Miss Lakeland (Furness House Tutor)


Miss Lakeland- Similar to Ruth Jones, actress who played Hattie Jaques in a TV biopic

 Miss Lakeland, was the Head of Furness House and had been at Tulketh since the late 1960’s.  She taught English and Geography as I recall. Miss Lakeland had originally taught Remedial Studies at Ribbleton Hall High School from 1958-till 1968 when she joined the staff at Tulketh.

She was tall and quite a formidable lady, always reminded me of a hospital matron or a governess.  Reminded very much of Hattie Jaques the actress who made her name in the successful Carry On films of the 1960's and 70'sThe Furness House she was the Head of always did very well at sports days and cross country. She was not a lady to cross either as a pupil or a member of staff as I and a fellow pupil were to find out one lunchtime in the 4th year.

John Ismay and I were larking about in the male cloakroom close the staffroom. We were drinking cold water from the taps and holding on to it in our mouths before spitting it back out into the wash basin. Childish pranks you might think and with our laughter and our dashes across the well buffed floors of the cloakroom it soon would alert a prefect or a member of staff. We heard her voice before we saw her. As we turned, I was unfortunate to bump into Miss Lakeland, letting go the water in my mouth on to her comfortable grey suede shoes. John and I were frog marched upstairs to the Housemasters room by Miss Lakeland. After a severe dressing, down by her about the dangers of our fooling around with water and the better things we should be doing with our downtime we were both put on detention for a week and were made to mop all the cloakrooms near the staffroom after school. Both John and I where in the Fylde House which Mr.Forshaw was Head of. He along with Mr. Gaukrodger and Mr. Little shared the Housemasters room. Mr, Forshaw recognised both John and I and put us both on report as well. This involved you having to have signed a pink report card by every teacher on our lessons for a week. No mercy shown!

Because of our detentions and mopping the floors of toilets for a week. It of course meant you were late home from school which on the dark winter nights were not much fun. It also took some explaining to our mums and dads.

Recently in 2019 Miss Lakeland, died. Her funeral was attended by many ex-pupils and staff alike

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