Burnley Grammar School/Habergham High School

[Mala591]

Pat/Paul Jennings was a brilliant maths teacher, he must have been to get me through A level maths! Thanks Pat, your Herculean efforts were (and still are) greatfully appreciated.

[ClaretPete001]

What had you done?

With Mel Saunders it could by anything from not listening or getting a question wrong. Yup that's right if your attention strayed he felt as though it was within his right to fling a hard wooden board duster in your face as hard as he could.

It would be unfair to single him out. Barden was much worse and it happened at Rosehill as well. To be honest getting smacked in the face with a board duster was marginally more entertaining than the lessons so I never held him with any animosity.

[LeadBelly]

As a mathematician, I was really fortunate that he hardly ever taught me, I'm sure I would not have been as good had he done so. In my early years at BGS it was mainly TAG (Don Fraser) and then the headmaster Noel 'Nobby' Stokes and Paul Jennings. There was reference to Dave Denson by the_magic_rat and how he'd influenced his career. I have to say I was blessed to be taught maths by Jennings.

Similar experience here (think I was a year before you - 61-68). I had Saunders for one year early on when he was fairly new- he was reading from a text book whilst writing stuff on the board, had difficulty solving problems himself. Otherwise, likewise, had some v good maths tuition at BGS and end with A levels in Maths & Further Maths (+ went on to do a Stats degree).
My memory for names at that time is poor, I remember TAG and Nobby teaching me maths - was Jennings a pretty young guy (Wolves supporter?); if he's the one I'm thinking of he was very good too.

[ClaretTony]

Similar experience here (think I was a year before you - 61-68). I had Saunders for one year early on when he was fairly new- he was reading from a text book whilst writing stuff on the board, had difficulty solving problems himself. Otherwise, likewise, had some v good maths tuition at BGS and end with A levels in Maths & Further Maths (+ went on to do a Stats degree).
My memory for names at that time is poor, I remember TAG and Nobby teaching me maths - was Jennings a pretty young guy (Wolves supporter?); if he's the one I'm thinking of he was very good too.

Two years before me, I was 1963 to 1970. Stokes was the Wolves fan although became an adopted Claret. Not sure about Jennings, he was somewhat eccentric but a brilliant teacher.

[cartel47]

Was at the old BGS which was far too small.....used to have some lessons at Ebenezer up Colne Road. Remember Sam Hanna teaching woodwork and avoiding Parry on the school bus at Queensgate. When Stokes was appointed headmaster, early 60's I think , he decreed that Grammar schools didn't play football and enforced Rugby ,which went down like a lead balloon given where the Clarets were at the time. He relented after one season in fairness! There were some pretty old teachers at the time.....a couple taught my father! I left in '63 . The new premises, compared with the old, were brilliant so sad to hear they have disappeared.

[LeadBelly]

Was at the old BGS which was far too small.....used to have some lessons at Ebenezer up Colne Road. Remember Sam Hanna teaching woodwork and avoiding Parry on the school bus at Queensgate. When Stokes was appointed headmaster, early 60's I think , he decreed that Grammar schools didn't play football and enforced Rugby ,which went down like a lead balloon given where the Clarets were at the time. He relented after one season in fairness! There were some pretty old teachers at the time.....a couple taught my father! I left in '63 . The new premises, compared with the old, were brilliant so sad to hear they have disappeared.

Yes, I had to play rugby in my first year (1961). I'd never played the game before (nor wished to) and, with Clarets being rightly popular, it seemed crazy. In the 2nd year we were given the choice and most opted for footy. I didnt realize it was a one-year experiment though- I presumed it was a historical thing.
I did get over the my aversion and play a bit of rugby later- but as a bit of an aside to the serious stuff- playing footy.

[basil6345789]

Yes, I had to play rugby in my first year (1961). I'd never played the game before (nor wished to) and, with Clarets being rightly popular, it seemed crazy. In the 2nd year we were given the choice and most opted for footy. I didnt realize it was a one-year experiment though- I presumed it was a historical thing.
I did get over the my aversion and play a bit of rugby later- but as a bit of an aside to the serious stuff- playing footy.

