Moor Lane School. Mansfield

I started this school in 1936 and left in 1945. I believe it to be the oldest school in Mansfield and does not appear to have changed at all.

Comments about this page

  • Hi Colin Sheard, my name is Rosemary Sheard and my mum’s name Alice Sheard. I went to Moor Lane Infants school. Are you my brother? Our family lost touch with each other. My mother’s partner in the 1970s was Des Gaunt and they lived at New Houghton.

    By Rose Sheard (14/04/2023)
  • I was at Moor Lane from 67-73, loved it, I was so sad when I left. Football was my highlight winning the inaugural 3rd year trophy, Mr Phillips was so proud, instilled many values that shaped our lives as did the great Mr Booth. Mrs Brotherhood was a fearsome woman with a heart of gold, standing under the clock was a massive deterrent. Christmas was so special, the walk down to church, the parties and games on the last day.
    Still see a lot of the lads but wouldn’t know any of the girls.

    By Andy Shotbolt (02/07/2021)
  • Hi Tom (Malcolm). Yes I was involved in am dram/Panto but at Moor Lane Youth Club.
    I am also 87 (pushing 88). I left Mansfield in 1960, originally to New Zealand (3 years), then Zambia (15 years), then Indonesia (5 years). Now I spend 6 months in Gran Canaria, ( I have a Spanish family) and 6 months in the Isle of Man.
    How about you? I also am an avid Stags supporter thanks to “Stagsnet”.

    By Rex Mirfin (13/12/2020)
  • Hello, Rex Mirfin. Yes, I was Malcolm Cotton until I went to QEGS and found three other Malcolms in the class, whereupon everyone called me Tom. My father remained with Staffords to retirement age (by which time Jack had taken the business over and expanded it). He died in 1980 and, having no living relatives in the area I’ve hardly ever been back to Mansfield since then — though I still support the Stags through thick and (mostly) thin and admit to a certain nostalgia for the place.
    I do remember you, but a bit vaguely. Wasn’t it you who did am-dram and panto at the Rainbow Club, or am I confusing you with someone else? I think you were a year or two older. I’m pushing 87 myself, so I suppose there are few of our contemporaries still with us and, like you. wonder what happened to them all.

    By Tom Cotton (02/12/2020)
  • Hi, Tom (Cotton). I knew most of the class mates whose names you mentioned and I think I was maybe one year ahead.
    I wonder if you were then known as Malcolm Cotton, who I remember well, he lived on Intake Avenue and his father, (maybe your father) was the foreman at a carpentry business (Staffords) on Grange Avenue, where I lived. Or maybe Malcolm is your brother?
    Knew Pat Watts, and Michael Halows particularly well, I wonder where they are now, can anyone help?
    This is a great website.

    By Rex. Mirfin (28/11/2020)
  • This is in response to Alan Curtis’s opening post. A bit late, but better than never. It may jog a few memories — among the few of us that are left from those times to have them jogged!

    Moor Lane Infants: the headmistress in 1937 when I joined was Miss Rayner (tall and severe), who was succeeded not long afterwards by Mrs Rowell (shorter and jolly).
    The other teachers were: nursery year, Miss (Blanche) Slack; then, Miss Storey (firm, but twinkly), Miss Wilson (intolerant is the best word for her; for punishment used the edge, rather than the flat of her ruler), Miss Marshall (tables up to twelve-times; played the piano while we bashed away on triangles and shook tambourines).
    I remember quite a few fellow-pupils: among the girls, June Clough, Beryl Columbine, Marlene Jackson, Mary Mee, Pauline Radcliffe, Pat Watts, Janice Whitehead, Iris Wright; and boys Alan Curtis, Raymond Chadburn, Derek Dennis, Michael Hallows, Albert Severn, John Taylor.

    Moor Lane Juniors: in 1941 the headmaster was Mr Gelsthorpe. My own teachers were Miss Stanley and Miss Berney (I left in 1943 to go to the QE Grammar School), but also there were Mr Anderson (who specialised in art), Miss Stokes and Mr Badminton (who was by repute a fearsomely bad-tempered disciplinarian). I think there was also a Mr Beasley, though I have no mental picture of him.
    I recall a few more pupils’ names here: Brian Porter, Margaret Sherwin, and there are a few faces that I can’t now put a name to, four boys who lived in either Sylvester Street, The Knoll or Garnon Street, whose first names were Barry, Douglas (White?), Maurice and Raymond.

    As to the building: Alan is correct, it doesn’t seem to have altered, although the railings must be new — the old cast-iron jobs, like the gates, were sawn off and carted away when WW2 began. When I was first there, there was a bell-tower, but the bell was replaced by an air-raid siren controlled from the ARP post, down a few steps in a basement at the back corner of the building.

