Was there from 1980-1985 and it was certainly character building! Mr Hook partly inspired me to become an English teacher too; he was also a Reds fan.
My brother says that Father Benny Cake is not your real name. He has a very good idea who you are though.
I was in York House from 1962-66. I can't say I enjoyed it that much. There has been some memorable names mentioned and some I'll never forget. Franks Betts was the Head Master. Took me for Maths at one point. Always found him to be fine. Arthur Clayton was Deputy Head. He wasn't well liked but again he was always okay with me. Had him for Geography and Maths. The School Management Team had a fearsome reputation but I never had any problems with any of them I had Spanner Jackson in the 4th year for Motor Mechanics and he was fine. Thank's to the start he gave me I ended up as a Senior MV Lecture in a College. Bill Moss and Hague were also okay. Bob Weston was a fantastic bloke. Joan Jesson was the Art Teacher and I had a massive crush on her. Mr Ripley "Egg Head" taught me Applied Maths. They didn't know what to do with our class after the Easter leavers went in the 4th year so they gave us a full afternoon with him. We already had him for Tech Drawing so he taught maths. He taught all the maths I needed in the 1st 2 years of my Apprenticeship but I didn't realise it at the time. Clary Mason, PE, was a dodgy character although I didn't know his reputation at the time. He once grabbed me by the nipples in the gym and said "There's not much meat on you laddie " in his Scottish accent. I learned later he had a liking for younger boys. He lived to be 101. The teacher I feared was David Harper who was a Rural Studies Teacher at the Grange. I was genuinely terrified of him. He once caned half a dozen lads for walking on the lawn. He didn't just cane them he jumped up in the air and brought the cane down hard. Some of the lads needed medical treatment. I saw enough that day not to cross his path too often. They say he was a nice bloke away from school but from what I saw of him he was a bloody sadist who enjoyed inflicting violence on small boys. I was so happy when I moved up a class and didn't have Rural Studies on my timetable. I hate the mans memory to this day. Mrs Smith was a nasty piece of work who took us for Maths. I think she just hated children. Her Husband who took us for metalwork was completely different. I remember the bid freeze when we were with her in an outside classroom. She sat there wrapped up in her coat having a cup of tea brought from the staff room every 3/4 hour. Another nasty piece of work was Miss Sherwood who was an Art teacher. The school wasn't big enough for the 62 intake so some classes where held down Broomhill at the old school. They bused us down there. I entered that school with nothing and came out with what I went in with. I overlaid on my last Day and went in for the afternoon only to be turned away as they had packed up at dinner time.
I was at wombwell in 1952 to 1956. We had a teacher called Raynor. He was a pshyco and top class bully. He used to examine your shoes and dress code. If you had not cleaned them he used to beat you with anything at hand. If you was late Monday morning you used to get the stick once. Late for class afternoon Monday twice. If you was late Friday morning it was cane nine times. He then doubled it and Friday morning became 18 times. We used to turn up for class sometimes and everyone was getting to back of queue, he was caning us for something stupid. All the class. He was a psychopath but got away with it Another was Dennis the Art teacher. He used to point his finger right inti your face and say youuuuu boyyyyy. He used to hypnotise you. Gave my mate six of the best for painting sea black. My mate was colour blind and he thought blue was black The boss man was Mayhew, and if you were sent to him he had about six different sticks and boy did they hurt After all this we still carried on doing what we did, we just accepted it and took it as normal. The good old days
I remember Hague, and Ripley. Both good teachers. Used to talk to Ripley later years . He lived on Lundhill rd Wombwell Five of us were selected to stop on an extra year to be the first to take GCSE,s We used to have the teachers mess room at the Technical school part. This got me a good job later in life. So not all bad but boy were they some top class ******* as teachers in those days
Remember one lad Don Tingle turned in late Friday morning. Raynor giving him stick 18 Got to about 8 and Don just collapsed in agony. He shoved Raynor and run out of class. Hour after Don appears back in class with a big hatchet and was going to split him in two. Raynor going round desks and Don after him. Best day of my life !!!!
Fr. Andy Riley? Fr. Desmond Coyle? Fr. George Byrne? Fr. David Nicholson? Fr. Declan Lynch? Fr. Ken Sweeney? Fr. Neil Hannon? Fr. Keith Cullen? Fr. Ciaran Donnelly? Fr. Mick McEvoy? Fr. Jack White? Fr. Henry Bigbigging? Fr. Hank Tree? Fr. Hiroshima Twinkie? Fr. Stig Bubblecard? Fr. Johnny Hellzapoppin? Fr. Luke Duke? Fr. Billy Ferry? Fr. Chewy Louie? Fr. John Hoop? Fr. Hairycake Linehan? Fr. Rebulah Conundrum? Fr. Peewee Stairmaster? Fr. Jemima Racktool? Fr. Jerry Twig? Fr. Spodo Komodo? Fr. Cannabranna Lammer? Fr. Todd Unctious?
NO CLUES! "Are priests allowed to be rock stars though Ted?" "Oh yes. I remember one lad at the seminary... Father Benny Cake. He recorded a song and it went to number one in England." "Really?" "Yes, he didn't want people to know he was a priest, so he called himself?... Anyway, I think the song was called Vienna."
I remember him. Never taught me but did teach my sister. There is clearly a story here but I don’t know what it is. Without risking libel or posting any unsubstantiated rumours can anyone enlighten me
I was there 92-97 Mr Storrs History Mr Perkins RE Mr Hook, Mr Lomas and Ms Salt English Mrs Dawson Mrs Cook and Mr Mulvey Arts Mr Malinski and Miss Wilson Technology Mr Steeples, Mr Read Miss Swindon and Miss Fenna PE Mr Auld and Mr Ensor maths Mr Fairbank and Miss Jarmain French Mr Pountney Geography Mrs Dalton headteacher