Results tagged “75 years” from Southport Visiter - Look Back

FOLLOWING our Farnborough 75th anniversary special Look Back has received several letters from former pupils, sharing their memories of the school.
Peter Holland wrote: "I was a pupil at the school from 1944 till I left in 1951. I was the B-team goalkeeper for the school for two years and also played rounders for the school.
"I remember Miss Cunningham and Mr Loveridge also Mr Hamilton the woodwork teacher.
My two sisters also attended the school.
"One started on the first day it opened and she remembered most of the teachers in the photo as did my other sister.
"We all have fond memories of our school days at Farnborough Road."
Charlotte Harrison, nee Wright of Banks echoed those sentiments.
She wrote: "I have fond memories of Farnborough Road School from 1960s in the infants' class and our teacher Mrs Bleach - what a lovely lady.
From there we went into the juniors and Mr Williamson taught me in the third year.
"I remember the headmaster giving me a watch when I finally learnt to tell the time.
"What memories I left there in 1968 and it was by far the best school I've ever been to."
Mr Raymond Robinson, of Formby, was a pupil at St Johns School in Birkdale, where Mr Bracewell taught as head, before moving to Farnborough Road when the school first opened in 1934.
Many of the staff moved with him.
Mr Robinson said: "Miss Settle was my first teacher in 1925 and lived in Bedford Road where I did.
"Mr Bracewell was a most kind and friendly man and extremely keen on cinematography."

FARNBOROUGH Road Schools are set to celebrate 75 years with a 1930s street party.
Children will turn back time on June 12, arriving at the playground in smart pinafores and knee length shorts to remember the early days of their school.

Some LookBack readers might remember those uniforms first hand, Frank Warner a governor of the junior school certainly does.
Mr Warner was a pupil at the school the first day it opened its doors on June 6, 1934 and will return for the anniversary celebrations as guest of honour.
Back in 1934 Farnborough was opened by Alderman Sir Percy Jackson, who was presented a key to the school doors by the architect Mr Barnish who was also responsible for the Southport War Memorial.

A party of dignitaries welcomed by mixed school headmaster Mr Bracewell and infant school headmistress Miss Rogers and shown around what was then a state of the art building housing 650 pupils on a 4.45acre site.
Mr Bracewell's reign as headmaster saw loom weaving flourish at the school, with records noting: "Such a high standard was reached that a number of articles woven by the children were put on display at an exhibition in London in 1935 and the following year six girls attended the flower show to demonstrate hand loom weaving."

Former pupils might remember returning from Easter holidays in 1941 to find the main building and extension left in ruins after being hit by two bombs.
Despite the damage, the school continued through the war years to teach its pupils, even welcoming evacuees and raising funds for the war effort.
With the end of the war came a new headmaster after Mr Bracewell retired due to ill health.
Mr Loveridge took over, leading the school for 18 years, during which time the school house system was introduced. Former pupils from the time will remember being Yellow St John's, Green Farboroughs, Blue Hibberds or Red Bracewells as they competed for the Scott Cup.

The retirement of Farnborough veteran Miss Cunningham in 1973 saw one of the school's longest serving stalwarts leave. Miss Cunningham had pupils for 33 years and will be remembered by as the deputy headmistress.
Since the 1970s the school has seen many changes from the introduction of a cash canteen in the 80s to annual trips to Seahouses and the Isle Of Wight.