The Last Day.


The C.S.E examinations had finished on the Friday before and we were told by Headmaster Mr. Jones, that we were to pick up our testimonial certificates of our time at the school on the following Monday and we could then officially leave the school.

On the Monday morning, it was strange going in to the school for the last time just to pick up a  testimonial certificate. Even stranger going in casual clothes and not the uniform as associated with the school for the last five years.

Strangely on the last day I was up and dressed early just like on the first day for 7am.  I approached the school on a lovely early Spring morning knowing that I would not be there too long, and it would be my final journey to the school in the academic sense.

Because of the exams all the assemblies had been cancelled.  However, the rest of the school still had to spend time in their respective registration groups prior to the start of the lessons.

When I went through the front doors there was a calm round the school. I rang the bell at reception and the secretary answered and asked if I had come for my testimonial certificate, I said yes. She then went off for a few minutes and returned with a large envelope with my name typed on the front with the document inside.  The secretary informed me; I was the first person to turn up out of the Whitsuntide leavers to collect their certificates and cheerfully wished me all the best in my future endeavours.  I meekly smiled said thank you and was about to walk out through the front doors when I was stopped by Mr. Dickenson the new Deputy Head, who knew me from a couple of encounters earlier in the school year.  Mr. Dickenson had taken an interest in my job applications and had advised me on the way to set out a letter to a future employer which we had covered briefly in C.S.E English in the 5th year, but a refresher in the process wouldn’t do any harm, also the correct way to fill in the application forms. It was extremely helpful.

He asked me, “What I was going to do when I left school? I told him I had no job to go to. I had applied for jobs at all the major employers in the area like British Aerospace, British Nuclear Fuels, GEC, Goss Printing, Leyland Motors, Dorman Smith, (where my mum worked) and some small businesses I had no luck with any of them I replied. In fact, some never bothered to even send a reply that you were unsuccessful.

Mr. Dickenson replied, “Well I am sorry to hear that Stephen”. He then thanked me for the last five years and wished me well in the outside world which to be honest was quite scary for meagrely qualified teenager. Strangely I felt an emptiness as I set off down the drive. 

At the time in the new Conservative Prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in her first year in power after the 1979 election win. There currently were 2 million unemployed and I was about to join them. The last five years had literally flown by. What were the chances of seeing any of the other 170 kids who were in the intake back in 1975, in life after Tulketh?  Que Facebook 2007 changed that but that was long way in the future back in 1980.

As I walked up Tag Lane, I bumped into fellow 5th year Gary O’Kane in his P.E kit and he asked me to help him retrieve the canoes from the Games storeroom under the gym. I do not think he had the permission of Mr. Smith Head of P.E to do this. Gary, I think was intending on using the canoes on the nearby Lancaster Canal. I politely declined to get involved. Gary lived in nearby and would be one of the 60 kids who would be stopping on to complete his O, levels in June. When I returned from holiday at Ocean Edge Caravan Park, I had an appointment with the dole office on Pole Street, in Preston town centre on the Wednesday 28th of May at 10am. And finally, I had the Tulketh prefect’s leaving party lined up for Friday 11th July at the Dalmeny Hotel in Lytham St. Anne’s.  For the princely price of £8.50 we were to have a buffet and disco with my fellow prefects.  Of course, there would be a selection of teachers there to watch over us.

As I made my way home I wondered what the future may hold especially in the very uncertain times we live in. Qualifications in those days got you the best chance of jobs. Only time would tell ? The 19th of May 1980 was the last day I attended Secondary education at Tulketh High School.

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