    By Tom Cotton (22/09/2020)
  • Hi, I went to Moor Lane in 1963, I am now 62, I didn’t go to this school for long. I remember Mr Booth, I also remember doing times tables round the school hall on a Wednesday before we could go swimming, my name was Elaine Richardson. I remember the Fisher twins, I had a good friend who emigrated to Australia but can’t remember her name, would like to hear from people who may remember me.

    By Elaine Frost (28/09/2019)
  • Hi Jill
    Is this the Jill Wood I knew many years ago before I joined up???

    By gary hartin (18/06/2019)
  • Does anyone remember my mum, Margaret Nell? She will have started around 1951 and lived directly opposite the school on Sutton road

    By Frances Stopforth (15/12/2018)
  • I was at moor lane 19 64/ 70. My name was Jill Wood. The headmaster at the juniors was Mr Booth and his son Jonathan was in our class. I was in the choir and we won the rose bowl at the Civic Theatre with Mr Phillips. We lived on Ladybrook Lane but I used to go to my grandmas on Moor Street (No 39) for lunch. I knew alot of people on Moor Street and Jenford Street. I live in Scotland now and I am now fast approaching my 60th but I still remember my happy childhood in Mansfield

    By Jill Curtis (20/10/2018)
  • I have just come across this page and it was very interesting to be reminded of so many of the teachers and pupils at Moor Lane School. The memories came flooding back. Mr Warrington was my favourite teacher and I remember Mr Thomas, Miss Brotherhood etc. etc. I lived on Bancroft Lane and went to both infants and junior. I remember that line down the middle of the playground separating the infants and juniors and those cold outside toilets. I remember making daisy chains on that enormous playing field. Happy days! I was there from 1956 if my memory serves well and I remeber some of the names already mentioned – Ian Wilson, were you in my class? other names are Julie Moorhouse, Christine Dring, Susan Wright, Suzanne Chapman. I’m still in touch with Suzanne but it would be great to hear how everyone else is doing and if there’s anyone out there who remembers me. I get back to the UK every couple of years or so so it would be really good to meet up with any of my old school friends and catch up on how life has treated us.

    By Rita Sharpe(Newton) (16/08/2017)
  • I  just  read  a  comment  about  Arthur  Smith, who  we  knew  quite  well.  The  surprise  is that  it  was  from  my  cousin  Colin  Sheard….  I  have  not  heard  of  him  in  decades..  what a  very  pleasant  surprise.  Yes  Colin  we  all  have  fond  memories of  growing  up  at  the  top end of  Moor  Street.   

    Regards, Mike

    By Mike Frost (09/03/2017)
  • Hi ,as a youngster I lived in Moor St  and went to Moor St School until 1966.I have fond memories of Arthur Smith  as I used to help him on his rounds when he had an old blue and white bus.My granny Price lived right opposite his yard at the top of the street.Sadly I left Moor St in 1966 and moved to Pleasley and lost touch with everyone.

    By Colin Sheard (22/01/2017)
  • Hello Carole Wells nee Trapp. I lived in the yard above yours, our back doors faced each other on little Moor Street. You lived at 34 and l lived at 36. l went to Scotland with you and your family to your Grandmothers in Dunoon. 1957/ 1958. You moved onto Victoria Street whence Freddie Needham appeared. Do you remember meeting me at East Midlands Airport when you came for an interview with British Midland? l worked for British Midland in Flight Operations before moving to Bahrain. Hope you read this message as it would be nice to hear from you.

    By Richard Hughes (09/12/2016)
  • Hello Lynette, thank you, I wasn’t far out in my estimation of where no. 64 was, working it out roughly from where my Grandparents’ house was, no. 82 which was where I lived until February 1950. I didn’t move far, just up to the top of Westfield Lane until September 1955 when I left Mansfield to return again, back to Moor Street, for a few months in 1956/7. I came back again to Moor Street for four months before leaving again this time to progressively move round the country plus a couple of periods in the Near and Middle East. As I said earlier, I did visit occasionally, in addition to the aforementioned weekly visits, whilst my Grandmother was still resident in no. 82. Yes, I do remember your Uncle and Aunts but I have to confess that the passage of time has rendered that to be just a vague memory.

    By Martin Gorner (09/10/2016)
  • Hello Martin Yes my mum was Peter’s sister. Do you remember my Uncle Tommy, Auntie Sue and Auntie Meg? 64 Moor Street was on the first terrace houses across as you went down the street. 

    By Lynette Hopwood (07/10/2016)
  • Hello, Lynette Hopwood, thanks for the mention. Was your mum Peter’s sister? Your time in Moor Street is a little later than mine, whilst we probably didn’t meet, our paths may have crossed as I visited my Grandmother, at 82, quite often, especially between November ’63 and July ’64 whilst I was in Sheffield. I would come down on a Tuesday evening. After I had moved to Rutland I would also drive up occasionally. I’m trying to envisage where 64 was, was it in the short row on the bend where Marsden’s was or was it just round the corner near, I think, the Townroes?  I’m presuming that you must be younger than me, whilst, of course, not wishing to ask a lady’s age! Where are you living now?

