Shock Readers' Page sighting

Published on 20th September 2007 in Letters

Sir - Living away from Goole since 1957, I occasionally buy the Goole Times, in order to keep up with 'local' gossip. Imagine my surprise on arriving at the Reader's Page, to find myself taken back 57 years, with a photograph of form 1a, at Goole Secondary Modern School. Incidentally I have a copy of the same picture and often toyed with the idea of sending it through to you!

I am on the right of the front row, sat on the ground, wearing a check 'lumberjack'. This was my first year at senior school, having failed the scholarship to Goole Grammar School. At that time, of course, we were strictly segregated, boys in the left hand half of the building, girls to the right, the only contact being at 'play time.'

My memories of the year are of an introduction to Maths, Science, Woodwork, French, and a host of new teachers, foremost of whom was Mr Greensides. I can say that he was firm and fair, with a sense of humour, and a keen eye for misbehaviour, which was punishable by a swift 'wack' on the knuckles, with a ruler. Mr Rowse, the headmaster, was normally only seen in the morning assembly. As far as the law abiding schoolboys were concerned, he was God, and was to be avoided at all costs.

The following year I left the school with two others, Keith Risebury and David Sheafer, as we had passed a scholarship exam to go to school in Doncaster. I am afraid I can't put any other names to faces, unfortunately the old 'grey matter', isn't what it used to be, it is no fun getting old, in fact the only thing to be said in its favour, is not having to get up to go to work.

Mike Appleyard

Market Weighton