Do you remember your old school days? Did YOU go to Xaverian College before it turned into a co-ed sixth form college? Do you have experiences that you think no one would believe today as education has changed so much that those dim far off days seem like another world with different ethics, standards and punishments? If so, please drop me a line and we will include them in this blog.
If you would prefer your contribution to remain anonymous, please let me know and I will include it without your name and this will of course remain confidential.Send your memories to: bcweb01@gmail.com
The opinions expressed in this site are purely personal and idiosyncratic. Please forgive any lapse of correctness in a political sense – this blog is written by an old duffer whose trespasses beg forgiveness. Memories can grow dimmer so apologies for any inaccuracies you may find. Please feel free to contact me if you find any obvious errors.
Who Remembers Brother Guy?
The Xaverian Brothers, being originally an import from the U.S., often sent over some of their recruits, a bit like the Mormons, no doubt to broaden their minds and giving them an insight into the British education system. Thanks to Phil Blinkhorn for digging out some references to Brother Guy, one of several brothers who came and taught us for a while:
“I’m not sure if it was on here, or years ago on Friends Reunited, but I posted a comment that I thought was from Br Guy, that he was from Erie, Pennsylvania that he called “the mistake on the lake” – a comment I seconded having passed through many years ago. Last night I was looking through the 2016 Menology and it lists him as coming from Somerville Massachusetts.
Every now and then for no obvious reason, a scene will enter my mind which takes me back to life in the early sixties at Xavs. Today it was ‘Bates!’ – the way Brother Cyril used to address the flat capped diminutive figure of Mr (Master, to the irreverent at the time) Bates the groundsman. Never known to smile, keeper of the vellum covered Gradidge cricket bats brought out for net practice next to the woodwork room, together with an assortment of boxes, some modern pink plastic, some looking like ancient relics from some long forgotten surgical procedure (especially the one designed for keeping wicket!). How I looked forward to slinging a cork ball down onto the concrete slab which acted as the practice wicket and occasionally managing to hit one of those hinged wickets which went over with a satisfying ‘clunk’.
Poor Mr Bates, out in all weather, looking after the grounds at the Prep School as well as the tiny grassy area in front of Maryland that acted as the cricket square. Whatever became of him? Where did he come from? I’m sure no one knows…
Bernard Hill Dies
One of Xaverian Colleges most famous alumni has died suddenly today (5th May 2024). Most (all?!!) of us are old enough to remember his role in Boys from the Blackstuff although fewer of us, I suspect, knew or remembered that he had gone to our school. If anyone does remember him from their time at Xaverian please get in touch with your memories.
He was also famous for his role as the captain in Titanic as well as his role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Bernard died on Sunday, 5th May 2024 aged 79
Some new faces added to the long neglected photo section (see menu top of this page). There are plenty more to add – a work in progress. More added 23rd September 2023
The Paris Trip 1962 and more nostalgia from ‘Nodge’
Including a hazy scan from the actual trip plus information regarding the now legendary Lucifer And The Medlockbeats!
The photos just below might raise a smile or might remind you of Ward Hall. They were taken in 1999 when a few of us from ‘O’ Level Year 1963 met in Manchester. (Earlier incarnations of all shown are on the panorama photograph from 1961.)
Here, from left to right (top photo) are: Tim Gausden, John Tierney, Mike Pennington, Denis Byrne, and Paul Morris. (Sad to relate, Paul died three years ago.)
From left to right (bottom photo) are: Tim Gausden, John Tierney, Mike Pennington, Paul Morris, and me.
Ward Hall looked as impressive as ever. Our walk round the perimeter of the “main” school showed how much has been kept as well as subsequent additions to the buildings we knew so well.
Click photo to enlarge
Old Boys outside Ward Hall – 1999
From Edmund Flood – anybody interested in a reunion?
I only attended one Old Xaverians annual dinner, circa 1989, soon after I returned from working in Paris. I went along with an old friend, Tom Wrynne, whose younger brother, also a Old Xaverian, had helped organize the event. Unfortunately I knew no-one, apart from Tom (who died prematurely in 2007), and never went again. Maybe with more contributors now coming forward, an ‘Old Xaverians from the 60s’ get-together might be possible in the not too distant future.
