119 replies to this topic

[DJGAZZA]

Not really, but I remember seeing Skelly break the long jump record. He nearly cleared the pit

[cumbriakid]

Ray French was the biggest horror story. Big, loud, violent, arrogant, abusive - and a boring bastard! A really bad teacher who ruled by throwing wood backed board rubbers and slapping a cane around. If you didn't like rugby he hated you. If you were poor he hated you. If you were on free school meals he hated you. If you could not speak like Chaucer he hated you. He loved the well off boys especially the vicar's sons- bowing and scraping in defference.
Best teacher was the geography man Mr. Hargreaves - reasonable and knowledgeable.
I hated Cowley from when I arrived in 1967 until when I left in1974 - still have not recovered from the place.

[Alan]

That's hardly the Ray French I know from my own days at Knowsley Road school and Cowley in the 1950s and then over the last twenty odd years through rugby league

[oller]

I joined the year Jerry Dowse died and Cantle took over. Kipper was strict but excellent as a teacher. Straight down the line so you knew where you were with him. Jock Stronnach taught French. Had been a very good rugby player I believe

[DJGAZZA]

cumbriakid, on 27 October 2011 - 09:57 PM, said:

Ray French was the biggest horror story. Big, loud, violent, arrogant, abusive - and a boring bastard! A really bad teacher who ruled by throwing wood backed board rubbers and slapping a cane around. If you didn't like rugby he hated you. If you were poor he hated you. If you were on free school meals he hated you. If you could not speak like Chaucer he hated you. He loved the well off boys especially the vicar's sons- bowing and scraping in defference.
Best teacher was the geography man Mr. Hargreaves - reasonable and knowledgeable.
I hated Cowley from when I arrived in 1967 until when I left in1974 - still have not recovered from the place.

Hey Cumbria, you where defo there the same time as me. Where you in the first year for 3 years and Readie tried to throw you down the banking

Edited by DJGAZZA, 24 December 2011 - 07:05 PM.

[SKYMAN]

not many people got that gift these days ,,,,,,,,,,lol

[Graham]

familyman, on 20 May 2009 - 05:19 PM, said:

Does anyone remember a French teacher from the sixties ( he may have been a temporary teacher) who had a Poirot type curly moustache? I know we used to call him La Tache as a nickname but for the life of me I cant remember his name.

Yeah I remember him - he replaced Harry Siggers, I think. Named if I remember correctly) was Mr Allison. He tried to teach usthe translation of "Dominique" a record by the singing Nun in the charts at the time

non sibi sed omnibus, on 03 September 2011 - 11:39 AM, said:

HI hope you are not accusing me(NSSO).not an imposter you dont know your latin NON SIBI SED OMNIBUS--NOT FOR ONESSELF BUT FOR ALL--JUST CHECK YOUR LATIN PLEASE.Any other latin scholars around.
Just to add a few bits only an old cowleian would know.
PARTHIANS USED TO SIT UPSTAIRS.CANT REMEMBER IF EVER HAD SEATS WE SAT ON THE WOODEN STEPS.
IF YOU WENT ON THE CROSS COUNTRY ROUTE WAS -
OUT OF SCHOOL UP HARD LANE DOWN PAST CEMETRY OVER WHITE BRIDGE.THEN DIAGONALLY ACROSS FIELD.THEN RIGHTDOWN TOWARDS SANDY LANE.STOPPED OFF FOR A CIGGY IN BARN ON RIGHT HAND SIDE.DOWN SANDY LANE UP MOSS BANK ROAD TILL GOT TO FOOTPATH BETWEEN HOUSES.DOWN FOOTPATH.DIAGONALLY ACROSS FIELD--MINDING THE BULLS!!!BACK DOWN SANDY LANE-THEN MET UP WITH THOSE LAZY*******(WERE YOU ONE EH??) WHO STAYED IN BARN AND THEN BACK TO SHOWERS SAME WAY.
Come on cant catch me out accusing me of being an imposter.
I suppose you were one of those wimps they used to make stand on the steps near the canteen and threw snowballs at as they made a speech!!!

