Magic vanished days ……. boiled cabbage … and the teacher we all remember

Well, we just had to include Lost Chorlton Schools in the series nothing to do in chorlton.

Chorlton Cof E, 1951

The books are predicated on that simple idea, that there is plenty going on in Chorlton and we will bring the stories to you, while you do nothing more than sit back, enjoy a mix of daring, historical and the odd silly tales.*

This you can do from the comfort of an armchair or better still by walking the stories.

So far, we have explored the area around the village green, zipped over to the vanished Four Banks Corner and are presently completing an adventure along Beech Road.

Chorlton Grammar School, circa 1931

Others in the series will include the Pubs of Chorlton, the Lost Pubs of Chorlton and trips to Wilbraham Road, Barlow Moor Road and into Didsbury and Whalley Range.

And given that for some “the best years were my school years”, we have fastened on resurrecting those Chorlton schools which are no more.  They are the ones that many will have gone to either as eager and carefree seekers of knowledge or unwilling hostages.

We will include the schools, the memories and the pictures from those that attended, all of which may challenge that dismissive comment from one student that “It could be made of marble, but it would still be bloody school”.**

St Clement's class group, date unknown

Of course what would be fascinating are contributions from you.

They can be about the fun you had , or the misery you endured, mixed with tales of overcooked cabbage and semolina pudding, Sidney the strap, and the bested teacher you met.

So that is it.

You can find Peter Topping and I on social media, stop us at our next book launch, or join me for the next two history walks on September 18th and September 25th.

In the meantime our latest book in the series …… Martledge, Lost and Found by Andrew Simpson & Peter Topping, costs £5, and is available from Chorlton Bookshop or from us at  www.pubbooks.co.uk

Location; Chorlton Good Neighbours

Pictures; The class of 1951, Chorlton C of E, 1951, from the collection of Ann Love, Chorlton Grammar School, circa 1930s, and class group of St Clemet’s School, date unknown from the Lloyd Collection

****A new book on nothing to do in chorlton, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20doing%20nothing%20in%20Chorlton

*Half Our Future, Newsom Report, 1963, Chapter 1 page 2, http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/newsom/newsom1963.html