Hello Malcolm, Just to say I knew Maurice Ward, he was in my class. I played a lot of football, and many times I played on the same football pitch as Johnny Abthorpe, but never with him, always against him...What a good football player he was. Let me see if I can conjure up a few names for you to ponder over from your school days. I guess you must have known :- Alan Gray, Don Parsons, Geoff Hollingsworth, Brunner Brown, Alan Brown, Maurice Lamb, Albert Severns, Bill Shotbolt, Raymond White. Brian Salmon.George Mellors. George Palmer. You will recall the boys' quadrangle and the lovely gardens to the right, just before the sports field...Mr. Southern the woodwork teacher, instead of making the usual pipe racks, had us making the Trellis Work for the gardens... And when completed, had us erecting it all, it did look lovely.... Re... the pictures, I believe that Miss Weddle the Headmistress of the Girls School, was, in the early 1940's, a teacher at Ravensdale School, prior to her move to High Oakham School.

It was very refreshing to read this article on High Oakham. I too attended , albeit briefly, from 1960-1961, was in forms 1BR and 2BR... before emigrating to Canada. I did make 1 more visit back in the early 70s. Have many fond memories of my time there, although i am sure some of the teachers were "pleased" to see me leave. I recall Ms Gough, Ms Greenhalge, (sic), Mrs Beresford and of course Ms Weddle.... whom I "saw" many many times . You are correct Alan.. Ms Weddle did teach at Ravensdale.. she taught my Mother.

Alan I remember some of the names you knew at School, Johny Abthorpe he lived in the Radmanthwaite area seem to recall he had a few games with the Stags as an amateur on a trial basis as did Vaughn Williams who actually signed on then played for Chesterfield and later Matlock Town. He came from the Crown Farm area. John I understand emigrated to Canada but passed away many years ago Brian Salmon I believe joined the Police but later had the Garage and Motor Sales Garage at the crossroads at Ravenshead near The Hutt. Maurice Ward lived in the Ravensdale area and went into the Civil Sevice Miss Weddle did teach at Ravensdale before taking over at High Oakham my sister who attended the girls school always led me to believe she was very strict. I remember Bill Shotbolt who lived in the Sutton Road area I seem to think either Garnon street or the Knoll certainly somewhere near to the Cockle public house. I also remember Geoff Hollingsworth by name I do not remember the garden and trellis work, that must have been after I left and I suppose I was lucky, I did not make a pipe rack but a photo frame which my Mother used for years

In my latest submission I may have had a memory proplem but it is so long ago it may have been a class mate named Donaldson not John Abthorpe who emigrated to Canada I therefore apologise if that is the case, but it was over 6o years ago!

Malcolm, although it was not 60 years for me, close to 51 though,, you did get me thinking about some of the "trades" teachers we had there. I cannot recall some of the names, I did take the metal/blacksmith class, and the woodworking one as well. we did not make pipe racks, however I recall making a coal shovel for my Grandma, and a "paint" scraper.. was not that good in those classes. Did you live in the Sutton road area.... we moved to Brick Kiln Lane New estate in aroun 51-52. Prior to that we lived on Moor Street

Mike --- Regarding metal work, we never had lessons in that subject I suppose it was due to the War and only wood would have not been available. Personally at the time of my attendance at the School I lived on Carter Lane. I was at School in the same form with Louis Forman who lived on Garnon Street and we were close friends before and after National Service until he got married. I also used to go to the Westfield Folk House and knew Mike Hallows and Rob Cameron the latter living on The Knoll. I cannot remember where Mike lived but it was in that area you probably moved there when the Ladybrook Estate was built around that time and at times. I knew the Shotbolts who lived on Garnon Street and later Roy Overton and a couple who lived at the Top of Brick Kiln Lane whose names I fail in my dotage to remember apart from the Christian name of the brother which was Wycliffe. His sister lived on the hill down to the centre of the Ladybrook estate when she got married. Later on I knew Roy Overton, a really good footballer who became a professional but that was later when my family moved to Wainwright Avenue at the top of Westfield Lane /Abbott lane Junction