    By Martin Gorner (04/10/2016)
  • Hi everyone just spending time down memory lane again. To answer Mike Frost’s question posted oh such a long time ago I lived at 64 Moor Street with my Dad George Jennings, Mum Sheila Jennings Brother Stephen Jennings and Sister Amanda Jennings. Martin Gomer I am Peter Endersby’s neice. My era of pupils don’t seem to have found this site yet but here’s hoping. 1963-1970

    By Lynette Hopwood (02/10/2016)
  • I am trying to research my family and believe my father and possibly my mother went to Moor Lane School. My mother May Slack lived at 83 Victoria Street along with her the rest of the Shooter/Slack family. My mother was born in 1915.  I think my father Simeon Morris born in 1914 live at 46 Moor Street along with his 2 brothers William and Albert. They must all have gone to Moor Lane school. Also Pam and Kevin Shooter. I would be interested to hear from anyone with any knowledge of them.

    By Clive Bemment-Morris (28/03/2016)
  • Hello Lynn,  I remember the Goodwin Family, more so Eric Goodwin, the son. You are correct in saying he was a good footballer, I used to play some football with him on the Hayfield, and I believe he once played for Mansfield at Field Mill. He was also a first class swimmer. Being a tall athletic man, he won many races at the Galas’ at Mansfield Swimming Baths. That would have been in the 40’s. Eric married a local girl Hilda, she worked at the same factory as my wife, F.C.& W.  Sadly, I believe Hilda died in a motor accident, and Eric being still on the young side, remarried. Allan Brown, the name does ring a bell, unfortunately, I cannot bring him to mind. There were a few Browns in the area, and I being born in 1933,  was in the same era. The Goodwin’s were a lovely family, living in hard times, Eric and Hilda were a couple we spoke to until we moved from Bradder St.  Best Wishes  Alan. 

    By alan curtis (06/03/2016)
  • Good afternoon Does anyone remember Allan Brown who also had the name Allan Goodwin? He was born in 1937 so would have attended Moor Lane School approx 1942-43. He lived on Princess Street untill he was 18  with a family - Mrs Goodwin. Mrs Goodwin had a son was was very much into football and still lived on Princess Street untill 2013 when sadly he passed away. I attended Moor Lane School in 1969 stayed there for 5 years, Lynn Brown if anyone remembers me be lovely to share some memories thank you. 

    By lynn faulkner (28/02/2016)
  • I was at Moor Lane from joining the infants in 1961 to leaving the Juniors post 11-plus in 1967. I don’t remember too much about the Infants other than a few snapshots  - the yellow line down the playground, separating the two schools.  Never to be crossed on pain of, well, pain. The Head of the Juniors was Mr Booth. He lived until 2014. Nice chap. Miss Brotherhood was my class teacher for my last 2 years there.  45 of the 48 in my class passed 11 plus.  She was a scary teacher, but she got results.  Mr Phillips, the weekend butcher in Mansfield covered market, had the choir singing like angels – ‘The Sound of Music’ was our big performance in 66/67… 

    By David Hutchinson (15/11/2015)
  • Lived on Botany Ave, attended Moor Lane 1949, Lived in USA since 66.

    By Christine D'Angelo (02/11/2015)
  • Tony  Williams,  thanks  for  your  recollections  of  Moor  Lane,  I  had  forgotten  about  Wendy  Phillips,  she  was  in a  different  class  than  I  was  when  I  returned  from  Canada  in  1959.  I  am  sure many  more  memories  will  be  activated  by  those  who  read  your  narrative.   I  certainly  do  recall  1  particular incident  with  the  low  wall.  Like  yourself  a  group  of  us  were  running  around  the  school  at  dinner time  and  hurdling  that  wall.  One  boy,  John  Revill,  got  caught  on  the  top  part  of the  wall and  fell  backwards…. after  hitting  the ground  he  did not  move  for  some  time. We  thought  he  was  dead.  A  teacher  came  around  and  checked  him  out,  fortunately he  only  had the  wind  knocked  out  of  him. 

    Miss  Rowell ,  Mr  Beasely  and  I  had a  special relationship  I  was  in  either  of their  offices  at  least  once  a  week  and  I  do  recall  getting  caned  across the  hands  by  Mr  Warrington….  do  that  nowadays  and  the  teacher  will  be  sued.

    Dose  anyone  recall  that  old  gramophone  record  player  Mr Beasley used  play  some classical  songs  on  at  some  of the  assemblies.

    Being  named  a  hall  monitor,  complete with  the  little  Moor  Lane  school  shield  badge  was  quite a  memorable  moment  just  before leaving  Moor  Lane  to  go  to  High  Oakham.

    Hi  Carole  Welles (Trapp)  we  were  probably  in  Moor  Lane  Infant  school  at  the  same  time,  left  in  1956   to  come  to  Canada ;  which  end  of  Moor  St did  you  live.  When  going  to  Infant  school  we  lived  at  126 Moor St.

