Tulketh High Memories

  Mrs. Roberts taught English at Tulketh and was tall lady with steely grey hair and dressed very formally like you would expect of a middle-aged person to do back in the 1970’s. In my first term at Tulketh, she was one of the two teachers who took form 1N, for English Language, the other being, Mr. Kevil. The difference in teaching style was staggering, Mrs. Roberts, had a compassionate and caring style, whilst Mr. Kevil, was strict, almost militaristic style of teaching probably because of his Army background maybe? On my first English lesson with Mrs. Roberts, we were tasked in writing a short essay on our favourite book, comic, or magazine for our homework.   I remember at the time my best friend Paul Sapsford writing about the Famous Five novels by celebrated author Enid Blyton, which he had collected everyone one of, and I remember fellow pupil Paul Walsh, writing about the Sci Fi series, Star trek.     I decided to write about the Shoot football magazine w...

Mr. Yates was mainly a Metalwork/Woodwork teacher who would also teach Technical Drawing. He was Head of the department of craft subjects and had been at Tulketh since its inception in 1964. A very smart man with slick back grey hair, thick rimmed glasses, and you could generally heard him before you saw him. He was the bad cop to Mr. Lewis, (Woodwork) who was the good cop. He had a couple of nicknames from the pupils which were, penguin and yakum In the second year the boys studied Metalwork with Mr. Yates one week and Woodwork with Mr. Lewis the next week., while the girls did Domestic Science. The Metalwork and Woodwork rooms where situated next to canteen. They were both full of workbenches, machinery and various tools. They give the impression of workshops you would come across in industry.  Our task as Second year novices were  to make a key ring. Mr. Yates had his hands full teaching around 20 lads with different practical abilities. I manage to finish mine with the h...

  Mr. Wilson looks similar to Ed Straker from TV series UFO Mr. Wilson taught Physical Education when I arrived at Tulketh and was virtually the Head of the department due to the previous Head of department Mr. Holding, leaving earlier in the year. I think the school were waiting to make the right appointment at the time. I seem to recall we had a nice trainee teacher from Australia whose name escapes me now to help until the new appointment of Mr. Smith of Head of department in early 1976. Mr. Wilson in my opinion came across as approachable, very modern teacher who was not like the stereo typical P.E teachers you saw in the films like Kes, and To Sir with Love. He did not have that brash military style of a P.T instructor like other generations of schoolkids had known down the years. Always very smart, fresh faced with a striking blond hair with a tuft slightly lighter at the front of his forehead He wore a track suit with the words of the college he studied at which was Ca...

  Mr Wilson taught Geography at Tulketh he arrived in 1976 along with another Geography teacher called Mr. Murray.   He was quite a stocky built man with longish mousey brown hair with what I would call a hound dog expression on his face. Like all the teachers at the time wore greenish and brown coloured clothes with the unmistakable kipper ties which were quite popular at the time. I first come across Mr. Wilson in the 2 nd year when he taught me Geography which due to the overcrowded conditions of the school was taught in the dining room for most of the academic year. This wasn’t ideal for good learning but, in a school, built for 450 pupils and now housed 900 needs must, I suppose. I thought he was a good teacher and would sometimes to break up monotony talk about his self and his background which appeared to be from the Manchester area . In the 4 th year he began dating an attractive Biology teacher called Miss. Hardman. They would eventually marry before I left Tulk...

  After the relatively disappointing turn out to the school disco for years 1 to 3 back in 1978. It was decided to give it one more chance the following year just before the half-term break in February. This time only years 4 and 5 were granted a disco in the dining room which to be fair had decent acoustics for the ex-Top Rank, DJ Jason Dee, to ply his trade. Tickets for the bash were selling well with the 5 th year taking most of them. The night was to be marshalled by the following teachers. Mr. Wilson (Geography), Miss Hardman (Biology) who were a couple if the school gossips were to be believed true. Mr. Birkett (Music) along with Miss Langer on refreshments from the music room like the year before. As in the previous year I along with Dennis Winder made the Friday night journey in Dennis’s mum Ford escort car to the school in our best gear. I found a green chord jacket which had been given to my mum by the secretary at my old primary school some years before, at the ba...

School half term disco February 1978, Similar. Back in February 1978, just before half term. Years one to three were granted a school disco to be held on the Friday before the half term holiday. The announcement of this was made in the assembly the week before by the Head Mr. Jones, with a further Disco to be held for years four and five before the Easter break. Tickets for the event were 50 pence with light refreshments, disco with Jason Dee and a live band from our school called The Blank Students. start time 7.30pm finish 9.30pm in the dining room. There was not much anticipation from some of us in the third year was an understatement. Most people wanted just to get away on holiday for the week. My best mate at the time as well as being my next-door neighbour was Dennis Winder who was very keen to go because he liked a girl in our year I also had a bit of a thing for a girl in the first year. I didn't think felt the same way but there you go. Dennis and I at the time would cat...