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Wigan Mining & Technical College

45 Comments

Wigan Tech from 1958
Wigan Tech from 1958
Photo: Tim Cooke
Views: 4,916
Item #: 22116
My Dad, Eric Cooke is the first chap on the back row. Can any body else put some names to some faces ?

Comment by: RON HUNT on 16th December 2012 at 20:31

Hi Tim this is the Thomas Linacre staff. I can name 99% of them. When I get time I'll put names to faces unless someone else beats me to it <g>

Comment by: Dave Marsh on 16th December 2012 at 22:21

There's Mr.Day front row,forth from left,Ron.Great photo with lots of good memories,Tim.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 16th December 2012 at 22:38

Hi Dave yep that's who I thought it was. Always reminded me of Max Wall for some reason.

Comment by: Carl Fairclough on 16th December 2012 at 22:46

Herr Gelling 4th from right front row.

Comment by: jcfHis on 16th December 2012 at 22:47

Back Row: 5th from the left Dacre Brown and extreme right Derek Horrocks.

Comment by: David Simm on 16th December 2012 at 23:09

This is the faculty and staff of the Lincare, I recognise Eric Cook and new the family well, along with your dad's sister who married Jack Williams.
Dead center fron row is principal Wm Brace, flanked on the right by "Basher" Collins engineering & Metalwork, the assistant principal (Len Smith I think) is on his left.
By face I recognize almost all of them but having a bad time remembering all the names.

Comment by: David Simm on 16th December 2012 at 23:11

Wouldn't it be good if we could tag the ones we recognize

Comment by: RON HUNT on 16th December 2012 at 23:13

Back row; left to right. Eric Cooke, Lab technician, next two men Caretakers? Jasper Melling, Dacre Brown McPherson,Lang, ? took Tech drawing,Clarence Thorpe, Wallwork? wood work. ?
Middle row; School secretary?,Ingermells, ?english teacher, ?, Turner,?, ?, Sutcliffe, Berry, Tommy Fawcett, Noddy Leigh.
Front row; Rhodes, Gapes, ?, Day, Smith, Bill Brace, Basher Collins, Gelling, Gerry Livesey, Colley, Trickie Hilton.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 16th December 2012 at 23:19

Dohhhhhh Missed Martindale, stood next to the school secretary and Ingermells

Comment by: chuff on 16th December 2012 at 23:38

2nd from right back row = Ri(y)ding (bill?) tech drawing
3rd from left - Enoch Shaw (english)?

Comment by: Dave Marsh on 17th December 2012 at 00:01

The school secretary,the little lady on the left,always seemed to have a pen in her lost property like the one I had just mislaid.Lovely lady.

Comment by: Wigwann on 17th December 2012 at 06:10

I saw Dacre Brown as Shylock in the Merchant of Venice at Wigan Little theatre in about 1959/60. It was my first "real" theatre and I went with Mrs Byrom fro Moss Lane School.

Comment by: Albert. on 17th December 2012 at 10:18

For all correspondents of W W A, and especially those who have a special interest relating to Thomas Linacre School. I did receive a very detailed, and knowledgeable answer,to my question, regarding the school badge. It was given to me by Carl Fairclough. If anyone is interested, Carl's comments are on a previous page, No2, under the photograph of the badge.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 17th December 2012 at 11:39

chuff do you mean Enoch is 3rd from left on the front row.?
I can see him now walking down Parsons Walk with an army bag slung over his shoulder and a cig in his mouth.. He lived in Ormskirk and had a really bad family tragedy. His daughter, who was home from university was clubbed to death with a hammer, by his wife while she was asleep. I don't think he came back to school after that. VERY SAD

Comment by: Dave C on 17th December 2012 at 12:22

We inhereted quite a few of these Characters when the schools merged in 1964/65. FR 1st on left, Rhodes (Biology ?), BR 4th from lt, Jasper Melling, BR 2nd from rt Sam "Spadge" Riding, (tech drawing and sucking polo mints, he could be found at lunchtime in the Market Tavern if I remember correctly, hence the polos). "Daddy Gapes", FR 2nd from lt, (Geography). when the schools became one, he was the shortest member of staff at about 5ft, and the other Geography master, Gem Hall stood about 6'8" in his socks !I remember "Basher", he nicked a full packet of Benson & Hedges off me after a school trip to Germany, no doubt he passed them round the Staff room at lunchtime, I think that might be called theft these days, as I was over the age of 16

Comment by: Dave Marsh on 17th December 2012 at 13:14

So good to see so many comments regarding these learned gentlemen.The school shaped me for the better in my young days there.Mr Fawcet showed me other religions just as important as our own.Mr.Hilton provided many memorable camping days with the Scout troop.Mr.Berry showed me that chemistry was not for me.Mr.Martindale introduced me to the wonders of physics.Mr. Day did the impossible and helped me pass maths G.C.E.The Head Teacher William Brace taught me that life was a challenge and had to be faced head on when we moved into the big wide world.He taught me the importance of being able to deal with people who perhaps were not able to deal with me.Dacre Brown well deserved the plaque on the Parish Church wall as he was a remarkable and enthusiastic man who was able to pass on that enthusiasm to others.I have lots of respect for the teachers at that great school many of whom are not in this photograph and I appreciate and thank each and everyone of them for the time I spent with them.

