Wigan Album

The school looked like this when I attended 1962-1968, it is now used by Wigan Music Service. I walk down there quite regularly,there are still pleasant fields beyond near to Leyland Park but loads of housing around there now, and currently building houses where the Gym used to be.

Intack farm opposite this photo,owned by Tom Tattersall.

I was there 1964-69 and this brings so many memories. I remember Elizabeth walking down Lord Street after school with her friend but I didn't get to know her myself until many years later, but it is a friendship that was certainly worth the wait. Another dear friend of mine, Neil, took me to the school just for a little reminisce some years ago. He parked his car in Lord Street and we walked up to the school. It was one of the very rare really hot days we get and the heat created a haze in the air, and it produced a dream-like quality; I felt like Kathleen Turner in "Peggy-Sue Got Married" when she travels back in time to her high school days. Fanciful maybe, but I always DID have a vivid imagination, and it was a rather nice experience!

Thanks for your kind words, Irene.I know what you mean about a vivid imagination because I have one as well.I never pass the building without thinking how strict some of the teachers there were, they would never get away with anything like that now.Having said that, I don't think we came to much harm.

Remember Miss Whillas, Elizabeth? ....."Heads up when you're writing!"? She actually LIKED my handwriting, but wo betide those whose handwriting she DIDN'T like!

Oh yes, I remember her alright ! I couldn't stand her, she came back after being in Formosa (now Taiwan) I had no idea where that was,back then it sounded like a disease to me.

She had a "thing" about China and used to wear a Chinese satin-like jacket with a stand-up collar at the Christmas Party, where her idea of entertaining us was a recitation of Edgar Marriott's poem "The Battle of Hastings" in a Lancashire accent! She also once sent all our class a Chinese Christmas Card which opened back-to-front! Many years ago I attended a reunion at what used to be The Conservative Club in Hindley and this very old lady, bent almost double, was escorted in, and it was Miss Whillas. I don't think she was really aware of what was going on.

I went to a reunion there but I think it was just for two years; 1961-1966 and 1962-1967. I don't remember seeing you or Miss Whillas so I think you may have gone to a different one. Some people there looked totally different and others didn't seem to have changed much appearance wise.