Wigan Album

Ron, that was the John McCurdy building, if that's how it's spelt.!!

Ron,

I did 8 years day release study in mechanical engineering here. A fine building overshadowed by the quality of the lecturers. Amongst them Ernest Blakemore and John Speakman. Derek Rimmer crossed over from the Grammar School to teach here.

Yep you are correct it was known as the John McCurdy building. Whoever he was?

Ron.
He was chairman of the education committee at the time of the photo.

Interesting to see the name Derek Rimmer again after so many years, he taught me at WGS in the fifties, red hair, if it's the same one - met up with him again at Preston Tech when he was lecturing in computers (night school) when they were in their infancy in the late 60's

Benjamin.

It is the same one.

I wonder if Derek "transferred" to the Linacre after an alleged "dust-up" with "Dicky" Downing in the staff room, after comments made regarding the fairly new young female Office secretary at the school - just a thought.

I have fond memories of this building. I was the apprentice plumber working in the small team of various tradesmen W&D M&TC maintenance dept from 1963 - 1969. James Valance was a scouser with died black hair who was the Maintenance Superintendant. One of my jobs was to keep those oil-burning boilers going and all toilet blocks working. John Green and Cedric Bamber were my mentors and Mack and John Bates; apprentice were the electricians. Harry Bates, Jimmy Spencer, Jim Winstanly, Billy Bamber and Bill Draper apprentice were the joiners. Ronnie Cheers, Birt ? and Trevor Bamber; apprentice were the painters & decorators. We looked after all the buidings the college occupied. Library St, King St West, Gas showrooms basement and Christopher Park in Standish Lower Ground. I would often take a break up on the roof. In fine weather you could see for miles and I would nearly always dream and think 'what's waiting for me out there?' And now I know!

Although based across the road above the old gas showrooms, or as my dad says Rushton's warehouse we used to have some lectures in the new POSH tech!!!