Comment by: David Simm on 17th December 2012 at 13:51

I second Dave Marsh's comments, truly an outstanding faculty, as I only learned long after graduating and visiting other schools. I ran into Enoch in Magull, Nr Liaverpool, where he was living, I was covering an even for the Liverpool Echo at the time. Jack Sutcliffe shot a couple of wedding for me in the late sixties, he was a keen photographer and the man to gave me the keys to the school photo lab. Mr. McPherson and Arthur Walls (Don't why he's not in the group) went on to author a book about enamel art and metalwork, which I illustrated for them. I lived across the street from Derek Martindale and often shot portrait in his father's allotment, one of the most beautiful gardens on the planet. Eric Cooke lived just around the corner and was also the deputy Organist at St. Mark's Church, Newtown.

Comment by: Chuff on 17th December 2012 at 14:41

Ron, I am 90% certain that is Enoch Shaw 3rd left front row. I'm sorry to hear of the tragedy he was a sincere and genuine man. I remember that he started at Thomas Linacre when the school opened and was determined to chart the school's history as it was made. He kept comprehensive records of anything "Thomas Linacre" right from the outset and I have wondered what happened to his records on many occasions.

I know I am biased but I believe the Thomas Linacre school "model" for education was spot on and the baby was thrown out with the bathwater when it amalgamated with the Grammar School and laterly becoming Comprehensive.

Comment by: Albert. on 17th December 2012 at 15:02

I went to senior school, with Eric McPherson. (sixth from left, back row). 1946/49.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 17th December 2012 at 15:14

Hi chuff I have a scrap book of newspaper cuttings with everything Thomas Linacre related, from when the school opened up to the merger. Could this be Enoch's missing record???

Comment by: fran on 17th December 2012 at 16:38

I was at WGS with Dick Lang and Tom Turner, 60 years ago.

Comment by: Chuff on 17th December 2012 at 20:21

Ron, I wasn't aware you had something like that. I remember Enoch telling my class about it but never actually saw it. If what you have is comprehensive from when the school opened then that sounds very much like it. Where did you get it?

Comment by: RON HUNT on 17th December 2012 at 20:44

Someone rescued it from the skip when the old Grammar school was being refurbished into the Health Centre. I also have the Opening Brochure and an old 1950's Lancashire life with an article about the school just after it opened. Plus all the school mags from my time there, and a few other odds an sods. I did have an album of photographs, but silly me gave it to the History Shop. They didn't want the scrap book?????

Comment by: Chuff on 17th December 2012 at 21:03

Ron,
I'm pretty sure that the scrapbook is the one that Enoch kept. He'll be looking down now, thankful it has survived. He seemed so proud of it and was hoping that, when he had gone, someone else would take it on. Alas he couldn't have known that TLS would only have such a relatively short life.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 17th December 2012 at 21:15

Chuff if you live local you can borrow the book and other stuff. I look on myself as the keeper not the owner.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 17th December 2012 at 21:27

I'm racking my brains (what there is of them) trying to remember the English teachers 4th from left middle row with the glasses???? We had him for English for one year... I remember he had an old Citroen CV, the one that looked like it was made out of corrugated tin. He was always getting the boys to give him a push to get it started.

Comment by: Chuff on 17th December 2012 at 21:30

Noddy Leigh - Astronomer supreme !!

Comment by: mygriffiths on 18th December 2012 at 00:21

Mr.Cooke and Mr.Martindale also worked together in the mid 60s as physics techician and teacher at Wigan Girls'High School

Comment by: Barbara Davies on 18th December 2012 at 00:44

Ron do you have a newspaper cutting or photo of the rugby team
who did a curtain raiser at a rugby match. My husband has searched newspapers with no luck and insists it was in a newspaper. My husband is Eric Davies(Zeke) others in the team were, Trevor Simms, Graham Smethurst, Eric Dowbekin & Ron Smith

Comment by: David Simm on 18th December 2012 at 01:52

You know folks, I am fired up by this image and would like to see a Linacre Alumni page on Facebook, to honour our Alma Mater and perhaps someday to see a reunion. Maybe some of you are still in contact with old class fellows. I would love to know where and how some of my old pals are these days.
I know Gordie Brown is in Austin, Texas. he and I used to bike it to school together from Newtown. A couple of friends I had at the time have sadly passed, but there are many I made friends with on the Trip to Germany with teacher Pete Ingamels, it would be great to be in contact with.
Any one want to facebook contact me can via http://www.facebook.com/DavidSimmPhotography

