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St Robert's Catholic School - 1951 Festival of Britain

This is my Dad's memory and my search for anyone who may have a copy of the photograph explained in the information he gave me which follows. I would love to get a copy as a surprise gift for him, can anyone help me please? Here is the memory:- This is the true story. It was the 'Festival Of Britain' year 1951, (the previous one being 1851 Crystal Palace etc., but I don't remember that one?), anyway, it was the summer of 1951 around the month of June, the Senior class went on a coach trip to mark the occasion (Miss Dawson's class 14 and 15 year olds). We visited Kirkstall Abbey, Howarth Parsonage and then to Leeds where there was a display of inventions for the future, i.e Jet Aircraft, Motor Vehicles Domestic items etc., etc. It was a long day and if I remember rightly we were all tired out by the time arrived in Leeds. The photograph I told you about was either taken before we set off, or on our return, with all the children plus teachers, there was a comment made by Miss Dawson when we were shown the photograph "I can tell that is you Michael Gruber, you still have that silly look on your face", I was laughing? I was in trouble more times than that for laughing? I did not get a photo as I could not afford one. Teachers that I remember at the time in order of merit were: Mother Mary St. Vincent, Sister St. Ann. Miss Dawson, Miss Thornton, Miss Bullman & Miss Moxon.? Children in the class at the time, were boys: Michael Gruber, Bernard Galvin, Michael Ball, Michael Kenny? Michael Featherstone, Michael Shackleton, Mark Scriven, David Warring, Bob Brown. Girls: Maureen Mongan, Hazel Bowers, Marlene Donnelly, Sheila Tool, Ann Jones. Not bad for 59 years eh? My apologies for the ones I have missed. There must be some one out there with a photograph? I left school December 1951 with no ceremony, walked down Robert's Street to the West Park and called in at 'Sellers & Kings' electrical shop and asked it there were any jobs going for 'Apprentice Electricians'. The owner of the firm asked me to write a couple of paragraphs, which I did, and I was told to start work the following Monday. Cannon Bentley was at St. Robert's church at the time, he was noted for his sermons, he sadly died 9th September 1951, we all went to his funeral at the church, then to Weatherby Road Cemetery. Miss Dawson gave me her box camera to take photographs at the cemetery. Best wishes to all those lovely people and their families, looking at the world today, we did not do so bad did we? Thank you for your time and I hope someone can help. Caroline (caroline.gruber-prince@ntlworld.com)

Written by Caroline Gruber-Prince. To send Caroline Gruber-Prince a private message, click here.

A memory of Harrogate in North Yorkshire shared on Tuesday, 24th May 2011.

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