Is anyone reading this interested? If so, any ideas about venue, date etc ? My preference would be for an out of city venue, with good parking, on a week-day at lunch time. Not having lived in Manchester for many years, my only ‘recent’ experience of the area was an event six years ago at The Alma Lodge, Stockport, on the A6 (direction of Hazel Grove) which may fit the bill.
I recognized myself and a few friends on school photograph number 5. My name is James Heys and I am 4th row up, 8th from the left. My friends were Terry Madden ( 7th from the left ) & Tony Farrell ( 6th from the left ). I used to catch the 101 bus from Wythenshawe to Great Western street, then the 53 bus to Thurloe Street, where I would put my cap on to pass the gate inspection.
The home journey had to be timed so when the 53 slowed down approaching the traffic lights at Great Western Street, I would jump off ( or be pushed ) from the open platform at the back of the bus in order to catch the 101 which was due at my stop any minute. I wasn’t very good at gymnastics in school but I nearly managed to pull off a few somersaults on a number of occasions in this situation.
Fortunately I survived and, although I didn’t pass any GCE,s, the quality education at Xaverian has been a great asset.
The teachers I mostly remember are:
Mr. Price – who taught history and was good at throwing text books after checking the previous night’s homework.
Mr. Eaton – who taught maths and sent you to Bro. Cyril if you didn’t learn your ‘teerems’ as he called them in his Irish accent. Crouching behind the person in front of you didn’t help you from being called to the blackboard.
Mr. Crotty – the geography teacher who couldn’t control the class, which was a shame because he was a good man.
Mr. Connolly – I think was our English language teacher
I reside in Perth, Western Australia and have been here since 1989.
One of Xaverian College’s most well known alumnus must surely by Martin Hannett. In the 1961 photograph he bears little resemblance to the world famous record producer and partner in Tony Wilson’s Factory Records. He was always interested in the current music scene and me and Fred Wilson once took part in a rehearsal in some church hall or similar building in Miles Platting where Fred was electrocuted when plugging his guitar into Martin’s amp. Fortunately, it wasn’t fatal. We sometimes saw him in the Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester where we would see acts such as John Lee Hooker and T-Bone Walker before it moved premises and became a Soul venue.
If you were, the chances are you are on the splendid school photograph acquired by James Kedian from Tony Knowles the present principal. Please look at the page, tell me which image and your position and I will create a rogues’ gallery of the survivors. The youngest will be 71 or 72 so I am not expecting that many, but who knows?
To view any of the photos just click the image to enlarge. To see ALL the photos we have so far, Click Here.
The end of May and beginning of June was the dreaded time at Xavs when ‘O’ levels were taking place in the gymnasium. I remember it felt as hot as the inside of my father’s greenhouse – not the best atmosphere for trying to conjure up the odd sentence from Henry IV Part One in the absence of having any idea what the play was about.
Occasionally one of the more sensitive boys would end up vomiting, the excitement proving just too much. I was reminiscing with Fred Wilson the other day on one of our annual catch-ups. I really liked French and had no problem remembering vocabulary. However, because I was painfully self conscious, the idea of speaking the language was a nightmare. There was an oral examination which meant we had to engage in French conversation with a complete stranger. This was one of the most embarrassing episodes I can ever recall and I am beginning to feel hot round the neck area as I think about it. My French conversation consisted of ‘Oui’, ‘Non’ and precious little else. The bespectacled middle aged spinster who had to endure this travesty let out a couple of ‘tut’s’ and I knew I was sunk.
Who was the ‘Cool Kid’ in your class?
I think there was always one student who stood out from the crowd in most classes. I remember one – I am fairly sure he went to the Prep School as well as Xaverian. His name was John Scott. Mr McAvoy (who took us for French) came in one afternoon and start to tell us what a wonderful innings he had seen Scott play and what a future he could have as a batsman. I always wondered whether Scottie lapped it up or found it embarrassing. Probably the latter – otherwise he wouldn’t have remained the cool kid. I don’t really like that Americanism – class hero seems much more British. He was also a good footballer and did okay academically.
Does anyone know what happened to John Scott?
‘Brother Cyril’s blank, fish-eyed stare at me whenever our paths crossed said it all really’
