School And Choir

Today we visited Broughton School, the Church and the Church Cottage Museum as part of the Lancashire Heritage Open Days as well as taking a walking tour, Broughton in the war years.
Apart from my sisters wedding in the church, this was my first visit since the late 70's.
I was a pupil at the school from 1965 to 1971. Yes, Mr Smithies was the headmaster but my first teacher was his daughter, Miss Smithies who I believe married into the Whalley family. Second year was Mrs Frake. I will never forget getting 10/10 for cutting out. I always remind my family of this whenever I use a pair of scissors LOL. Can't remember the teacher in my 3rd year but do remember helping make a large Chinese paper mache dragon's head for the summer garden party held on the play ground. Also this year we took it in turns to be milk monitor handing out 1/3rd pint bottles of milk to all infants that had been delivered to Mrs Frake's room.
On moving up to 'Big School' the next class was Miss Bee. Nice young teacher I think not long out of training. Next was Mrs Brown and then Mrs Taylor. Both sticklers for the rules and took no prisoners. It was in Mrs Browns class I took a vivid interest into space exploration and anything to do with flight...after all, it was the run up to the moon landings.
I do remember the name of Miss Devlin but can't relate to her. However the top class was with Mrs Bill. Was she Miss Devlin before getting married?
Lunchtimes were something else in a wooden shed. Mrs France, the dinner lady, always checked to make sure you had eaten up!!! We had to as she lived just round the corner from us and we were always afraid she would tell mum if we hadn't!
Summer Garden Party was held on the main playground. Mums and dads would be sat up the banking surrounding the 'stage'. Loud speakers on the corner of the flat roof above the admin office would blare out music, which whenever I hear nowadays, brings back fond memories of my short cut acting career.
We were at the school when Mr Smithies retired but he didn't go far, having bought a house just over Blundel Brook the other side of the church on D'Urton Lane.
During the talk in the museum we were told part of the Church Cottage was demolished in 1965 but the photo on this site shows it still standing in 1966. I remember it being much longer than it is now so must have been knocked down while I was there.
I too, along with Michael Suffield, left Broughton for Fulwood Secondary/ High School in 1971.
I was also a member of the church choir from 1967, the youngest ever to join, and progressed to Head Chorister. The highlight of this was performing in the Royal Albert Hall at the service of remembrance about 1973/4...can't be sure of the year. I do remember though being driven at high speed from London in Roger Haughton's Volvo to get us back in time for the Sunday morning service the next day. John Catterall, the choir master, dedicated every minute to producing one of the best choirs in the country and has been well and truly rewarded with a gong at Buckingham Palace for this efforts....well done Sir.
Some others in the church you never forget. Martyn Birch and his brother Ian, how tall were these two?!? John Cox, the opera singer, what a voice. Canon John Adams, such a friendly bloke. To name just a few, I could be here all night.
We lived in Fulwood on Edenway and after leaving school I worked at GEC on Strand Rd as an engineering apprentice before joining the RAF. Now live in Lancaster.
Would love to hear from anyone who knows me.