Woolton County Primary School - unofficial website for past pupils

I was only at Woolton in the Junior Department and felt a bit of an outsider at first. My very first memories were of Margaret Swindells, who was tiny, holding my hand as a new girl, as we sang: "Praise my soul the King of Heaven" from a rather motley looking hymn sheet, hanging from a curtain in the hall.

This was the same hall from which we occasionally had that rare treat of watching school television - "WOW" - we all thought this was fantastic - all about the River Tamar and Devon and Cornwall. I did a project on this and various other things like pond study and minibeasts at Colomendy!

I remember Sandra Langford, Gillian Shaw, Gillian Edmondson, Margaret Swindells, Karen Williams, Judith Riley. We were all into hotpants and David Cassidy. Mr Bate was wonderful - our fabulous new music teacher, who taught us songs from Hair and The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius. I was the kid, who accidentally cut Jeanette Stalker's arm with scissors and was moved on to the naughty table and sat next to Jonathan Hughes, who later asked me out, when we were sixteen - sorry Jonathan!

I have lovely fond memories of those times and it was truly idyllic - always summer and always playing out on those fields, doing handstands. I learnt recorder and violin. School dinners were gorgeous from my memory and I remember doing corridor duty as a prefect for the blue team with a lad called David Threadgold, who was mad about Scotland and had a book about clans and kilts!

I also remember a fantastic production of Oliver - the sets, acting and singing seemed to be so brilliant to me at the time. I made a seat with a woven part made out of seagrass under the supervision of Miss Morgan, which I still have 40 years later!

I loved it there and also remember the school song - "One day, not so far away, we'll look back and think of Woolton" - this was photostatted, as they used to say, with a sort of purple ink, which smelled really weird and made me want to sniff it!  [Note from webmaster - it was pure alcohol on a handwritten carbon paper stencil!] We were allowed to watch Prince Charles's investiture at Caernarvon and all I remember was absolutely dying to go to the loo for about three hours, but being unable to move!

So sorry to hear about Miss Bernard - she was so trendy and had jangly bangles and lovely thick curly hair - God rest her soul. I always quite liked Mr Bate, although I will never forgive him for not letting me be in the choir. He did frighten us though when he banged on the piano keys to get us to shut up! Teachers didn't have to be so p.c. in those days.

I can remember Mr Trivett marvelling at the new hymn book! The things we remember. I can also remember Miss Morgan being delighted at the new trophy shelves we had erected in the main hall/foyer place and we laughed at Mr Trivett's posh pronunciation of "foyer" like "fwy-yay!" The hall always stank of mashed potatoes and gravy (and those dirty Duralex glasses for water!!) Also, that hard Izal toilet paper!

I remember being really excited about the mobile classrooms and the smell of them, but can also remember doing a dance to Dana's "All kinds of everything" on the junior playground. I will also never forget getting Steve Boyle by the throat, until his eyes nearly popped out of his head. Sorry Steve! Those were the days - as Mary Hopkins used to sing!

I would love to hear from anyone else, who may remember me or any of the above stuff! I then went on to Aigburth Vale with Diane Baldock. Most of my mates went to Gateacre Comp.

If you would like to send a message to Sally, please use the "Contact us" page.