northcote Street.
School days continued here with Mrs Raine who was quite a formidable character and by contrast the softly spoken Mrs Durrant. I do know that the school secretary, Mrs Dalkin, had dedicated most of her working life to Bowesfield."
Jackie Wright
I attended the old Bowesfield School from 1971 until it closed and loved every minute of it, then went to the Northcote Street school until 1977. I remember Mrs Beadle, Mrs Wilkinson, Mrs Beaver, Mrs Raine, Mrs Durrant, Miss Spence, Mrs Laidlow, Mrs Wood (she was always polishing her gorgeous long nails). Mr Maddison was the Head of the old School at the time; he was a lovely man, seemed ancient then, though I don't know how old he actually was. I can remember going up an old stone staircase to get to the office where Mrs Dalkin was the secretary, very spooky, it reminded me of being in a castle. The stairs were opposite the door for the tuck shop, where we could buy a packet of Tudor crisps for 2p. They tasted better than the free milk which was given out in class to the kids whose parents were out of work, it was always warm and smelled 'off'. I lived in Edwards Street, and I could see my house out of the windows when we did PE, on those huge grey metal climbing frames in the hall. I can remember when 'Nitty Nora', the school nurse used to come to check our heads for 'visitors' and any kids who had them were sent home with notes. I also have memories of playing in the yard and listening to all the machines knocking the old Parkfield houses down (or building the new ones, I don't really know) we tried to sneak a look over the walls but they we far too high for any of us to reach. Many of my school pals ended up living on the new estate which was built. I also remember the slide and rocking horse in the hall (mentioned by Elaine Tweddle, who I went right through school with). I once got a free go on the rocking horse because a girl (whom I won’t name, because she is a policewoman now!) had fibbed and said I'd hit her, and I got told off, but when Mrs Raine found out the truth she gave me a choice of the slide or the horse as a 'sorry', it doesn't seem much of a reward now, but at the time I thought it was marvelous. We used to play 2 baller up against the coal sheds, that part of the yard was always dark and dingy, but we loved to be down there because we thought we were out of the watchful eyes of the teachers. I remember one child in particular who used to sit on a chair outside our classroom and eat her breakfast out of a paper bag before coming into class, I never found out why, we were only about 6 at the time. Moving to the new school in Northcote Street was so exciting, brand new building and open plan classrooms. It took some time to get used to it after being in the old school with huge rooms with windows up to the ceiling that had to be opened with 6ft rods with hooks on the ends.
1980s-1990s
Craig Tooke
I have a lot of memories of Bowesfield. The hall always seemed a lot bigger back then. Assemblies sat on that cold wooden floor with arms and legs crossed. Kids sat in endless rows. Speaking of the hall, it’s good to see the apparatus is still intact. I had great fun on that in P.E. I still remember the P.E. changing room which was situated in a room just off the existing dining area. Man it used to stink in that room! A memory that haunts me to date-it’s around the early 90's, it’s Christmas time and it can only mean one thing, Nativity play! I'm playing the part of the donkey. Well the back end of the donkey. Took two of us. Other kid was the front. Lucky for him he got to stand up and could breathe oxygen from the mouth of the donkey outfit. Not me! I'm the back arched over holding the other lad at the waist. Seemed forever in that costume. It was so hot!
I remember the sponsored walks. Walking and running the perimeter of the school which was an old broken wooden fence surrounding the school back then. Back then we used to cut across the grass from far cark on St Cuthberts Rd to school. Sports days were great too. Very similar too how it’s done with the children now.
I remember the footy team with Ray Pallister.
I was always on the bench. Still even remember my shirt number too - no.14.
Break times- I have a memory of playing throwing and catching. Just a tennis ball and a large group kids on either side, say half the length of the playground apart on the edge of the field.
Then there was 'Kids Crash.' A youth club which was based in the school.
Another memory comes back to me. Think it was headteacher Mr Aitken who used to run a chess club after school.
The good old days!