Frosterley, Front Street c1955

The Castle School for Boys

I was in Castle School from 1961 to 1964. It was good at times and also bad. Mr Bowls was the head, and didn't we know it. I had the walking stick on many a Friday morning after assembly. I cannot remember any names from people there. 12 months after leaving I went in the Merchant Navy on the catering side, but had a car crash in 1969 which ended my career. It must have all changed now, being flats and all.

Merry old Stanhope

Ok 'anon', who are you? I think I know but can't remember the name. I was in Bewdley House from 1975-77, a lot should remember me, the best keeper in the school for 2 years, the last match I played was in 1977 when the Bewdley B side won that year's tournement, there was a protest because I played in that match from playing in the senior side, Bewdley had to win against Crawley to win the title, guess what, Bewdley beat Crawley 3-2. The last 10-15 minutes I was bombarded and had to pull off a lot of saves for Bewdley to win, does anyone remember this?
Ian Lambert.

The Castle School, Stanhope.

I think I must have talked to about three ex-Castle School kids since I wrote my memories about the the school. It was opened by an Act of Government during the Second World War in 1942. I can remember one of the teachers telling me it was also partly used as a hospital as well for injured troops. I'll give credit to a lot of the teachers and staff and say they had a difficult job to deal with all these problem kids from all over the UK at one time. When I went there it was mainly local north-east kids that went there. I will say there were some horrible teachers there, and it made me wonder just why some of them  decided to work with children in the first place. Mainly, most of the teachers seemed pretty fair I think. Something like the Castle School is well needed to sort out the type of kids that cause havoc now. There are some awful kids around. It would be nice to hear from any of the teachers and staff that taught there as well though. I would really like to hear their viewpoint on the way the school was run.
Michael Purves.

Merry old Stanhope (what a place)

Now then, what year was Stanhope cut off on all sides, Crawley had snow almost up to the telephone line, going to Frostley was impossible, in fact it was about 6 days that we were stuck in for, latest jobs were snow clearing from most footpaths. I remember Mr Fleaming and Mr Corner and oh yes Mr Pervis from Hartlepool (are you still in Hartlepool?). You know me, I was a small kid, I was in Crawley House and lived on the top dorm. Shall I tell you who I am? No, not yet , but I will give you one more clue, I used to live in Sunderland (but not now, I'm in York).