Another "hiding place" was under the white bridge that went across the East Lancs Road

Alan, on 05 September 2011 - 07:09 PM, said:

He and his missus also had the chemist that was in that short street that was directly opposite the front door of The Parish Church. The man was a violent snob who despised the kids he taught other than those who lived in the leafier outskirts of Eccleston Park or the top of the Green

Or those who were good at Rugby

I was at Cowley 1960-65
School No. 4211
House - Viking

Remember these members of staff

Jim Lidgate - Maths
Alastair Boyd - PE
Brian Marsden - RE
Miss Ruth - Secretary
Tom Smith - Janitor
Bill (Chiselchops) Willcock - Woodwork
Tony (Kong) Morley - Frernch
R G (Toby) Tough - English
Earnest (Kipper) Adshead - Latin
Maurice (Flash) Clifton -Latin & Deputy Head
Walter H. (Fred) Wright -Head - I believe his middle name was Huckleberry - good job that wasn't public knowledge at the time
S J (Dan) Roddan- English
Mike (Ned) Naish -Latin
Cliff (Little Ebb) Frodsham - Physics
Frank Rimmer - Geography
Harry Siggers - French
Ray (Jack) Landless - Geography
Mile Holland - History
Norman Crewe - Art
"Jonah" Naylor - Latin
Don Taylor - Physics
"Sarky" Haywood - Chemistry
"Taffy" Evans
also "Herman" & "Craterface" whose names I cannot remember, and
probably quite a few more who I've completely forgotten

[DJGAZZA]

Herman the German was Mr. Wiiliams for Chemistry. I was also in Vikings, Graham. Said hello to Ray French last Monday at Langtree Park

Edited by DJGAZZA, 24 March 2012 - 12:03 AM.

[tessmop]

Mr S,J Roddan is still alive and active,he lives in Rainford,saw him walking in the village just before Christmas.

[Graham]

DJGAZZA, on 24 March 2012 - 12:01 AM, said:

Herman the German was Mr. Wiiliams for Chemistry. I was also in Vikings, Graham. Said hello to Ray French last Monday at Langtree Park

Yeah I remember him now.

Ray French didn't start teaching there until after I'd left. He's my second cousin although we've never actually met ( we have corresponded on Family History matters though)

tessmop, on 24 March 2012 - 12:12 AM, said:

Mr S,J Roddan is still alive and active,he lives in Rainford,saw him walking in the village just before Christmas.

I would think he must be well into his 80's now

I know Bill Wilcock is still around but wonder how many others of those who taught my era are

[Alan]

"Dan" Rodden taught me in 1953. He'd obviously served as a pilot in the RAF as he used to tell us about tipping the wings of V1s with his Mosquito to make them fall into the Channel, so my guess is he's in his 90s.

[warringtonsaint]

Surprised - but delighted! - to hear that Dan Rodden is still alive and kicking! I know Herbie Hargreaves and Mike Holland have both sadly passed away. I was at Cowley '71 - '76 in Parthians.
Some others I remember from my era who I don't think have been mentioned yet:
"Plant" Pearson - biology
Bernie Cragg - Geog
Dave Teague / Mike(??) Dobbs - French
Winker Watson - RE & PE
?? Fairbanks - German
Bill Dixon - Maths
Dekker Parr - Latin
Dave Laing - English
Bill Tranter - Art
......................and many more who I can't recall at the minute!

[Graham]

Alan, on 24 March 2012 - 04:01 PM, said:

"Dan" Rodden taught me in 1953. He'd obviously served as a pilot in the RAF as he used to tell us about tipping the wings of V1s with his Mosquito to make them fall into the Channel, so my guess is he's in his 90s.

Yeah we got the tales of his wartime exploits in the RAF as well

[edward]

"Craterface" was Marshall a French teacher. Nasty little man.

[Phyll]

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