I was a few years after you and we also tried rugby for a term. Think it was Ron Parry's idea. All the weeds got battered so the experiment failed - thankfully!

[basil6345789]

fondly remember them finishing runners up behind Teds at every sport for all the years I went to Teds.

They had decent players though - just not as good as us !!

Teds had 3 times more to pick from. Always smelly, like linament or mothballs.

[ClaretTony]

I’m surprised at Stokes enforcing rugby because he was a big football fan.

Rugby was tried once when I was there but it was Mel Saunders rather than Parry.

[basil6345789]

I’m surprised at Stokes enforcing rugby because he was a big football fan.

Rugby was tried once when I was there but it was Mel Saunders rather than Parry.

Mel was a keen player at Caldervale then.

[ClaretTony]

Mel was a keen player at Caldervale then.

Very much so - didn’t need to inflict it on everyone

[Claretitus]

Mel was a keen player at Caldervale then.

I’d have paid good money to see Mel get tw***ed on the rugby field.

[MalaysiaMo]

1974-1979 and part of BGS's most successful series of 1stXI football teams ever. Competed in every Lancashire schools final possible (three - from Coldstream Cup to U19?) and thrashed St Teds in the Keighley Cup final on t'Turf. For comparison - success to the year above us (Gregson, Annice, Whittam et al) was drawing v Townley. That bearded centre forward at St Marys Blackburn (Betsy) never lefy my pocket, what with me being a boxer and all that. Mr Grayson was a master tactician. Great days. Among the best. And not forgetting going unbeaten at basketball for 2 years with Ken Spencer as coach.....

[ClaretTony]

I’d have paid good money to see Mel get tw***ed on the rugby field.

I would have even bothered with the ‘on the rugby field’ bit.

[basil6345789]

Mel was my Form and Maths Teacher in 1B. I thought he was sound unless you got fly with him. Same with D Denson.

[Oshkoshclaret]

I would have even bothered with the ‘on the rugby field’ bit.

I didn’t witness it myself but there was a story went round about Denson sorting Saunders out in the dinner hall.

[basil6345789]

I didn’t witness it myself but there was a story went round about Denson sorting Saunders out in the dinner hall.

At my first school dance those 2 were the bouncers in case Buster et al turned up.

[ClaretTony]

I didn’t witness it myself but there was a story went round about Denson sorting Saunders out in the dinner hall.

Good for Dave Denson if true

[Malvern claret]

I moved to Burnley in 1961 at the age of 14, I had been at a rugby playing school and was looking forward to playing organised soccer for the first time in my life, I was disappointed to be playing rugby. The teacher who was in charge of the school team I played for was known as Roy ‘Pig’. I did maths and further maths but was never taught by Saunders, seems I was lucky! The first time I came across him was when he assisted Norman Renardson with the 1st XI cricket, Renardson was top bloke.

Nobby Stokes was a brilliant maths teacher and Paul Jennings taught me in the upper sixth, both of them were Wolves supporters and Jennings had been taught by Stokes at Wolverhampton G S.
Jennings was another good bloke and I remember we persuaded him to referee a 1st XI v 2nd XI game on a Saturday morning when we were both without a school fixture. Part of the Wolves connection came in 1963, we were walking away from Molineux after Burnley had lost 7 2, a car pulled up next to us and Nobby wound the window down and suggested I should try supporting a proper team!.

I always liked Nobby Stokes, he was always a loyal supporter of both football and cricket teams. Four years after leaving school and having been to university I did a terms teaching practice at the grammar school, Nobby offered me a permanent job there teaching physics but advised me against taking it as I should find a job teaching maths, he was spot on and his reference helped me to get a good one.

[basil6345789]

As a mathematician, I was really fortunate that he hardly ever taught me, I'm sure I would not have been as good had he done so. In my early years at BGS it was mainly TAG (Don Fraser) and then the headmaster Noel 'Nobby' Stokes and Paul Jennings. There was reference to Dave Denson by the_magic_rat and how he'd influenced his career. I have to say I was blessed to be taught maths by Jennings.

