Is that the lad we got from Huddersfield St Joseph's?

It was a pump when I was at Snapethorpe; on reflection, saying you got pumped by the PE teacher is probably unwise in the post-Saville era.

Berwyn was bronze medal winner in 1962 in GB 4 x100 m relay team at Euro Champipnships and at one time our 100 m record holder with 10. 3 secs.

Berwyn was indeed fast but like many good players wasn't always appreciated by opposition fans.I remember seeing him at Warrington. He was the greyhound, whilst the Wire's Brian Glover was the bulldog. Unfortunately for Berwyn the Wakefield laundry man had left a brown iron burn on his shorts and this was quickly noticed - with the to expected calls of "look he's sh@tting himself" soon ringing in his ears.

Didn't realise you went there as well Bren.
What era are we talking, late 70's when Nigel Bell was there ?

At the time, the games teacher (Mallard) was like the guy from Kes.
We'd be out all through dinner, if his team were losing.

He once accused Nigel's brother of diving, after he'd tripped him and the lad broke his arm, happy days.

Yep - I was there in the 70's and have equally fond memories of Ducky Mallard; his special move was to catch you when you were walking past a puddle and shove you in face first - I guess it was character building.

Mallard was a richard head and a bully. He broke a lads arm firing a penalty at him in the nets when he really didnt want to be there.

You must remember Clarke and Smithson, Mr Wray was the only decent teacher there for me.

Johnny Beardsal? Is the only man to ever cane me, wasnt half as bad as i had feared, the worst part was a grinning slavering smkthson pearing over his specs in glee.

Wray was our form tutor for a while, thoroughly decent bloke and teacher, although art was never going to be too testing.
Clarke, Smithson and Evans seemed to compete in the "pumping" stakes
In the modern world, it's hard to believe some of that stuff went on although, as you say, it was the fear before the act that was actually worse.
I can remember Mrs (or Miss) Wright slapping one of the girls across the face for answering back, again, unbelievable nowadays.
Despite all this stuff, I enjoyed being there

Frank Wray was my best mate from the day he threw a board rubber at me and cut my head open. Didn't dare tell my parents as I would've been in bigger trouble with them. Been a good claim these days.
He used to teach art at Flockton Detention Centre too, hence his endless supply of "prison pencils" as he called them'

I remember Clarke and Evans seemed to take a perverse delight in slippering young boys; and I do recall Mr Wray throwing the board rubber at my mates head - I pulled off a copybook interception on instinct, and got rewarded with a slipper.

Mr Daley was a good bloke - "Hells bells and buckets of blood!" was his catchphrase; I remember seeing him break up a fight using only strong language and a deftly wielded flat cap.

Dave Lambert was also a top teacher; I was one of a paltry 3 or 4 members of his after school running club - something that's stuck with me ever since, and I'm very grateful for that.

Despite the slipshod teaching methods and casual abuse, they were happy days.

Love the phrase "casual abuse", I'll use that in my book

I can't think of a better way to describe it; 70's childhood was punctuated by the certain knowledge that there were things you could and couldn't get away with - and if you stepped over the line and were caught, justice was summary, and would hurt. It certainly kept things simple - I'd rather have had a sore head, than been grounded or lost the use of my Raleigh Chopper for a period of time, which seems to be the modern, namby-pamby way of disciplining children.

Given what was going in in the world of media and entertainment, and the Catholic Church, in the 1970's, I think I just consider myself lucky to have escaped with clipped ears, a tanned backside and the occasional belt.

And Tom Johnstone features exactly where in this "Ashes to Ashes" sequel ???

Was just thinking the same!

Who called the thread drift police?!

I'm not due to start 'til 4, but I came in early

So, back on track, good this young Johnstone isn't he?

Did he go to Snapey?

Just a last note on Mr Clarke, he only ever hit me once and that was with his bate hand across my backside and even now 35 years on i have never been hit as hard since, couldnt sit down straight for the rest of the day.

No he didn't. thankfully he went to Hogwarts like the rest of us now can we move on

Tom Johnstone would have fitted in very well at Ings Road, big and strong, very quick and athletic, handsome and very intelligent looking a pre requisite for the school, and most importantly would have played with the cream of Wakefield area school's team.

St Thomas a Beckets?

There is so much wrong with that Chis!

It was St Austin's mate when I was at school, on the corner of Jacobs Well Lane and Teal St, John Burke's old school.

Drifted far too much. The end.