Comment by: RON HUNT on 18th December 2012 at 09:35

Barbara, David, have you checked the other TLS photos under the Schools heading? There are a lot of replies to them.
I'll have a look in the scrap book to see if there is a photo of the Rugby Team.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 19th December 2012 at 23:59

English teacher 4th from left middle row with glasses. CHAPMAN

Comment by: keith b on 20th December 2012 at 20:42

teacher 5th from left in middle row was my maths teacher anyone remember his name.I only got 5% in mock gce and never could understand that algebra stuff.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 20th December 2012 at 21:23

I loved Trigonometry and Geometry and of all the MATHS these are the parts I could do, and enjoyed working them out. As for Calculus??? All I can remember is, it was about calculating the area under a graph. Could never grasp that TABLE OF VALUES and how it connected to the rest of the calculation.

Comment by: Brandon Hilton on 20th December 2012 at 23:42

The maths teacher 5th from left in middle row was Mr Harrison who was a decent bloke. Unfortunately for me in the 5th form I had Mr. Martindale for both maths and physics he disliked me and the feeling was mutual. All I ever learnt from him was sarcasm.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 21st December 2012 at 13:29

Brandon the reason he didn't like you was because your dad was always taking all his money off him playing cards in the Staff Room...

Comment by: RON HUNT on 21st December 2012 at 20:28

I think we have names for most people except, end right back row, and the two between Turner and Sutcliffe Middle row.
I always felt sorry for Mr Berry. I think he was one of the eldest teachers at the school. He had a Downs Syndrome boy. He left at the end of one school year c.1962. to take up another teaching position and unfortunately died during the summer holiday break.
I wonder if any of them are still around???

Comment by: Brandon Hilton on 22nd December 2012 at 10:01

The teacher at the right hand end of the back row was Mr. Horrocks, can't remember his first name. I also can' t remember the names of the two next to Mr. Turner, the teacher I wearing glasses I don't know at all the one next to him I do remember as a metalwork teacher but the name escapes me.
I think it unlikely that many if any of the staff will still be alive, even the youngest of them would be in their eighties by now.

Comment by: owdkewyed on 29th January 2013 at 21:24

If my memory serves me correctly, the woodwork teacher.....back row, fourth in from right, was called Mr Flemming, and I think the music teachers cane was called 'Rupert'. If you had been a pain in the arse he would take you behind the stage curtain and introduce you to his 'friend'....then you really did have pain in the arse!!.
I think it was Colley who taught us maths...could be wrong ...and one day I tried to hide in the library because we were doing calculus or summat and it went straight over my head, anyway the bugger found me and so detention follow swiftly.

Comment by: owdkewyed on 21st February 2013 at 00:57

Mmmmm, having thunk a bit I could be wrong about 'Rupert', that could have been the name Mr Robinson....PT teacher gave to the gym pump he used for dishing out punishment, I can still feel it fifty years later!!.
The maths teacher had a speech impediment and always greeted the class with the words "Shettle down lads"

Comment by: Arthur Powell on 20th March 2013 at 08:49

Boy it's great to see all the old teachers again. My time at Linacre was 1953/57 starting in 2C then 3A, 4A & 5A so you'd think that putting names to the faces above would be easy. NOT SO. On my own I could pick out around 5, which didn't include my "arch enemy" GELLING it was only after reading all the comments above I could put a face to his name. I've noticed that there's no mention of these 3 in the above blogs - LOWE (my first form master Room 6?), FRODSHAM (Maths & professional blackboard duster thrower) & THORPE (music Room 3). I'm sorry but I can't help so it's up to you out there to identify them. I see that COLLINS has a nickname of "Basher" in the comments but I'm sure we called him "Bulldog" because of his hangdog type looks but I could be wrong. Finally I've seen some of the archived/press cuttings that Ron has and it's worthwhile having a look at them so get in touch with him and bring back the memories.

Comment by: Malcolm Ryding on 14th April 2013 at 14:54

Ron Oldham (automobile engineering) next to Bert Sutcliffe. Comments re-kindling memories but my last day at the Linacre was the best. Sutty said he'd see me at the Tech after leaving. He never did. Mr Gapes stopped me in town couple of months after leaving school as I was en route for morning coffee at Lowes. He thought I was still at school because I was wearing my school blazer and demanded I get ack to school immediately. He took some convincing that I'd started work at the Wigan Observer.

Comment by: John Barbour on 9th February 2019 at 13:01

Anyone remember Mr Lillicrap.....English or Dr Adcock ..Biologhy

Comment by: David woods on 28th June 2019 at 18:26

I worked with Eric cook as a lab tech at w&dm&tc in the 1950s. Gateley was head of the physics dept and other members of staff included Roberts, Greenacre, Morton, Das, Bairsto. Students studied for London BSc general and special degrees. It was a special period since men returning from military service took all the university places so degree courses flourished at the tech!

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