I think TAG was Bill Faser, Tony

[ClaretTony]

I think TAG was Bill Faser, Tony

Definitely Don Fraser

[mdd2]

I’m surprised at Stokes enforcing rugby because he was a big football fan.

Rugby was tried once when I was there but it was Mel Saunders rather than Parry.

Very odd given the tradition of Burnley being a football rather than a rugby town. Also this started in 1959, in the time of our greatest season

[Vino blanco]

Bill Fraser was the actor who played sergeant Claude Snudge in The Army Game and its spin off Bootsie and Snudge.

[longsidetrumpet]

Bill Fraser was the actor who played sergeant Claude Snudge in The Army Game and its spin off Bootsie and Snudge.

But as Basil says Bill Fraser was definitely a teacher at BGS pre 1965. He had been there donkeys years

[ClaretTony]

But as Basil says Bill Fraser was definitely a teacher at BGS pre 1965. He had been there donkeys years

I was there from 1963 to 1970 and the only Fraser was Don Fraser the maths teacher and he was known as TAG.

[sandy richardson]

Couldn't it be both? Don was his real name but Bill his nickname?

This one is before my time, but later on we did have Larry Grayson, Pat Jennings and Stan Clayton.

[ClaretTony]

Couldn't it be both? Don was his real name but Bill his nickname?

The Fraser I'm aware of was Don and was nicknamed TAG. I'm not saying there wasn't a Bill Fraser at some time but not when I was at the school.

[basil6345789]

You're right, Tony and I was once told, although unconfirmed, that TAG was Trigonometry, Algebra and Geometry, or samink

[Malvern claret]

TAG standing for trigonometry, algebra and geometry was one of the stories when i was there. The other story going around was that there used to be a language teacher who regularly tested pupils on what he called ‘tag phrases’. When I taught there Tag said that this was the explanation.

Another staff room story that CT, and others, might like was that a pupil came to the door to see Mel, who told the pupil to get his hair cut. When Mel returned to his seat ‘Minnie’ Mackrel told him that was a case of the pot calling the kettle black!

[longsidetrumpet]

‘Belly’ Mackrell was my maths teacher for, I think, two years. His lessons were bedlam and me, being immature, was only too happy to join in the ‘fun’ and thus didn’t understand maths at all. Come O-level year I joined the lads from 5D to do Commercial Maths… taught by Mel Saunders. Not everybody completed the year, but I did and got a Grade 1. It was practical maths, and for the first time I understood the subject, thanks to Mel. And he also co-founded the wonderful Wednesday League

[Gerry Hattrick]

But as Basil says Bill Fraser was definitely a teacher at BGS pre 1965. He had been there donkeys years

Bill Fraser was definitely there between 1949 and 1954. I'm pretty sure he's the one arrowed on this section of the annual panoramic photo of all the pupils and teachers they took in those days.

[KernowHouseClaret]

Odious individual who I had the displeasure of being ‘taught’ by.

Thankfully his ‘methods’ were well out of date by the time I was subjected to him and after he chucked a board rubber at me, my dad finished up with Dave Clayton and threatened to head to the press unless he publicly apologised.

He left me alone from then onwards and I heard he was ushered into retirement not long after.

Not too sure about that, he was still teaching well after David Clayton left and was still teaching part time at Thomas Whittam

[FCBurnley]

Was at the old BGS which was far too small.....used to have some lessons at Ebenezer up Colne Road. Remember Sam Hanna teaching woodwork and avoiding Parry on the school bus at Queensgate. When Stokes was appointed headmaster, early 60's I think , he decreed that Grammar schools didn't play football and enforced Rugby ,which went down like a lead balloon given where the Clarets were at the time. He relented after one season in fairness! There were some pretty old teachers at the time.....a couple taught my father! I left in '63 . The new premises, compared with the old, were brilliant so sad to hear they have disappeared.

