Motherwell Central School

The P.E. Teachers when I was there were,Mr.Sherry (big Eddie) and Mr.Ferguson(Bomba). Neither of them tolerated fools gladly. The Deputy head at that time was Mr.Crawford who managed to secrete his punishment belt under cover of the shoulder in his jacket.

Do you remember Miss Mathie. She could throw the blackboard duster at the right person, while she was still facing the blackboard. I think she had a form of sleeping sickness. Then there was Mister Bailly, and he was very handy with the tawse. In one of my classes was a girl called Jean Gordon. I got her in trouble once. There was a girl called Robina, Betty Baxter, Janice McDonald, Alma Donaldson. . Anne

I think our maths teacher was Mr Bailly.

did you know a girl called mary Richardson,she had a younger sister called jean,when at the central?mary left just b4 me around 1959,we lived close to each other at the forgewood and we worked at liptons,i was on the message bike,b4 I worked at the co
-op

Baillie,s belt was the strap that pulled the windows up on railway carrages,with all the holes up the middle they nearly all kept them over their shoulders under their jackets

I’m afraid the girls’ names you mentioned aren’t familiar to me. However, I do remember a girl by the name of Bronwen Shearer who attended the Central in those days. I think she lived in the Fir Park area of Motherwell. I also recall an auburn-haired girl named Marina [I’ve forgotten her surname] who on leaving school worked in Mill’s music shop on Brandon Street. I also recall a girl called Susan who lived, I think, on Watson Street close to the school. Unfortunately her surname also now evades me, but I remember that Susan played the piano and her father ran a local coal business. If none of these names seem familiar, perhaps these brief clues might jog the memory of others.

Your further comment re “the belt” brings back memories because hardly a day passed when I didn’t come to the attention of some bullying teacher. Fortunately, I’m pleased to say, we now live in a more civilised society where corporal punishment has been consigned to history!

Hi Himmonsanne,
I too remember Miss Mathie – one of the spookiest teachers that one could imagine. I clearly recall the rumour that she suffered from sleeping sickness, based on the fact that her eyes were permanently half-closed! Where she developed the skill of throwing a blackboard duster over her shoulder without turning around and accurately striking some unfortunate pupil is anyone’s guess. A truly scary person…

hi john,i remember when they used to make us wait until all the boys with bikes,parked in the quad out first at the end of the day,so I had(one of my not so many bright ideas)I(and 2 others) got some fishin line and strung it through al the wheels on the bikes,needless to say we got out first that day,and every day after

Hi Chopsticks,
Your comment reminded me of the time I was wheeling my bike towards the quad when one particular teacher violently kicked my front wheel for allegedly getting in his way. I can’t remember the teacher’s name [it was, after all, 57 years ago] but he was a thick-set and blustery sort of man with a deep voice who would yell, “quiet boys!” when a class was noisily making its way along a corridor between lessons. After my voice broke and became equally deep I often imitated him by also shouting, “quiet boys!” It worked every time.

Hello John,
Just browsing to see if any one else had been in contact, and reading this comment about the girl whose father had a coal business in Motherwell,is it possible her surname was Sutherland? They used to stay across the road from the school in West Hamilton Street. Just a wee shot in the dark.Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Peter.

Just been reading all comments. Brings back so many memories. I went there in 59 or 60. The name changed to Brandon while i was there. I remember all of the teachers mentioned in the various responses. I particularly remember the Head Mr. Neil (Wee Bud). When he gave you the belt he stood on a chair because he was too wee to reach the bigger boys without it. Mr. Bailly taught me Tech Drawing. Mr. McBride taught Math. Can't remember the French teacher's name. Just remember him as a big intimidating man always in a hurry along the corridors wearing the his scholar's cloak with it billowing out like a big black parachute on his back.
Regards, Bill

Peter,
I too remember that hidden belt and he was very adept in whipping it out to administer punishment! I didn't mind his belt as it was old and supple but I was scared of the brand-new light brown belts owned by any new teacher!
There was also young PE teacher called Miss McCush who had a fondness of lingering in the boys changing room whilst we got changed!