With reference to the organization of Classes . Each classroom had four rows of desks of five in number and each row made up the membership of a House within the School --- Newstead, Welbeck, Haddon And Chatsworth. This was used mainly in competitions, in particular sport in the Quadrangle. Miss Slack, the Art Mistress arranged for the Coats of Arms to be displayed around the said Quadrangle and in our form we had a talented young man one Graham Bull who painted the same. They were fantastic. Graham came to the school from Kirkby primarily to take his School Certificate with several others as the establishment he was attending did not provide the same. The golden parts were done using gold leaf not paint. Regarding Mr Paling (Pop as we called him) - he not only taught PT but also the weekly swimming lessons at Mansfield Baths and had a lot of success in competitions around the County. On the walls of the gym were a considerable number of photographs of winners. Whilst I was at the school Ken Riley was a Champion but he was older by  2 years than myself. Reference has been made to the imaginary line on the Sports Field and Mr Paling was always supervising the separation of the sexes apart from continually keeping students from playing on his treasured Cricket Pitch and with his pocket knife removing Dandelions etc from the same. During the war at the top of the field each of the boys classes had an allotment growing vegetables for the school meals. The story was he had served as a Captain in the First World War and had a slver plate over his skull. Whether that was true or not he certainly wore a Trilby at all times. On Wednesdays he always went to Nottingham as we understood for Dancing Lessons. It seemed to be the case as in the Gym he seemed to be practicing dance steps on the Stage while we were having the lesson. I was told he actually got married around the time I left the school to his dancing partner. Pop seemed to be fair but strict. To my knowledge he only had one failure that was he couldn't teach me to swim. I detested it and to date I still cannot and have no wish to do so

Malcolm, I would like to re-iterate all you say....The difference being was that I liked all sport....I was chosen in a team of five to represent the school in the National Schools Swimming Championships....We didn't win, but came third.....Two of the other members were Alan Gray and Don Parsons. I can see the other two, but cannot remember their names...We were able to train at Mansfield Baths before going to school every morning for free...In our time at High Oakham, the school held the national High Jump Junior Championship Record....If my memory serves me right, I believe the Record Height at that time was 6ft-2ins.,and was held by I think, Geoff Hollingsworth...Anyway, the Certificate was also on the wall in the hall, above the steps leading up to the stage on the right...I also managed to get my picture on the wall in the Rogues Gallery...

I recall that in 1944 the Government introduced a new Act.... It was to change the standards of all schools above the comprehensive schools....The schools that required pupils who had to take an 11+ examination, and passed the standard the exam results required, were streamed into that school... The Education Act of 1944 changed the system of Grammar Schools' into three different categories , Grammar School..... Secondary Modern School..... Technical School /College..... All of the above, had their own teaching standards . But none better than the other when it came to the exams for the School Certificate.....

I remember when the school Changed from a Central School and I took the School Certificate there were eleven of us, all but one passed. My memory fails me at times I think we were called the Fifth Form and Mr (Prigger ) Price was what amounted to him being shared with Form 4AR, probably due to a change in the shool leaving age also around that time. He had us all in his main classroom when the results came through and he read out the said results alphabetically and I was one of the last few. I sat there fingers crossed and when he said Raynor what the Hell have you been up to you have got a distiction in geography, there was a pause and I sat there nervously wondering what next. He then told me I had passed with a credit in maths and passes in all the other subjects, was I relieved you could bet I was believe me!

Reference the 1944 Act if I am correct the full transition took some time to fully implement, with two exceptions the School Leaving Age and the schools became the responsibility of Notts County Council, prior to that they were under Mansfield Borough Council

Much is said about Mr White who was certainly very strict, and we all I suppose lived in fear of being called or taken to his office  I suppose. Once when I went into the office my father was there which made matters worse, all sorts of thoughts went through my mind until Mr White explained why he had sent for me. This was on a Wednesday mid morning, the previous Saturday Charlton Atheletic and Derby County had been playing in the FA Cup, on that day my father who worked for the Trent Buses had obtained some tickets for the League Match when both teams were playing the same sides as the previous Saturday at Wembley. Free tickets, free transport a wonderful match which included several internationals Mr White went right up to the top in my estimation. The rest of my class were dumfounded when I turned up the next day at school. Mr White even asked me about the game - he was great.

