Mr. Murray (Geography)

Mr. Murray came to Tulketh in September 1976 with Mr. Wilson as new Geography teachers. Mr. Murray occupied the room 23, which was next door to Head of Geography Mr. Sawer, who was in room 22.  Mr. Sawer, had a great rapport with both Mr. Murray and Mr. Wilson who he looked upon like a couple of favourable nephews I always thought.

Mr. Murray was a stylish looking man. I would guess he was about 23, and probably his first teaching job. He was quite a snappy dresser with a beard and was quite popular with fellow teachers and pupils alike. 
I was never taught Geography by Mr. Murray; however, was assigned to our House group Fylde. So, our paths crossed sometimes for registration classes.

In the second year at Tulketh I was part of a large football squad which played matches against other schools in the area. Mr. Murray coached the second-year football squad, and we would meet up every Thursday after the school day had ended. In the winter months the training sessions were a bit of bind and we would always play first teamers versus reserves at the end of the session followed by a lukewarm shower a quick change into our uniform and run for the bus home in my case.  

I was always part of the reserve team which used to switch our shirts inside out to distinguish ourselves even though it could be confusing with the shorts and socks been identical to the first team to the innocent on-looker, and in one session we hammered the first team 4-0 with me scoring a couple of goals from midfield where I played at the time. There were the occasions when I thought I played well but never got a look in on the first team. To be fair there were some good players in the first team. At the time there were the likes of... Neil Andrew, David Arkinstall, Paul Gardner, Ian Hodge, Stephen Hornbuckle, Michael Iddon, Mark Jenkinson, John Hutchinson, Steven Newsham (Captain), Michael Pearson, Steven Taylor, Carl Thompson, as I recall. It did puzzle me how the Second Year Football were regularly thrashed but the same eleven was picked every time.

In fact, I never played for Tulketh at football or cricket although I did play for the House team many times at both sports and did the cross country many times in my five years there.
Mr. Murray was always very encouraging in getting the best out of me in the many sporting endeavours at House level as well as for the school. I remember playing cricket for the House team in a final against Bowland and going in last to bat and went for a duck to a fast and tricky bouncer from Mark Phillips.
And I did on a couple of occasions go on the away trips to such delightful schools as St. Thomas More, William Temple, and a trip to Chorley to play St. Michaels, Church of England High School as part of 18-man Cricket squad.

As for Mr. Murray, I remember him been part of the teacher’s union I think he was the local representative for the teachers at the school. There was talk of a strike by teachers in the mid-1979 with rumours of a march by some of the teachers down to County Hall which had circulated amongst the pupils. Some of us plucky fourth years at the time wanted to join the march. Mr. Murray was quite impressed with our support but deemed it inappropriate and might get us into hot water with the acting Head at the time Mr. Gibbons. I remember at the time potential protagonists were myself, Roderick Davies, John Ismay Rita Sumner, Shirley Taylor and a few third years.

In my final year at Tulketh, Mr. Murray was organizing a minibus for a concert by the heavy rock outfit Rainbow at the Manchester Belle Vue venue. At the time progressive Rock music was enjoying a lot of success in the albums and singles charts with acts like Judas Priest, Rainbow, Rush, Thin Lizzy, and Whitesnake. I was not a massive fan of the music but the whole experience of the concert would be fun. I remember paying around about £7.50 for the trip with the likes of Julie Crocket, Elizabeth Mather, Michael Pearson, John Hutchinson, and many others been involved. Whatever reason it was cancelled, and the money refunded to us which was a shame. The reason was to do with insurance I was told by the secretary at school.

I believe Mr. Murray left Tulketh in the early 1980’s. I did bump into him looking for wallpaper when I worked as sales assistant at Queens Mill Decorating Centre after leaving school in 1980. He bought me a cup a tea and a Texan chocolate bar from the café inside the mill complex and chatted to me for a bit about football especially his favourite team Manchester United, my job and Tulketh High. I think he had left Tulketh by then to go to Walton Le Dale High School.