Manchester Xaverian in the Sixties
Life in a Manchester Catholic grammar school
Bob Cummings 
Pete Burrows took me for physics and maths in Lower Five Three. He was a great guy, an all round sportsman and occasionally took us for football. As a result of his recommendation I played for a cricket team called The Crusaders based round the Longsight area for a short period until we had a … Read more
Although we went to Trentham Gardens on several occasions, there is only one that I remember really well. That’s because I was 15 at the time complete with raging hormones and a pair of Chelsea boots which got me off on the wrong foot with my dad before I’d got out of the garden gate … Read more
It was decided that a ten day trip to Paris would be a wonderful opportunity to help with our grasp of the French language. The fact that it meant that the luckier of the Xaverian Brothers would have a free holiday was obviously immaterial. It was decided that we would all spend the first night … Read more
Mr Newton took us for Physical Education. I suppose he was in his mid forties although I have often been surprised that teachers were inevitably much younger than the age we would imagine. My mental image of him always includes a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth and a dark blue track suit. … Read more
One sunny afternoon during lunch break there was a ripple of activity round the toilets on the top floor in Ward Hall. The rumour went round that there was some female nakedness visible from the toilet window which overlooked the large Victorian building next door. This was some kind of club, definitely the seedier side … Read more
Mr Crotty took me for Geography at Ward Hall, my first year at Xaverian. His teaching technique was, shall we be kind and say, somewhat old fashioned. As far as I can recall it consisted entirely of dictation. He would write some headlines on the blackboard and then proceed to dictate to the class so … Read more
My very last day at Xavs arrived – sometime in May 1965. It had already become obvious to me (and to anyone who would listen) that I was going to flop in my GCE’s. I had taken a J.I.C. aptitude exam to discover whether I had the makings to be a printer of some sort. … Read more
Because I was having doubts about many of the beliefs of the catholic church, I thought seriously about questions I was having genuine difficulties with and was not shy in coming forward with these to my R.I. teachers. My one remaining Xaverian report shows that this was well known. My teacher in 1962 was Brother … Read more
Xaverian College Prize Night used to take place in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. I do remember the last one I attended because I took my combat jacket and my brother’s Manchester University scarf with me. Once the event was over, I carefully brushed my hair forward, put on my jacket and scarf which were … Read more
Mr Connolly was a big man, tall, somewhat stout and wore glasses. I think he may have taken English but for a time he was our Religious Instruction teacher. For what ever reason, he and I did not get on. At that time I was questioning the whole religion thing, not because I didn’t believe … Read more