Guessing you were born in 47 like me. Great vintage. So we must have been there at the same time. Think I left in 62 or 63

[FCBurnley]

Very odd given the tradition of Burnley being a football rather than a rugby town. Also this started in 1959, in the time of our greatest season

I played a couple of times in the first Rugby season. We had no clue what we were doing and got well and truly hammered every game Not sure we even knew the rules

[Minimoog]

I was there from 79 to 83..
I broke my tib / fib on my right leg on 5th of november 1980 playing out of school hours rugby
up Calder Vale rugby club.
I can't remember the teachers name, big guy with a beard, but he wasn't very happy with the situation.
I was also taught by Mr Saunders, who sent a letter out to the majority of the classes parents, stating
Just how badly we were performing in maths...still got it somewhere.
I managed to pass despite a broken leg and Mr Saunders style of teaching..
Happy days........

[Dressinggown]

Don Waine, Ian 'lippy' Smith, Dave Shez, Gordon 'Fat Tuss' Allison, Stevie Campbell, Chris 'Chinny' Holdsworth, Mel 'Basta4d' Saunders, Bernie Grime, 'Pervy' Pomfret, Iain Hulland et al.

A wide range of expertise and teaching to say the least. OFSTED didn't exist in those days. Other local schools were in a far worse state.

Some of the above named teachers went on to bigger and better things

Iain Hulland became Head at Alder Grange HS in Rawtenstall and won the coveted 'Headteacher of the year' award a few years ago. He currently is an Executive Headteacher and Advisor to a number of schools in the area as well as the local authority.

Stevie Campbell became a Deputy Head at Shuttleworth College (Gawthorpe HS) and then had.a successful Headship
at The Hollins HS in Accrington until fairly recently.

Whilst watching Lowerhouse CC I regularly bump into Ian Smith when we are at Todmorden. We always end up reminiscing about Habergham during a period where the school went from a selective 13+ Grammar School to being a 'normal' comprehensive school with a sixth form centre.

[Oshkoshclaret]

Lippy sat us down in the gym one day and gave us a lecture about the importance of keeping fit, to avoid having a heart attack in our 40s. I never forgot it. Am 53 now and that one lesson has got me out of the house on many a cold morning to go running. Teachers really do make a difference.

[taio]

Ian Smith is a regular at Turf Moor.

[ClaretTony]

Ian Smith is a regular at Turf Moor.

Not seen him for some time. I went to a cricket match at Tod last year and didn't see him, first time I've been there and not seen him I think. Good man was Ian Smith. Big Claret too.

[ClaretTony]

‘Belly’ Mackrell was my maths teacher for, I think, two years. His lessons were bedlam and me, being immature, was only too happy to join in the ‘fun’ and thus didn’t understand maths at all.

Thank goodness I never had him as my maths teacher. Bedlum hardly describes a lesson with him. He was the Rev A TJ Mackrell (St Matts in Burnley) but just Belly to us.

[taio]

Not seen him for some time. I went to a cricket match at Tod last year and didn't see him, first time I've been there and not seen him I think. Good man was Ian Smith. Big Claret too.

Did a superb job at running the PE department. Pretty sure he's a season ticket holder in JMU.

[ClaretTony]

Did a superb job at running the PE department. Pretty sure he's a season ticket holder in JMU.

I was at BGS when he started teaching there. He replaced a bloke called Rod Turner. I think our love of the Clarets meant we got on well and for years I would chat to him at the cricket and I often saw him outside the Turf on match days but not for years. One of the really good guys is Ian.

[taio]

I was at BGS when he started teaching there. He replaced a bloke called Rod Turner. I think our love of the Clarets meant we got on well and for years I would chat to him at the cricket and I often saw him outside the Turf on match days but not for years. One of the really good guys is Ian.

