Infant And Junior School In Earl Shilton Late 1960s To Mid 1970s

A Memory of Earl Shilton.

I lived on Cedar Road, my parents having bought a house (in which my mother still lives) on the new estate in 1964. I attended Wood Street Infant School from 1968 to 1971, Hill Top Junior School from 1971 to 1975, Heathfield from 1975 to 1978 and Earl Shilton COmmunity College (now William Bradford) from 1978 to 1982.

At infant school, my teachers for the three years were, I think, Mrs Nicholls, Mrs Weightman and Miss White. I remember Miss White as being slim and having jet black hair and being strict but kind and having a new car, a gold Vauxhall Viva, registration WWD 624H I think, which I remember being parked to the left of the school gates near to the war memorial (I have no idea why or how I remembered that!). There was a large climbing frame in the school yard which would undoubtedly never be allowed these days and a narrow strip of grass at the back of the school beyond the playground. I think the headmistress was Mrs Brown.

At junior school, my first year was in the square two-storey building (still standing) at Hill Top further along the main road on the right hand side than the old school. (now demolished). Mrs Rest was our teacher. I recall sitting at the back with Robert Grewcock who brought in a Mint Cracknel every day. In the second year we moved to what was to Weaver's Close although I'm not sure it was called that at the time. We were in a class in the new block with an American teacher called Miss Shrimpton. Mr Martin was the headmaster, Miss Hull and Mr Saddington were the PE teachers and Miss Fletcher (blond permed hair) taught music. Mr Wainwright visited the school to give trombone (me and Robert Dale) and trumpet lessons (Adrian Pegg and Nicky Ellis).

In the third year our teacher was Mr Wood. He sat on his desk and read stories ('The Hobbit') at the end of each day in a ground floor classroom with metal glazed doors which opened on to steps on to the terrace behind the school. I remember Paul Hunter and Brian Reed and a few others. In the fourth year (1974-75), Miss Hull was our teacher. Thursday afternoons were great fun, playing football on the pitches at the bottom of Weaver's Close and 'pushball'.

I went to Heathfield in 1975 to 1978, and was in form 1L5, 2L2 then 3L4 (Mr Lawton). I recall Geoff Pick (still in touch), Paul Hunter, Brian Reed, Tim Haddock, Gary Haywood, Tim Gale and Barwell crowd Greg Lucas, Peter Dillon, Joe Shone, John Ball and Simon Cooper (still in touch). Teachers - Mr Seckington and Mrs Burl, Mr Fanthorpe, later Mr Daws, Mr Gleaves, Mr Smith Mr Kelly (games), Mr Jackson, Miss Glithero (maths), Mrs Chambers, Miss Flory, Mr Goodluck (English), Miss Robinson (chemistry), Mr Spavold, Miss Cummins (physics), Mr Garner (biology), Mr Brightmore and Shepherd (metalworkwoodwork) Mrs Jones (cookery) Mrs Redhead (needlework), Mr ???, knowon as E-type owl (art) and another teacher had the same surname, Mr ???? (pottery) with receding dark hair and a beard, he took us to Boscastle camping for Project Week, Miss Sankey (music), Mr Longstaff, Mr White, Mr Clark (Social Studies), Miss Church (French), Mr Johnson (German).

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