    Nice  to  see that  more people  from  the  area  are submitting  their  comments  and  from  various  regions  of  the  globe.

    Keep  this  going.

    Regards

     

    Mike

    By Mike Frost (17/10/2015)
  • Lovely site – thanks.  I now live in Mexico but went to Moor Lane Infant and Junior schools from 1952 – 1958 and then to Brunts Grammar, 1958 – 1964. Maiden name is Carole Trapp and we lived on Moor Street.

    By Carole Wells (nee Trapp (16/10/2015)
  • I started Moor Lane infants 1948 and left the big school 1954. Miss Derry was one of my teachers. Miss Rowell was headmistress. A couple of times l had to report to her for some indiscretion, where she would pull up the back of your shirts and smack your thigh. It hurt!  In the big school l went into Mr Clarks class then moved into Miss Stanleys class. I recall Mr Anderson showing our class or was it the school, photographs of his sons visit to Morocco (1950?). My next teacher was Mr Warrington followed by Miss Bills and Miss Stokes. In her class there were 54 and 51 passed the 11 plus. What a good education we received! Names l recall from school are; John Childs, John Townroe, Dave Eastgate, Brenda Savage, Cherry Waller, Pam Orton, Carol Worsley, Fred Trueman?? Fred Newton, Pete Endersby, Colin Pye, Carol Henshaw, Rita Wilson, Alan Morton, Clive Catell, Elizabeth Bills, Bobby Richmond, Mike Tomsett, Kenny Wright and his sister who had red hair, Ray Sparkes, Roy and Keith Lucas, Alan Gundell, Mick Gould, John Richardson, Brian and Dennis Clamp, John Herrick, Dave Gretton, the Lucas brothers or cousins, Mick Ploughman, Lillian Blatherwick, Mike Daniels?? Brian Atkins, Norman Scott, John and Colin Hatton. Many others whose names l cannot recall presently.OJ 

    By Richard Hughes (12/10/2015)
  • Hello Richard. You mention many names that I knew from Moor Street: John Townroe, Pete Endersby (in touch but haven’t heard from him for a while), Colin Pye, Alan Morton, Mike Tomsett, Ray Sparkes, John Richardson, Dave Gretton, John Hatton. I recall the name Rita Wilson but couldn’t remember where from. Where are they all now? 

    By Martin Gorner (12/10/2015)
  • Hello  Margaret  &  Carole   It  was  so  nice  to read that  someone from Moor  St and  off the  Ladybrooke  estate remembered  us,  thank  you.   I  will  pass  your name  on  to  Mum,  however  she  may  not  recall ,  her  dementia  is  worsening,  she  will  be  90 this  month.

    I  do  recall some  girls  coming  over  to  play,  perhaps  my  sister  Margaret  would  know more  than  myself..

    Of  course  those  cottages between  the   terraced  houses always  did  pose  some  air  of  mystery,  I  do  recall  the  Fells  living  there.  By  chance  do  you  recall  a  gentleman  called  Stafford,  it  is  with him  we  lodged  until  moving  to  Brick Kiln  Lane

    Gosh  it  seems  as  though  those  days  spent  on  Moor  St  and the  “estate”  were  only  yesterday  and  I  am  happy  that I  was  able  to  help  you  recall some  of those  “lost”  and  faded  memories.  It  would  be  nice  to  hear  more  from  those  who  lived  in  the  area .

    I  trust  you  are  both  in  good  health and  enjoying live  in  NSW

    Regards   Mike

    By Mike Frost (20/08/2015)
  • Hello Tony . Sounds very much like another success story for Moor Lane School and Miss Rowell. Come to think of it, Miss Rowell was Moor Lane School, well the Infants anyway Miss Rowell Ruled Moor Lane School with a ruler. In my time in the infants, I also remember Miss Stanley, she was the only teacher to have an old car. Had a ride in it once, to the Hospital.

    By Alan Curtis (26/07/2015)
  • I had all of my infants/primary education at Moor Lane, finishing in 1959.  I then spent a year at Queen Elizabeth’s before my parents emigrated to Australia in 1960.

    My first teacher at Moor Lane was Miss Searcy (you were right, Margaret Hayes 16/06/15, she did exist!), whom I remember as patient and kind.  In fact I seem to recollect that Miss Searcy was my teacher right through Infants school and she was so nice I do believe in hindsight that I developed a childish crush on her.

    I encountered headmistress Miss Rowell, of course, who was, as some have said, rather severe. I used to pass her house on the way home from school each evening via Kirkland Avenue to Cherry Grove, where we lived.  She had a rather fine rose garden. Actually, I had a bit more to do with Miss Rowell than most because she recruited me to the school choir and had me reciting poetry (‘Windy Nights’, remember that?) and singing Schubert at the Eisteddfod one year.  We used to rehearse in her office.

