Hi All,
Been meaning to post here for some years, but somehow never got around to it.
Name is Pete Olsen, but known by all sorts of daft nicknames, as was everyone in my form (always "B").
I was in the 1965 intake, so never went to Whitworth Street. Most of the masters' names are familiar to me, and looking at that 1951 staff photo, it seems there was not much staff turnover prior to the great exodus of 1968. Someone mentioned Philip Derbyshire above, and I certainly remember him as Head Boy always trying to catch us at smokers' corner. Kipper Wilkinson was an outstanding maths teacher - never had him for foreign languages. Had physics with Billy Mundae and later Roger Welsby. Have to explain, I joined the dark side and became a teacher later in life, and worked with several ex-colleagues of Roger, so it really is a small world. The teacher who was the most fun as well as teaching his boys a lot was Joe Potterton who had also taught a band-mate of mine at Burnage. I could probably recite the form register to this day, and I think I remember all the boys. Allen, Belcher, Broadbent....no, won't bother. Have run into one or two in later years. Was playing in a scratch band in a pub once, (late 90s?) when Johnny Eaton got up to play, then spotted Steve Williams at the bar! Also found myself (in the early 70s), working with Rich Hewlett's cousin Fred. Ran into Al Farr when I was repairing a TV in a house on Stanley Grove. Kept up my friendship with Dave Fairclough for some years - last saw him at my 50th birthday party, so it's a long time ago.
For all the people who disliked Harry Caldbeck, here is a story to show there was more than one side to him. He never taught me, but when it was time for my metalwork O-level, I mixed my dates up and didn't show up for the exam. Dr Perrelle, always the gentleman, came to my house and drove me to school. I hadn't eaten, of course, so HC, after checking that there was nothing in the regulations to prevent it, disappeared and came back with a cup of tea and some toast and marmalade for me to tuck into while I attempted to make up for lost time on the exam.
Another character was Johnny Hopley who, as Deputy Head, used to go from room to room caning those who failed to turn up for detention. as I arrived late to school almost every day (53 bus, eh?) I was always "on the list". One day, he called me out for the cane, when I explained that I had not had a detention the previous evening. He checked his list, "Oh you're right, lad," he said, "never mind, now you're here, bend over and I'll give you one for next week." I think that was the only time that I actually laughed whilst being caned!
Best wishes to all. Non nobis domine.