Woolfall - Parkway School Memories,

Email from Alan Coutts

Wendy,

I am Alan Coutts now aged 57. I attended Woolfall Sec Mod. Somewhere between 1955 - 1959. It was almost new at that time and appeared to be a very modern building. I was pleased to see your photo of the School Circa 1986. If I recall correctly, the area on the left of your photo housed the Headmasters (Mr J Torrance) Study and the Staff rooms. I only went down there on the odd occasion and that was for a whacking off "Bobby" Blackshaw the resident English teacher.

I used to live in Belton Road off Hillside Avenue and walked every day down Hillside, past the primary school (That hasn't changed much) into 'our' school ("The big school") I can remember so often, the times in warm summer hols when a group of us (including the then love of my life, a girl called Ann Smith, daughter of Arthur Smith a colleague and supporter of Labour Party Leader Harold Wilson) walked to the "Five-ies" or on a weekend, armed only with a packet of Jam "butties" and a bottle of water. We used to walk up Stockbridge Lane then turned left by the Liverpool Lodge House (The Castle) and then walked for what seemed miles to a cross roads we called the "Fivies" (possibly known as "Fiveways" but I'm not Sure.

When we were not pursuing the delights of the countryside and trying to "show off" to the girls by climbing the tallest trees. We often went to "War"! with the "Firkies" They were a bunch of lads from Fairclough Road. We used to stand , each on his own "Turf" either side of the River Alt and hurl rocks and bricks at each other & shouting terrible abuse. It is extremely surprising that no-one ever ended up in hospital!
Another pastime we had was "Jumping the Alt" searching for a nice high wide bit with a soft sandy muddy landing ground on the other side. Many is the day I arrived home sweaty, glowing and covered in mud only to met with a "good hiding" from dear 'ole mum.

Your site as brought back some wonderful memories for me Thank you so Much.

Regards,

Alan Coutts (Cootsey) (Ex Scouser)
Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire.

P.S. There is a site on the net called www.freindsreunited.co.uk . I have registered along with numerous others Knowsley Woolfall County Sec Modders and would dearly like your permission to use a copy of the "School Photo" circa 1986 ( with all credit to you of course) within that site for the benefit of ex pupils.

If you went to school at Parkway Comprehensive or even Woolfall Secondary Modern School please let me know. Stories of school adventures, living and playing around Stockbridge Lane are all welcome - hope to hear from you soon! - Wendy and Dave.

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