    In the primary section I remember Miss Stanley as my first teacher.  She was a shock after Miss Searcy and seemed incredibly old at the time, like a grandmother.  Miss Stanley was also somewhat severe (she was the only teacher who ever punished me at Moor Lane - a dose of the ruler for persistently mixing up the points of the compass!). 

    I remember mild-mannered and enthusiastic Mr Warrington as well: I was fond of art and also profited from his instruction in swimming (the latter was so effective that, in my first year in high school in Australia, I won an event in the school swimming carnival, much to the surprise of my new compatriots).  I well recall the wobbly early morning trips to the Mansfield Baths perched on the crossbar of my father’s bicycle, and indeed Moor Lane’s own swimfest, during one of which we were required to backstroke a length of the pool in pyjamas holding a lighted candle!).

    Mr Beasley was headmaster during my time in the Primary School.  I did not have much to do with him directly but I seem to recall that he was a small wiry man who spoke in clipped tones and was rather strict and distant from a child’s perspective.  I have a distinct recollection of the sense of mystery and threat emanating from the door of his office when one passed it, especially when one was aware that some poor fellow student had been detained therein for a dose of the cane.

    My other primary teachers included Miss Billings, Miss Brotherhood and the formidable Mr Phillips (skilled in music, intimidation and swinging the long board-ruler in the vicinity of boys touching their toes). Does anyone else remember warbling the rousing tones of “Hold him down, you Swazi warrior; hold him down, you Swazi king” to the martial sounds of Mr Phillips at the piano?  I actually shared a desk unit with his daughter Wendy for quite a while one year.  She was a very good sport and seemed to seek no advantage from being the apple of the teacher’s eye. I was very competent at Maths and Science and very poor at Botany and Nature, whereas Wendy was brilliant at Botany but weak in the hard logic areas.  We had an arrangement for a while whereby she surreptitiously gave me her answers in Botany tests when I was stuck, and I returned the favour when she was stuck in the other tests. All the whispering out of the corners of our mouths eventually aroused the suspicions of our class teacher (Miss Billings at the time) and inevitably we were separated.

    Finally, here are just a few more of the innumerable recollections of my Moor Lane years: walking to and from primary school with a group of friends each day, comparing each other’s Brylcreem-sculpted hairstyles and swapping vocal imitations of Tommy Steele and Elvis Presley; occasionally ringing Miss Rowell’s doorbell as we passed her house, and then running away; Gypsy caravans rattling past the school to the waste ground nearby where they set up camp; a particular intellectually disabled young man who used to try and grab us through the railings as he passed along Moor Lane, aroused by our heartless baiting; a new boy who gave two names for himself to the teacher and was punished for refusing to choose between them; egg-and-spoon and sack races in the field next to the school; the white line between the infant and primary playgrounds; how hard the bitumen was when you fell over or found yourself at the bottom of a squirming pile of fellow students (my first ever pair of spectacles was broken at the bottom of one of those piles); school milk and school dinners; the simmering rivalry between the two ‘gangs’ in my last year at the school (Paul Townroe’s gang, of which I was a member, and Harry Wragg’s gang) and the low walls in the playground over which, terrified of falling, one had to hurdle desperately when pursued by rival gang members; the long glassy slides we used to make in the primary playground when it snowed;  at play-time looking up at the first-storey windows and invariably seeing one of the teachers keeping watch; school excursions to Haddon Hall, the Lady Bower Dam and an Abbey where the monks were under a vow of silence; PT in the assembly hall, and school concerts on the stage; and the sense of loss when friendships were severed through the harsh streaming imposed through the 11+ exams.

    Did we get a good education at Moor Lane?  Well, I excelled at Queen Elizabeth’s among many strangers, and when I arrived in Australia and entered first year high school, setting aside my deficit of knowledge of all things Australian outside of cricket and tennis, I was significantly ahead academically in all the basic subjects.  I think, when all’s said and done, we Moor Lane students were given a good start.

    By Tony Williams (24/07/2015)
  • I was a pupil at Moor lane Infants school 1960 to 1963.  My parents bought Miss Rowell’s house on Sylvester Street.  The teachers were Mrs Green, Mrs Hayward, Mrs Barnes (scary), Mrs Moxon, Miss Gammond & Mrs Woolley(lovely).  Miss Rowell tried to make me eat rice pudding & mum went down to the school & told her not to make me eat things I didn’t like

    By Suzanne Lee (15/07/2015)
  • My sister and I are sitting here feeling quite excited after finding this site all about our old school Moor Lane. Our names are Carol and Margaret Gunther, (now Carol Patterson and Margaret Hayes). We lived at 2, Moor Lane from 1947 to 1952 and then moved to 90 Jenford St. on the Ladybrook estate. We attended the infants and juniors during this period. We were so surprised to read comments by Mike Frost because we remember our mum and dad talking about the “Frost” family emigrating to Canada! We lived in the middle of the three cottages. The Fell family lived next door to us. The cottages were already condemned when  we moved in – though very young we remember the toilets being at the end of the cottages and a bucket and cold tap behind the front door and the candles and oil lamps to light our way to bed it is incredible to think of it now. When we were eight and nine my parents brought us to Swansea in South Wales (as my mother was originally from here) and we have been here ever since but reading everyones comments particularly Mike Frosts has brought back so many memories to us.  We are sure we used to come and play at your house sometimes.  Maybe your Mum would remember our family. Margaret seems to think that there was a teacher called Miss Searsy ? or at least it sounded like that in her five year old mind, would anyone else remember her?  