Not sure how old he'll be but he looks in good shape. From time to time his son, Neil, goes on - he'll be about 50 I think

[ClaretTony]

Not sure how old he'll be but he looks in good shape. From time to time his son, Neil, goes on - he'll be about 50 I think

He would have started teaching there around 1967 or 1968. If it was his first job he'd have been 21 at the time so he's going to be late 70s at least.

[basil6345789]

Turner was a good PE Teacher. We(4 Alpha) drummed Belly out of class once and he skidadled to The Library. One of the lads, Pip Flynn, went to The Boss and squealed on him, taking him to the cowaring mass. Superb!

[basil6345789]

Turner was a good PE Teacher. We(4 Alpha) drummed Belly out of class once and he skidadled to The Library. One of the lads, Pip Flynn, went to The Boss and squealed on him, taking him to the cowaring mass. Superb!

Incidentally, Belly's wife taught us at Rosehill Junior School and was sound as a pound!

[Bullabill]

When were the 'House' names - Calder, Pendle, Brun, Ribblesdale Changed?

[apc1956]

I was at BGS from 1967-1974. I had the misfortune to be ‘taught’ maths by Belly for two years then suffered a year of bullying and intimidation from Mel Saunders. Fortunately Nobby Stokes, a gifted teacher, rescued my set for the final year of O level. My abiding memory of Saunders is being beaten in the gym with along with a few others for copying a homework that some of didn’t understand. A sadist bully.
Life must be have been miserable for some of my former teachers, Hoss Cartwright and Taffy Hughes among others for their inability to maintain any discipline must have been widely known by the management but tolerated.
I was allowed to drift through the first five years to an extent that wouldn’t be tolerated in schools today. Luckily my life was turned around and I ended up with top A level grades having benefited from some excellent A level teaching from ‘Wart’ Michelle, Dave Smith and in particular Ron Hothersall who introduced Economics to the curriculum and was an inspiration for my path through University.
There has been no mention of Sam Hanna or Joe Morton on this thread. I always got the feeling that as teachers of ‘practical’ subjects they were held in lower regard. Sam Hanna was a pioneering film maker of considerable reputation and I understand Joe Morton had been a WW2 Spitfire pilot, I’d be interested if anyone can confirm this. Happy days!

[Big Vinny K]

Dipped into this thread a couple of times - not read it all as I did not go to BGS but I did play football for BGS Old Boys from the age of around 17 or 18 for a number of years and also used to play against them for all my years at school playing for St Teds.
I was there between 1978 and 1985 and whilst they never beat or drew against us once (!!) they were the next strongest team in Burnley at that time. Unfortunately for them they mucked up their Keighley Cup and didn’t get to the final on the Turf to enjoy the experience of getting beat by us !!

Stevie Cool i knew as he managed the town team. Also knew him from my time playing for the Old Boys. He was an excellent keeper.

Sounds like you had some similar horrible bully teachers as St Teds and I’m sure all secondary schools back in the day. At the same time there was always the good teachers that leave a lasting impression on you.

Would be interesting to see a similar thread started for St Theodore’s as you never forget your secondary school years and the teachers good and bad.

[sjb]

Dipped into this thread a couple of times - not read it all as I did not go to BGS but I did play football for BGS Old Boys from the age of around 17 or 18 for a number of years and also used to play against them for all my years at school playing for St Teds.
I was there between 1978 and 1985 and whilst they never beat or drew against us once (!!) they were the next strongest team in Burnley at that time. Unfortunately for them they mucked up their Keighley Cup and didn’t get to the final on the Turf to enjoy the experience of getting beat by us !!

Stevie Cool i knew as he managed the town team. Also knew him from my time playing for the Old Boys. He was an excellent keeper.

Sounds like you had some similar horrible bully teachers as St Teds and I’m sure all secondary schools back in the day. At the same time there was always the good teachers that leave a lasting impression on you.

Would be interesting to see a similar thread started for St Theodore’s as you never forget your secondary school years and the teachers good and bad.

I was at Ted's quite a lot earlier than you and the only 'horrible bully teacher' I recall was an art teacher called Ron Perry. An absolute **** of a man.