Manchester Xaverian in the Sixties
Life in a Manchester Catholic grammar school
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
As can be seen from this report in 1962, I was performing quite well being fifth in class out of thirty five. I was nearly fourteen and my academic progress seemed inevitable. Shortly afterwards, however, I discovered girls, blues music and ‘beat clubs’ in Manchester. Adolescence proved to be less than smooth for me and I … Read more
My brother, Bernard Cummings, attended Xaverian College from 1956-62 approx. He attended the sixth form and left with ‘A’ levels and took a degree in geography at Manchester University. That meant in effect that he was on the same bus route, just had to get off a few stops earlier. He told me the following … Read more
I arrived at Ward Hall in 1960. Another large converted house, it doubled as the refectory at lunch time for the whole college. My teachers included Bro Finbar (French), Mr Crotty (Geography) and Mr Dewhurst (English). Those of us who had migrated from the Prep School found the new intake of 11 plus boys to … Read more