    By margaret hayes nee gunther (15/06/2015)
  • Reading the comments and seeing the name of Mr Warrington brought back a few memories of being at Moor Lane School. Mr Warrington was an outstanding teacher and what a memory. Many years later when I was a lecturer at what used to be Mansfield School of Arts, walking up to Ashfield House through the car park I heard a voice behind me say “Hello Trevor”. It was Mr Warrington. I was in my forties, I hadn’t seen him since I was ten or eleven and he had taught me for just one year. He’d come to see the photography tutor at college. A day or so later, the tutor came up to me and said that he’d had a strange experience. He said that he’d been talking to a Mr Warrington and the strange thing was that it was like talking to me!

    He had no idea of the connection. 

    By Trevor Ellis (28/05/2015)
  • Just discovered this site. It’s brilliant and brought back many memories of my time and the teachers at Moor Lane School from 1962-68. I remember as a 6 year old,  reading one of the reading scheme books to Miss Rowell, then having to reread it backwards so she could check I hadn’t just memorised it! In the juniors, I was in the choir. At Christmas time, I remember walking down to the Baptist Chapel (later replaced by the bus station on Rosemary street) waving to old people in the flats on Sutton Road.

    I don’t know if anyone has mentioned Mr Thomas. My brother John was in his class for 2 years around about 1964.

    I don’t live in Mansfield now, but still visit my parents. My father was born in 1923, lived in Princes Street and went to Moor Lane, so I plan to quiz him as soon as I can.

    By Julie Lewis (12/04/2015)
  • To one and all

    Does anyone know of the whereabouts of Keith Pritchard ?

    He was a very special bloke in my life and I often wonder what happened to him and where he is now?

    Peter

     

    By Peter Hibbert (15/03/2015)
  • Hello  everyone,  after  a  brief  hiatus  I  am  back  to  reminiscing  with  the  stories  of  Mansfield,  especially  Moor  Street and  area  as  well as  Brick Kiln  Lane .

    Lynette, we  lived  at  the  top  end  of Moor St.  No.140   with  my  Grandma  Price,  where  abouts  did  you  live?

    Peter,  “Killer”  did the   same  to  me,  I  was  trying  out  for  the school  team  and  showed  up  with  2  studs missing  off  my  boots.  A gang  of  us had  been  playing  on  the  hayfield  on  the  weekend  and the  2  came  loose.  The  cobbler  on  Victoria  Street,  next  to  Mounteny’s  grocery  store  was  closed.  Anyway  Mr  Phillips  did  not  care  for “ill  kept”  togs,  so  that was  it  for  me.  My  chums  Roy  Overton  and  John  Robertston  made the  team.

    Once  again  nice  to  read  the  stories

    Mike

    By Mike Frost (15/12/2014)
  • I lived on Moor Street as a child and attended Moor Lane Infant and Junior School in the 1960s. I have very happy memories of my school days there. I remember a lot of the staff already mentioned. My special memory has to be our school assembly where we sang Summer Suns are glowing and Jerusalem.

    By Lynette Hopwood(nee Jennings) (27/10/2014)
  • Hello All

    I too attended Moor Lane School, as did all of my 5 brothers and one sister.

    I well remember Miss King, my favourite teacher, she had slick and shiney brylcreamed hair and dressed very well.

    One of my most stark memories is of Mr. Phillips. I was a member of the school football team (left back) and on one match day I duly arrived at school but didn’t have any football boots. The reason I didn’t have them was simply because my parents couldn’t afford to buy them. Mr. Phillips was enraged when I told him about having no boots. He shouted, pointing at me “You will never wear a school football shirt again!”. I didn’t, and still don’t understand why he got so angry, it quite upset me. I also remember well the toilet paper, that was torture!!! 

    By Peter Hibbert (30/09/2014)
  • Forgot to mention, Christmas time was magical at the school, pantomimes, balloons and presents.

    By Peter Hibbert (30/09/2014)
  • It is remarkable that the collective memories of past students of Moor Lane are so similar and in a time when schools and teachers are so often rubbished, so positive. I went to Moor Lane from the age of 4 and a half and have fond memories of those times in the 1950s growing up in Mansfield. My memorable teachers were also Mr Warrington and Mr Richards who taught me to swim and to play football but also how to approach life in a positive way through their encouragement. I still have the treasured photos of the swimming team trained by Mr Warrington( who could forget the mac) who swept all of the trophies in the Mansfield school competition. I remember Stuart Taylor, Susan Belcher, Robert Whitehead, Susan Horner and Alison Whose name escapes me.

