Luton, the Technical School c1950

Technical School Park Square

I attended this school from the 8th January 1951 until the end of March 1953. Every morning all classes would attend assembly in this building and would then disperse to their classrooms which were often at other points around the town. My classroom was in the Weslyan Chapel in Chapel Street where I remember I was when the death of George VI was announced on the 6th February 1952. Other places used were the Waller Street Chapel for engineering lessons, the Indoor Pool in Waller Street for swimming lessons, and a long hike up to Popes Meadow for football, cricket and other sporting activities.

Park Square,Luton

Just past junction of Church St and Park St opposite Brewery Tap Pub.

My Youth in Stopsley

I was brought to Luton, 219 Ashcroft Rd when I was four years old. the cottage we lived in was part of Farmer Holdstocks farm, it was origanally the Cowmans cottage. It was here that my Dad , Fred Chater and Mum Violet, raised their family, there was myself, Sandra and my sister Linda and brothers Ian and Robert. I attended Stopsely Infants and then Juniors and finally Stopsley high School for Girls, we were sperated from the boys in those days. My Dad worked for the brewery as a cellerman all of his working life for what started as Flowers brewery, then finished as Whitbreads. My Mum is very well known in the town. As Rambridge School was built Mum used to feed the builders in her little canteen, then she went on to be the Lollipop lady for 45 years outside of our house, she also used to help in the school reading with the children and teaching them sewing etc. Mum was awarded the MBE from the Queen in 1996 in recognition of her services to the Highways of Luton. The family house still stands and it is reputed to be over 200 years old. When we first moved there we were surrounded by fields, where we used to go gleaning . The field next to us was always the venue for the annual firework display, The local sweetshop always donated some fireworks and my Dad and a few others were in control of those and the fire. I will always remember the baked potatoes cooked in the embers, and the hot chocolate Mum used to dispense to all and sundry. I also remember the first buses going into Stopsley via Ashcroft Rd, what a treat, we could on a really wet and cold day go to school on the bus, otherwsie it was a long trek along the ciderpath into Stopsley. Now all the fields have become houses, right back to Wigmore lane, to where Bluebell woods were, we would spend many happy hours collecting bluebells and primroses for Mum. I started my working life in the Co-op in Manchester St as a clerk in the payrol office. I eventually married and brought up my children in Leagrave before eventually moving to Milton Keynes where I still live. Luton has changed such alot during my lifetime, I am now 68. Most of the big work places have gone, Vauxhall, Electrolux, Kents, Skf roller bearings to name but a few. The town centre has radically changed with the coming of the Arndale Centre. I still remember George Street with all the main shops, many happy hours spent in the music shop, listening to the latest records in those little booths, the advent of the coffe shops, very trendy, and the opening of the Alma Ballroom. Dancing was also on a Saturday evening during the winter months, in the Swimming baths in Waller St, the baths being covered over for the purpose, and called the Winter Assembly Halls. Well these are some of my memories, maybe I have triggered off a few of your own.

Luton 1918

My father, Edmund Harris Biggs, visited Luton in 1918 when he was in England during World War I. He visited what was supposed to be the Biggs family home. It was a large house with a circular driveway and possibly a covered portico. He met an elderly lady, possibly unmarried, knoiwn as Aunt Dyer. I would love to find out whatever I can about this house, the lady and any other Biggs family history. My Grandfather was Edmund Harris Biggs (Senior) and was born in Luton in 1858. His father was James Biggs who was born in Redbourn in 1835.

New Tech

I was late for the cutting of the first turf when Luton Technical College was being moved from Park Square to what became Barnfield College.  It was a cold morning and I had overslept!

The University was to expand onto the Park Square site of the 'Tech' and while the initial works were going on we had no playground and very few facilities.  Indeed our last form photograph (1956) had to be squeezed into an odd corner near the bike shed!  Our lessons were spreadover 3 sites - Chapel Street, Park Square and Waller Street Youth Club.  At lunch times there were facilities in the Park Square hall for table tennis and in Waller Street hall dancing several times a week.

The headmaster at the time was Dr Charlesworth - a very innovative and lovely man.  The teachers that I remember are Mr Hopkins, Mr Collins, Mr Jenkins, Mr Wainwright, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Whittaker, Mr Whalley, Mr Shaw, Mr Richardson and of course that great character, Mr Tolley who had been a missionary and we learned very little about RI (religeous instruction) because he was easily diverted into stories of his missionary work.