Anne,
Mr Bailey!!! Oh dear, he was my Maths teacher and I, and most others, was afraid of him.

John,

I had forgotten about the quad where I too parked my bike and locked it with a clamp on the wheel with a combination padlock with the number 9077 (amazing that I still remember that since I lost the padlock 56 years ago) Do you remember Ernie Worral's bike shop in Hamilton? I used to go there even if it was closed to gaze enviously at the expensive gears in his window.

Bill,
I glad I saw your post because I made an error is a previous post. I said that Mr Bailey had been my Maths teacher when as you said he was a technical teacher. It was Mr McBride that I was scared of. My technical teacher was John Stretford, who I think is now deceased. I still recall him showing me how to sharpen my pencil using a chisel. Another technical teacher was Mr Hislop "pongo" who was another duster thrower. I was in the same class as his son Jim with whom I once fell out and we had a playground fight. I must admit that I played dirty and hit him in the face whilst he was removing his jacket. I now see him at church and its as if it never happened (I hope).

on my facebook site is a picture taken in about 57/58,i,m 3rd from right front row, john grant, class was 1c or 1a, from right, john danskin, douglas bain, me, Arthur livesly etc

sorry the picture is number 4,got the pic from Ronnie taylor who is at the end of the front row when we had to copy what mrs mathie was rightin on the blackboard,the whole class ended up sittin at an angle of 45 degrees cos her writin gradually slanted down on right side of board,sneddon(bluenose)maths,wee broon(maths) mr gray(science)Thompson,baillie and osbourne(cueball) woodwork,mr fisher(art),big jim sherry,miss McCush(with that wee short gym skirt) pt, she knew she got the lads all hot an bothered,saw miss mathie one day rollin down the teachers stair,looked like a big black rolled up rag,she fell asleep top of stairs n took the quick way down

Hi,
Yes, I too went to Central School, Motherwell in the late 50's, and was still there when it became "Brandan High", in fact I still have the school tie and the school scarf when it became "Brandon High". I remember some years ago asking the Heritage Center in Motherwell if they would be interested in having them, but they didn't seem very interested which surprised me as the school is now gone. Some other names of teachers whom I remember were Miss Brogan, Mr. Sloss the art teacher, Miss Makay, Mrs Howett, Mr. Fisher also art teachers, and a Mr. McKinnon who was an English teacher If I remember well ! Yes, "Golden Days". (Peter Allan)

Reading the anecdotes of pass pupils brought back happy memories for me I remember Mr.Simmons the science teacher elderly grey haired man with gold rimmed glasses whom I used to go and get his twenty cigarettes for and be rewarded with one.

I just came across this by accident, I was looking at old photos of Motherwell and ended up here. I was in your class at Brandon High Ian. I remember you in the "Pirates of Penzance" The teachers I remember are Harry Gold, I think he gave you 6 of the belt. Mr. Robertson. "Tojo" Swift, Mr. Gabriel, Sloss, Simmons, McBride, Sherry, Ferguson, I think he played cricket for Drumpellier in Coatbridge. Miss Glass with her petticoats, Bernard Brogan's daughter Miss Brogan, Miss McCush, Mrs. Currie. Dosey Mathie. Wee Bud. the Rector I asked him what the school motto meant "Ex Labor Lux" he did not know lol. I live in Falkirk now
and passed through Motherwell not that long ago and the town has changed a lot.

I remember along with Jimmy Tolan going down to the cooperative sawmills Corsington Road to fill a bogey like contraption with sawdust to line the school football pitches whilst a pupil at the Central.
This would be about 58/59.

Just stumbled across this thread randomly, my mum went to Motherwell Central but has very little memories to share when I ask her, so it’s great reading accounts from around the time when she may have been there and of teachers she possibly had too. Her name is Janet Reid and she was born in 1942.