     Likewise at football killer(Frank) Richards and our proud team along with Mr Booth the headmaster posing with the cup and shield unbeaten as I recall but the older I get the better I was! I remember Peter Allen, Paul Lockton, Kevin Statham amongst others the names long forgotten.

    The memories of the dividing line in the playground, the ice slide down the playground and for some reason the freezing cold outside toilets.Did I mention The forbidding Miss Rowell and her cane

    By Ian Wilson (02/06/2014)
  • I went to Moor Lane School in the 70s. I lived at 22 Moor St, with my mum Doreen, dad Sam (Vincent) and brother Stephen. 

    By paul cartwright (15/03/2014)
  • Hello Martin, nice to read about some one who lived on Moor Street. We lived up the street from you, however I doubt you would recall us. My family moved to 126 Moor Street to board with a gentleman named Mr Stafford, until we moved over to Brick Kiln Lane. My Grandma, Mrs Price lived at the top end, 140 next to the Turners and Reeses. A month or so ago I caught your comments and mentioned some of the names to Mum.. she is now 88, but could recall some of the people mentioned. Jeniffer Fell, was she the daughter of the cobbler and had a brother Steven (sic ???) who lived in the cottages between the terraced houses, the lot where we had the bonfires . She also recalled the Slacks.. I chummed around with a lad, in the early 60s after coming back from Canada, name Ivor Wakefield they would have lived on the opposite side of the street from around you. Never heard about him after going back in the early 70s . You may know my cousin Marlene Mitton who lived with Grandma Price, she would be a round your age now. And a note to Fred Newton, I think we were in school togetherI started Moor Lane infants at the age of 4 and left Moor Lane junior to come to Canada in 1956… I returned in 1959… yep those trips to the swimming baths brought back lots of good memories. Regards to everyone Mike Frost

    By Mike Frost (17/10/2013)
  • I was five in December 1947 living at, 82 Moor Street and presumably started at Moor Lane infants in January 1948, unless I started in the previous September. I too remember Miss Rowell but never earned her wrath, as described. One class teacher I remember was Miss Davis (Davies?). Fellow pupils I can remember were:- Alan Morton, Michael Binch, Jennifer Fell, Martin Robinson, Colin Slack, Pat Cockayne. I left there in February 1950 and subsequently went to Broomhill School.

    By Martin Gorner (15/09/2013)
  • I remember my years at Moor Lane (I was there from 1962 /1967), and all the teachers, I loved that school and went to Rosemary Secondary after.

    By pauleen elliott (23/04/2013)
  • I started Moor Lane infants at thrr and a half years and left juniors in 1954 after passing 11 plus, remember Mrs Johnson, Mrs King, Mr Clarke adding to those mentioned above. Mr Warrington took art and swimming at Mansfield Baths, he wore a mac over his trunks(odd) he used to bike it to school I remember him getting a car. Killer Phillips worked on a meat stall on Mansfield Market on Saturdays. Nice to hear from anyone who knows me.I can still recall a lot of my classmates from the 40’s and 50’s.

    By Fred Newton (26/01/2013)
  • Just a little bit of info, my father went to Rosemary St School in the 1920’s and their nickname was the Rosemary Bulldogs. My father said Moor Lane School’s nickname was Moor Lane dirty necks! I can’t comment why!!!! Sorry guys.

    By Gordon Ball (15/10/2012)
  • Was re reading some of te memories that people had of Moor Lane, both “Infant” and “Junior” The names of the teachers mentioned certainly do bring things to surface. I had forgotten about Miss Brotherhood, was there not a Miss Woolsley (sic ?) as well, does anyone recall the “dinner ladies” I think several live on Princes’s Street 1 near the Co-op and another at the bottom end closer to Victoria Street. Wonder if Diane was in the same class as me. Keep these stories coming in.

    By Mke Frost (10/08/2012)
  • Sure do Rex, and as the song goes ” I Remember You “…. Avis lived close to the Brickyard area…I also remember Alan,Margaret and Leon, but try as I may, I cannot put faces to them…Maurice Brown, knew him for many years after school. Great sportsman Maurice, especially Cricket and Football. He is pictured in many of the Cricket Teams on this site… Rex, I recollect you used to be quite a tall lad.. Regards….alan curtis.

    By alan curtis (25/07/2012)
  • I was at Moor Lane fron 1936 to 1944. My last class teacher was Gladys Stokes and she was brilliant. Due to her I took the 11 plus exam when I was just a few days short of my 10th birthday and I passed. Does anyone remember my class mates -. Margaret Mounjt, Avis Berry, Alan Shelton, Maurice Brown, Leon Place etc?