Today, at school, if the boilers break down during the winter months , the children are sent home. I can only recall this ever happening once at High Oakham School. We did not get sent home, we were told to go outside and run round the perimeter of the playing field half a dozen times. That got the blood pumping round, and we soon felt warm. From the quadrangle of the boys school, (I cannot think why it was called the Quadrangle, it only had three sides). there were three or four steps leading to the playing fields, I say fields, because half the playing field belonged to the Girls School, and an imaginary line separated the boys side from the girls side. Most of the boys side were taken up with a football pitch and along side of the football pitch was a treasured cricket pitch. At the top of the field along the hawthorne hedge that separated the vegetable gardens from the playing field, there was a sand pit that was used for the long jump. Also close by was what I can only describe as a boat shaped wooden instrument that was used to sharpen up your catching at cricket. A group of boys would stand around the machine, one would throw the cricket ball to hit the inside of the " upturned boat", the ball would shoot off at any angle, making the onlooking boys ready to catch it when it came their way. Of course the cricket pitch was what one could only describe as a bowling green. No one was allowed to walk on, or anywhere near it. It was only used for the inter-house games. As I have previously said, the boys houses were thus - Newstead House were Blue, Wellbeck House were Red, Haddon House were Yellow. Chatsworth House were Green. The inter-house sports games were :- football, cricket, swimming, running, long jump, high jump, javelin throw, throwing the cricket ball, bowling at the wicket, tug of war. The vegetable gardens were used to grow all kinds of vegetables that could be used for school dinners. There were many High Oakham Boys who went on to play football and cricket for league teams.

Alan I suppose you was one of the elite who were allowed to use that swimming machine Pop Paling had on the stage. As for me I only managed those boxes in the Gym that were used to go through the motions of swimming.

I stumbled across this site whilst looking for information on Mansfield's railway history.I think I must have been in the same year as Alan Curtis,joining the school in Sept 1945 from Bull Farm .I was in 1A under the watchfull eye of Pop Paling (Get away you Clown, Dog in a Manger)He terrified me as I was rather timid then. Some other names I recall were Paul Catherall.Barry Boden,Frank Brealey,Mick Hallows,Richard Sandham Alan Braithwate and Brian ClatworthyThere were two other lads. Turner and Seymour but I can't recall thier first names.Mr Barkes was actually Mr AC Barke according to my old school report. As I remember it, the school was known as High Oakham Boys Selective Central School and was, together with the Grammer schools able to offer the chance to progress to the Oxford School Certificate.

Hello again Ken, Yes, we did start High Oakham at the same time in 1945...It seems about 3 weeks ago !A simple correction, it was 1A Remove we went into...and I agree with you, Mr.Paling was indeed a frightening figure, especially when you were in the first year.I knew all the boys you yourself remember...Paul Catherall lived on Cromford Avenue and when walking to school each morning, I would knock on his door ( I think it was a bungalow ) , and we would walk to school together. We both carried our satchels with homework enclosed. I am sure somewhere on this site is a photograph which includes Alan Braithwate. Was it Maurice Turner, and Colin Seymour,(Only a guess.) There was also Don Parsons, Albert Severns, Roy Blythe, Eric Sheppard, and Bill Shotbolt to add to the list. My very best wishes to you and yours...Alan Curtis

Maurice King is my Dad, we came across this site when my older brother bet Dad he could find reference to him on the internet. Nice to see he is remembered, hopefully fondly!

Hi Alan.This is quite good fun, trying to remember things from our school days .I have not lived in Mansfield since 1969 being now a resident of Sherborne, Dorset.You are correct with Colin Seymour and Maurice Turner however the only person that I can remember meeting, since leaving school, would be Bill Shotbolt who used to visit a relative of his that lived opposite my house on Kings Mill Lane.That would be between 1957,when I got married and 1969 when I moved to Dorset Is there such an organisation as an Old Boys Organisation? I expect this site is a very good substitute.All we have to do is to get everyone to log on to it.By the way,there was another Blyth,Alan, who was very keen on snakes and amphibians.He lived Radmanthwaite way.I cannot recall any school photographs,can you?

