Wigan Album

I remember when we moved into this building from the old one behind central Park...think it was about 1965 or thereabouts. I left in 1969 don't know what happened to it after that..

Well eventually it was burned down. I was Careers Adviser there for a time when it was Whitley High School. I used to think Miss Holland would turn in her grave at how things had changed. No more indoor shoes, no more moving quietly.

the schoolopened in 1965 as I was a first year then. All spanking new with polished floors and indoor and outdoor shoes. The barn for rainy breaks and the view of the Tupperware factory! happy days.

Yes it was 1965, I started in 1964 and we spent our first year in Army type huts in Brindley Street in Pemberton and then we went to Whitley. It was supposedly the 'school of the future' with a Language Lab and very modern throughout. I remember Gladys Holland 'floating' in her cap and gown down the side of the hall for assembly, she used to terrify me! Yes we had indoor shoes and horrid smelling incinerators in the toilets! I also remember playing hockey on the pitch and having to walk to it in our brown knickers if we had forgotten our shorts, however freezing cold it was! Happy Days

Yes I (Jean Holleron) went there from Gidlow school the day it opened. I remember carrying my indoor shoes and thinking about the shiny new floors. It was a well equiped school such a pity it didn't last.

Hi Sue (as was Susan Round)! Yes you are right, we spent the First Year in Nissen Huts in Brindley Street and then moved into Whitley Crescent from 2nd Form onwards. I can still remember the aweful smell of those incinerators in the loos!!!! And of course, "Gladys" (Miss Holland) "floating" along the side to the stage every morning for prayers!

I had no idea this school burned down. how sad. i moved in there in my 4th year and it was beautiful. i remember the great art rooms with pottery wheels, and the language lab! and like everyone else - the indoor shoes and uniform inspections. it was very strict but in hindsight that was no bad thing.

Happy memories race back about school from seeing this photo. So proud to have been a part of it.

I think I sat next to you Jean Hall with Janice Taylor in front of you

I too was a 1965 new girl who remembers those itchy brown knickers well.I was put in detention for not wearing my school hat and flirting with the window cleaners(shameful).WHSgirls were forbidden to talk to males !Are there anymore classmates out there willing to share memories of our happy days there ?5

I didn't know it had burned down it was really state of the art such a shame. I also started the school at Brindley st in 1963. I remember the speech days at the Queens Hall I still have a French dictionary I won as a school prize. We also had a school song I still remember all the words ..sad or what?

Yes susan Knowles I do remember you and Janice Taylor.. hope you are well

I started here in 1969 and it changed to Whitley in my fourth year. I remember the horrible knickers, the indoor shoes, the highly polished floor, and always having to wear a hat. Miss Bennett was a tyrant though she never taught me and my friend just messaged me to ask for the words to the school song and I cannot remember it. Teaching standards were strict, Miss Holland would have had a fit if she had seen the school when it became comprehensive.

Hello lynne Waddington.We went out for a short while in 1974.Hope you are well and enjoying life. Are you still in Wigan.Regards Keith.

Hi Jean, yes I am very well thanks.I would love to know where Janice is these days. I hope you are well and thanks for the reply

I do remember a Jean Hall when I was doing lots of athletics with Wigan Harriers. I also went to the school on the day it was opened. I was in a class called Transitus as we were a class of 13+ passes who spent a year at Gidlow School before the High School opened.

Shocked to read school burned down. Was there 1965 to 1971 Friends of mine then we're Sue, Sandra, Helen, Anita, Anne. Lots of time under the bridge since then

Hello - I left in 1973 and have many memories of WGH school... happy ones:-) I no longer live in Wigan and was saddened to see it had gone a while ago - drove along the road expecting to see it.....I would love to hear from people who were in my year =- the French stream....

I didn't know it had burned down either and my sister lives just further up Whitley Crescent! We have recently had a reunion of our class and would love to find more of you! The ones who met up recently are Eileen Smalley, Helen Clayton, Ann Burrows, Anita Gee, Sandra Dean, Margaret Unsworth, Janet Melling. Sadly Joyce Baines died nearly 3 years ago. Susan Mackley and Lynn Laithwaite have also been traced. E mail me if there are any more of you that would like to join us!

