Wigan Album

I live in Germany and took a look. There is still a Hotel Herbrecht, and Hess-Bäckerei-Konditorei-Cafe is still open in Oberstraße 25. Doesn't sound very wild, though - more like "Cremetorten". Still, when you're young....

"Wes" Hall, otherwise known as "Gem" or "Tiny" ( he stood about 6/7"as I recall). I went on one of those trips to Bacharch am Rhine (?) around 1966. It was supposed to be a trip to assist those taking 'A' level Geography or German. In reality it was nostalgic journey for Wes as he would often reminisce his wartime experiences after a glass or two of the local Hock. We got into trouble following a map reading excersice, which entailed crossing the Rhine by Ferry in teams and finding your way to a predetermined destination, via "way points". Our team leader, the late Tom Bibby, ( great guy and old mate), had the brilliant idea of taking the direct route via the steep vineyards which flank the Rhine Valley, rather than the roundabout route, so that we could get to the bar in the village quicker. Great idea in theory, but what we didn't realise was that we had to "check in" with the teachers at certain points. They spent most of the day searching for us, thinking we were list. Instead we were sat next to an open fire in the pub. It didn't go down too well and we were all grounded for a few nights. Great times, but who would let a group of Wigan Teenagers loose on their own in a foreign country these days ? Others on the trip were Dave Walls, Alan Sankey, Jeff Morris. Was the Brendan you were thinking of "Docherty" ?

Dave is right about Wes Hall's obsession with all things German. He lived in Southport I believe and drove in to school every day in a Baby Blue Volkswagen Beetle, which was is prode and joy. I well remember him reminiscing to his A level class about his war time experiences. Roger Freeman (who I have referred to elsewhere on the school photos 1968 page, who became a world famous rally driver and killed in a crash in California in 2003) asked Wes if he had been in the RAF. Wes, pulled himself up to his full height and disdainfully replied "Freeman - I was in the Luftwaffe !!" A true star.
I also remember the map reading exercise on the trip to Bacharach. In 1968 we were sent out in groups -it should be made clear to new readers that no masters were with us we were dropped off in groups and had to find our way back to a central meeting point in the middle of a forest. Clearly there had been some changes since the school had last been or the maps updated. We were walking along a forest track when we came across a mesh chainwire fence recently constructed right across our way back. Someone (I'm pretty sure it was Clive Isherwood , but I could be wrong. It could even have been the infamous Rog Freeman as he was certainly on that trip) decided to climb over to see if we could get through that way. The fence wasn't very high but was robust. Anyway he was just about to step onto the ground when a wild boar charged out of the undergrowth and he was lucky to get back unscathed) We had to follow the fence down to its side and follow its length in parallel before getting back on the right track. When we eventually reached the central meeting up point and reported what had happened, it was discovered that since the scholl had last been there a wildlife park had been constructed in the forest. Luckily it was to conserve native animals rather than a safari park. Fun and Games eh?

I thought it was Doherty. Cheers for confirming. He spent most of this trip moaning cos he had found out that the Room at the Top had closed. I went twice cos Tom Bibby, didn't know he'd passed on, persuaded my mum to let me cancel a skiing trip to Austria and go. I think I was in 2nd year first time so it would have been 63. I left school in 68 so I figure this trip may have been then or 67.

I went on the Bacharach trip twice and also had the encounter with the wildlife park! We climbed in, crossed through srcuby grass and trees to the next fence and climbed out. Fortunately we didn't encounter whatever was living in that pen. We were very surprised to find ourselves in the middle of a nature park without paying for entrance. We just slipped out and carried on.