Hello Ken, If you look on the other pages on this site, (Living on Bradder St. - Landers Bread and Quarry Lane pages), you will pick up on what I have been up to since leaving school. I also did my bit for King and Country. You mention Bill Shotbolt, in the 50's he married a young lady who lived next door to us when we lived on Brick Kiln Lane. He did some teaching at the school which was next to the old American Camp / Police Training Camp.

Sarah, I am sure I can remember your father Maurice King at school. A tall, very smart, clever young man. I am not surprised that he did well in life. Cannot remember if he also attended Moor Lane School.

Hello Malcolm: Thanks for mentioning Roy Overton, he and I were chums, he lived on Cherry Avenue, near the little "jetty" that we took to walk to the "tip" behind the Brickyard to play Saturday football. After coming back to Canada, I sort of lost touch with all my school chums and the people I chummed around with when living on Brick Kiln Lane, our neighbours then were the Pettits on one side and Les Cornwall on the other side. I did read in the Chad some time ago that Roy had passed away. I will ask my mum if she knew any of those people you mentioned.. We lived at 116 Brick Lane.. and the old farm house was still standing with that big oak tree in the field.. and the "Ladybrooke" was still a stream with wild water cress if memory serves me right. You mentioned Miss Weddell at Ravensdale, is that where you went to school ? By any chance did you know of a family called Price ? Regards Mike

OOOPS. Roy Overton lived on Cherry Grove not Cherry Avenue Mike

Alan, You mentioned you lived on Brick Lane, at which end ??. The school you mentioned which Bill Shotbolt taught at, was that the Technical College? My Dad went there. Thanks for all your annecdotal stories and recollections, many of the places you described I also "travelled" with my chums off of Moor Street or Brick Kiln Lane. I relay these comments made back to my mum, who is approaching 87 and she sometimes can recall even more details. Thanks Mike Frost

Could anyone tell me who some of the people are in the photo Speech Day 1964. The 2 lads on the right side seem quite familiar and a couple of the girls do as well. I was in 1BR and 2BR Some of the other people in my class/year: were: Michael Dring, Geoffrey Peach, John Revill, "Rusty" Phillips, Sandra White, Pauline Carter, Susan Smith, Colin Flowers, a rehead girl named Janet.. if anyone knows a bit more I would appreciate it Thanks Mike

Hello Mike, to answer your questions, we used to live at the Cockle end of Brick Kiln Lane. In 1957, my wife and I bought number 52, from a lovely family by the name of Mr and Mrs Boot... The house was built on a double plot of land, and prior to the new Ladybrook estate being built, it was the last house on the right.

Bill Shotbolt Married our neighbour's daughter, he was teaching at the School was on Sutton Road, opposite the Resorvoir. It was originally a Prisoner of War Camp at the side of the old American Camp....Just about where Morrison's Supermarket stands today....The name of the school was Sherwood Hall Technical School...So I guess it was the original Sherwood Hall Technical Grammer School, before the school moved up to Ravensdale, and across from the Ravensdale Inn....Kind regards to your Mum, Alan

Ken Harrington, you mention Alan Braithwaite in your submissions.You have been away from the Mansfield area for some time, are you aware Alan [Pongo] Braithwaite was an icon nationally? Search Pongo Braithwaite, Aende cycles and you will find pages on the internet about his famous bike frames. He died in the Phillipines, he married a local girl but the Home Office refused to let her into the UK so Pongo went to the Phillipines. Hope you find this interesting, I did post some info on the Cycling Clubs page a few years back. Tom Shead

It appears that you may all be too young to remember my parents who were pupils at High Oakham in the mid 30s. Bill (Billy) Gorner, from Terrace Road, and Dorothy Noakes-Mooring, from Moor Street. Does anyone out there remember them? My father's twin sister, Peggy, was also there.

Tom. Yes I have been away from Mansfield since 1969 and I thank you for the update on Pongo. I did go to see him building frames, in his shed on High Oakham Hill,in the late 50's.