    By Rex Mirfin (24/07/2012)
  • I know that all who went to Moor Lane School will agree this… Not only did we go to Moor Lane to learn…We were taught how to behave, we were taught manners, we were taught to respect our elders, we were taught to give up our seat on a bus to an elder or lady, all of this was good grounding to becoming an adult…..Miss Rowell and company didn’t do a bad job, did they ?….

    By alan curtis (22/04/2012)
  • Miss Stokes was an excellent teacher. I still remember some of the insights that she taught. I was in her class with 37 other children back in 1950. Gwynneth Roberts, Valerie Searson, Pamela Staves, Terry Cheeseman, William (?) Whitehead were class-mates. Mr Beasley was the Head and Mr Phillips taught sports and music, I think.

    By Alan M (21/04/2012)
  • Wow, more memories rekindled I started Moor Lane Infant school when I was 4, I lived right behind it on Moor St. I used to climb the wall to go home at play time. I remember Miss Green and Miss Wooley, and one can never forget how Miss Rowell could use the cane. When I went the “big” school Mr Philips was the football and sports master and Mr Warrington was my class teacher. Again I got to know Mr Beasly – was standing under the clock where his office was  at least once a week. Went back to Moor Lane when we returned from Canada in 1959, was in Miss Kings class. Many of us went to High Oakham after taking the 11+ exam. I made some comments in the High Oakham part of this format. It would be nice to hear a comment from some of the other people who attended the same time. Cheers Mike Frost

    By Mike Frost (10/04/2012)
  • Yes, I remember Miss Stokes very well….I too was in her class it would have been in 1939/40….She was a lovely lovely teacher….She organised the infants school play…It was Robin Hood , and I wanted to be Robin Hood….I didn’t get the part….I finished up playing Friar Tuck with a cushion up my cassock . Richard King got the part of Robin. I also was given a Triangle to play at school….O’dear ,O’dear !!!! Miss Stokes lived up near High Oakham School on Berry Hill… When I used to walk up to High Oakham, she would be waiting to catch a bus on Nottingham Road which would take her up to Moor Lane School….It was always . Good Morning Miss Stokes !

    By alan curtis (22/03/2012)
  • I was given a triangle too! Made me smile to remember that – only problem was that the triangle beat was so long in coming I still used to miss it! Anyone remember Miss Stokes as well? I think she was my class teacher for a year.

    By Margaret (20/03/2012)
  • I attended this school from 1961 – 1967 starting in Miss Greens class at the infants and Miss Billings in the juniors. I doubt it is the oldest school in Mansfield though, that will possibly be Queen Elizabeths, and Brunts is also much older.

    By STEHEN WALKER (20/03/2012)
  • There was a Miss Rowell at Carter Lane in the late Thirties and early Forties. Is it the same lady? she was a fantastic lady. The one I remember would not let me have a drum, I was always given a triangle or a tamborine apart from that as I say she was great!

    By Malcolm Raynor (15/03/2012)
  • Wow ! How long was Miss Rowell the Head Teacher of the Infants School ??? Some of the comments relating to the strictness of Miss Rowell , I too can relate to….Once I felt the pain of Miss Rowell’s ruler on my legs…Cannot remember why ! Alan..

    By alan curtis (13/03/2012)
  • I started at Moor Lane Infants in 1960 and then went across the playground to the juniors. I can remember Miss Rowell as well – I think she was the one who threatened to smack me on my first day if I didn’t stop crying! Mr Booth was the best Headmaster around. There was also Mrs Bills and Miss Billings I think – both used to scare me. In winter we used to make slides on the ice and see just how far down the playground we could get.

    By Margaret (12/03/2012)
  • I started at the Infants in 1952 and attended both schools. I remember Miss Rowell head of infants as quite intimidating. My teacher at one point in the infants was Miss Barbara Davies – still occasionally see her! Remember Mr Beasley at the junior school – he was really nice. teachers there, Mrs Wilson – strict!, Mr Warrington – stricter!- “Killer” Phillips -never in his class but seemed quite nice. Also Miss Brotherhood – wasn’t in her class at all but really nice and always used to say hello if we met in town years later. I have been told that when Miss Rowell and Mr Beasley had a meeting it would often be in the playground and they would each walk up and down their side of the line which divided the infants side from the juniors!

    By Diane (05/02/2012)
  • I was taught there at the infants for 2 years 1962/63. Infants headmistress was Mrs.Rowell. Juniors for 4yrs till 1968, headmaster was Mr.Booth, deputy head, music and sports was Mr (killer) Phillips I believe.

    By John (25/12/2011)
  • How about seeing how many past Headmasters/Headmistresss’ and Teachers can be named from over the years. I can start with:- Heads: Mr Gelsthorpe.Mr Beasley. Miss Rowell.(infants). Teachers: Mr Badminton. Mr Anderson.

    By alan curtis (22/06/2011)

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