Wigan Album

Don’t think it’s Crooke School. They never had a uniform!

Yeh no uniforms in them days in Crooke, and the Crooke kids would have looked like ragamuffins.

Just going off what it said on the information that came with the photo.

I agree with others' comments that this is not a photo of Crooke school. Maybe it was used as a venue for something?
I attended Crooke school from 1951 until 1957 and then went on to a Grammar school as did many more from this small village school. The teachers who taught me ( Mrs Marshall,Mrs. Hindle née Stott,Mrs. Davenport and Mrs Thorpe née Rossiter ) gave me a wonderful start educationally and I learned to respect and value my fellow beings. We came from different home backgrounds but there were never any "ragamuffins" at Crooke school.

Yes, I've discussed this with my Mum,( we both went to Crooke school, me only very briefly before moving to Abram) and we're sure this isn't Crooke School. The uniform has already been mentioned and the majority of the children in the photo look over 11 years old. The white haired man in glasses towards the right of the picture looks very much like my Grandad Jimmy Cheetham, who lived about half a mile away from the school and whose son, ( my dad) John Cheetham also went to Crooke, but I don't know of any link to this savings scheme that's mentioned. Like I say it looks like him but I'm not sure....

Mick, both my parents and a few other people I grew up knowing went to Crooke School. Everyone of them came from very decent families and were certainly not "ragamuffins". They were educated and brought up to very decent human beings who had care and respect for other people, nomatter what their background. Maybe you should have attended Crooke School.

The lady back right I think is Ivy Russell (police).The man with glasses next to the lady could be John Harte a former mayor of Wigan.

You are correct Mary. That is Councillor John Harte, married to my sister in law Janey Harte, always known as Jenny. Mayor and Mayoress of Wigan May, 1972 to May, 1973. Jenny, after John passed away, she came to live near to my wife and I in Blackpool. Jenny passed away in February, 2021, aged ninety one years. John was also a J.P.

You are also correct Mary. That is Ivy Russel.

Beryl, I can remember you coming back to school after you went to grammar school. You sat on a tall chair in Mrs Marshall’s class next to the fireplace and read the story of Epaminandus! And for those who think we were ragamuffins, take a look at the school photos on this site then eat your words

To me these very smart children look as if they are in the first year of Grammar School. Probably passed their 11plus - lucky children! Far removed from 'ragamuffins' as any could be!

Although l came from Appley Bridge l played in Crook Band from 10 years old and had many friends in Crook they was 'salt of the earth '

Hello Norman, glad to hear that there are some people left who remember Crooke Band as it was. My dad and grandad were involved for about 65 years in total as you know but the band was Crooke and Kirkless by the time I was old enough to be aware of it and based at the NCB workshops at the top of Cale Lane. By the way, you will probably be aware of the sad passing recently of Brian Finch, an old mate of yours I believe? and my next door neighbour...RIP

Hi Gareth, Hope you are well and l certainly did know your dad and grandad very well and l posted pictures of your dad, Norman Whitter and myself plus the full band a while ago. After many years l left and joined Coppull but always had a big elegance with Crooke .Yes my brother told me about Brian ,very sad.
Anyway nice to hear from you Gareth
Best wishes Norman

I was one of those so called "ragamuffins" who attended Crooke school in the 60's and i can that the photo is not of the school as i would have been on it at that time,i also lived in Crooke village and played in Crooke band along with Chris and Gareth's dad, John.great to hear from you both hope you're both well,happy memories of the good old days and your grandad who was a great character,but you both know that anyway.

Great to hear from you Paul. Pretty much everyone that I know who went to Crooke school did alright in life for a bunch of 'ragamuffins'...as for the band, the numbers of people that I remember from my young days gets fewer every year. I can only think of you, Gary Parr, Brian Ashcroft and Olive Turner (who lives just around the corner from me), Ken Houghton and Alan Southworth still being around..mind you, it's not that surprising when you consider that my baby brother is 50 in September.....lol...