I grew up round the corner from here. My parents still live nearby. I'm pretty certain it didn't burn down, I remember it closing and playing in the building as they demolished it....

I remember starting at the new building in 1965 after a year in the prefabricated huts in Brindley Street.I remember Miss Holland of course who I think retired the year I left in 1971. I also remember Miss Bennett(French) Miss Hanson (Latin) Miss Rigby (History) and Mrs Wainwright who taught English. I had no idea that the building had burned down. What a pity!Only a couple of days ago while clearing out the attic I came across my old school blazer, hats and the old summer uniform dresses of brown stripes on a white background.They dont make them like that anymore!

I was a Lower 5th pupil in 1965 when the whole school moved from the Mab's Cross site, Wigan Lane, Now Mab's Cross Primary School, to the brand new school in Whitley. I Remember well all the rules and regulations regarding wearing indoor and outdoor shoes. Miss Holland didn't allow any visitors wearing high heeled shoes! Also remember the strict rules regarding uniform code. Often on the receiving end of detentions for not wearing my hat whilst travelling too and from school.My excuse at the time was it was difficult trying to balance a felt 'boater' hat on top of a 'beehive hairdo' Oh happy days!!!

Amazing to see so many names I remember. I moved from Brindley Street at the end of lower thirds to new school at whiteley. Amazing school. It disn't burn down, it was just closed and then built on. Are there any Reunions?

The next reunion is next Friday 16th Sept 2016 at The Oak and I'm doing the talk!!!

And the next reunion dinner of the WGHS Old Girls Association will be 15 Sep 2017

I started at GHSW in 1960 at the Brindley Street Huts. We were the first to use them and we had a special bus that started at Beech Hill and picked others up along the way via Marylebone and Wigan centre. When the Whitley school was almost ready, our year took our O-Levels there in June 1965 - a lot quieter than exams in the old school hall!

I recognise the names on here, I think some of you were prefects when I was there from 1967 - 1974. Is there anyone from my time reading this?

I was Diane Bolton and I was there from 1968 when I was 11. I look on my years there with very fond memories and grateful for all the opportunities that school gave me. Miss Bennett taught me French and Miss Hanson tried to teach me Latin!

Hi. Came across this website and was amazed to recognise names who were in my class like Janet Shepherd and Susan Round. The comments brought memories flooding back especially those awful brown PE knickers! Happy days!

See a lot of names I remember. Who was with me when we broke a window? You would think it was equal to the great train robbery. Ironic as I went on to be a headteacher myself.

Hi Christine(Aldridge) I was at the high school from 1968- 1973. I think your sister Helen was one of my best friends but lost touch years & years ago . My dad Mr Pigot started teaching there the 1st year it became Whitley.

I was head girl there and would like to hear from anyone who remembers me...susan eccleston

Lovely to re read these memories, a lot of us are still in touch regularly and we meet up a few times a year. We are Sandra Dean Margaret Unsworth, Carole Heaton, Wendy Houghton, Janet Melling Eileen Smalley, Gillian Jackson, Ann Burrows, Susan Mackley, Val Connor, Lynn Laithwaite, Anita Gee, Helen Clayton .
E mail me if you would like to join us

Oh dear - you're all too young to remember me - in 1952 I joined the school when it was at Mab's Cross, Wigan Lane. We used to stop off at the bakery at the bottom of the hill to buy penny loaves on the way home. Anyone remember that? And the words of the school song? Would be interested to connect with anyone from my year.

I was there from 1970 to 1976 and saw the changes when the school went comprehensive. The standards did drop sadly. I remember some of the words to the school song - Pilgrims we on lifes highway, journeying on, flagging never! Great memories.

Hi does anyone remember the school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, with Jean McKellen in? If so I would be extremely grateful if you could let me know if there was a show guide or a picture of her in the role as the Bottom player.
I've never messaged on here before so I'm hoping I will get a email notification if I get a reply :)

Came across these comment by chances. What memories! Drop me an e-mail Susan (Knowles) if you spot this an wish to do so.
Written 2022.

I was a pupil at the new Whitley site 1965 - 1972. Still have a copy of a Speech day awards with the school song.So sad that all the hard work that Gladys and Doris Derbyshire put into a new school was so short lived.High school girls together!!