SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Baslington - I remember him well because I was caned on several occasions by him - once for spilling a bottle of ink in class over a geography text book or map or something. He drove a big Armstrong Siddeley type of car with huge desk sized headlamps perched on the front mudguards. Submitted by Ron Smith
I should have known Barry Patterson, but he would have been in an older class, one year further on. I left at Christmas 1959 as my 16th Birthday was in Feb. 1960. Barry would remember a fullback in his team, I'm not sure if the name is correct but it was either Spafford or Spradbury. What was special about this lad was he had polio when he was younger leaving him with a withered leg and pronounced limp. Despite this handicap he was a tremendous player, great positional sense and nigh on impossible to beat him. You tend not to forget people like that and I admired his determination. Extracted from an email submitted by Harry Downes
Barry said it was towards the end of his schooling that the football team had won the trophy, it would have been 1957/8. Barry was at the school from 1954 to 1958. Submitted by Barry Patterson
I can recall playing against Hessle High School at Hessle in a Schools Cup match either 1957 or 58. We won 3-2 but I'm sure we lost in the next round against Ainthorpe H.S. I damaged my Achilles tendon and missed out for some of the games that season. Submitted by Harry Downes
HSB was an annex of Hull College of Technology Submitted by Harry Downes
The school was bomb damaged. The front, as I remember, was the playground. When you crossed the road from the Cecil, there was the large wrought iron fence facing you, the school gates to the right. Once through the gate you walked approx. 40 yards across the playground to reach the school entrance. Submitted by Harry Downes
I can recall one funny incident, when Frank Mason embarrassed me in front of the whole school. During the early morning assembly Frank was addressing all the pupils about the news and forthcoming school events. All of a sudden he said, "Over the past week, I have been looking out the window during the morning break sessions” I have been monitoring the behavior in the playground and I have noticed some rather odd behavior by one of our pupils". This remark quickly drew the attention of the assembly and you could have heard a pin drop. He then said “Harry Downes-would you like to tell the school, why every day, you move all the crates of milk from one area of the playground to another?". Of course with all eyes on me I froze in horror but re gathering myself I blurted out, "Well Sir-the delivery man always leaves the crates in the sun and when the milk gets warm it makes me sick and I can't drink it!. The assembly burst into laughter but Frank raised his arm for silence and said:-"Hands up the pupils who like warm milk?” As no one put their hands, Frank said, "Oh! In that case, any boy misbehaving from now on will move the crates and give Harry a day off!
You never forget moments like that but I always found that Frank had a devilish sense of humour but could be strict when it was needed. Submitted by Harry Downes
I remember nicknaming the school HumberSide Borstal. (HSB) Submitted by Mike Worsey
I was at HSB from 1956 to 59. The school was definitely Victorian Period with a tall spire, directly at the back of the Cecil Cinema in Osborne Street. Next to the school was a building with transmitters or some type of Radio mast on the roof-not sure but it could have been Marconi. Prior to being HSB, I think one time it was a special school for handicapped or special needs children. Submitted by Harry Downes
An update about Jeff Tucker. I met up with him about 5 years ago and he is great enjoying life in New Zealand. There is a web site about his family and his partners business. Use the drop down boxes especially Tuiscope Scene. I am going back NZ later this year and we are meeting up again. When I last saw him he said he had no intention of coming back to the UK. And after being in NZ a few times and seeing his mansion I can understand why.
http://www.tuiscope.co.nz Submitted by Mike Worsey
I was the captain of the school football team who won the Hull Schools cup in 1957. I would love to meet any of that team Submitted by Roger Gale
Kevin Davidson (no relation) and I were great friends. We were all thick as thieves (or maybe just thick!!) Can you believe 2 boys actually broke INTO the school one weekend? Not to do damage like it would be today - objective was to get up the spiral staircase and into the loft area. No, I don't know why either!! Submitted by Mike Davidson
Paul Caldeira is trying to get in touch with Keith Edwards. Paul’s email address is paul.caldeira@btinternet.com
A guy called Baines - taught French also - had a little goatee beard and was a prankster
Does anyone remember him dressing up and coming into the school as an Indian visitor calling himself Rancid Ham Submitted by Ron Smith
Hope everything goes well. I am unable to make it on 22nd but would like to be kept informed of future events. I started at Christopher Wren in 1967 and was a pupil until the school was closed in 1969 (a very sad day which messed up the last years of my education!)... Submitted by Paul Hirscher
Mike Worsey raised a question on a Hull Daily Mail site as a result of a comment by Harry Downes about a fish shop, Lavines, in Osborne Street that was frequented by pupils. The following is the answer The fish shop on Osborne St. was well known for frying in oil not lard or dripping because of religious food rules. Seems to be fairly common now for chippies to have a notice in the window stating what they use for frying, I suppose veg. oil will keep their veggie customer’s on board, personally, the replier stated, I’m convinced that you can’t beat a good thick cut chip fried in beef dripping.
I should have known Barry Patterson, but he would have been in an older class, one year further on. I left at Christmas 1959 as my 16th Birthday was in Feb. 1960. Barry would remember a fullback in his team, I'm not sure if the name is correct but it was either Spafford or Spradbury. What was special about this lad was he had polio when he was younger leaving him with a withered leg and pronounced limp. Despite this handicap he was a tremendous player, great positional sense and nigh on impossible to beat him. You tend not to forget people like that and I admired his determination. Extracted from an email submitted by Harry Downes
Barry said it was towards the end of his schooling that the football team had won the trophy, it would have been 1957/8. Barry was at the school from 1954 to 1958. Submitted by Barry Patterson
I can recall playing against Hessle High School at Hessle in a Schools Cup match either 1957 or 58. We won 3-2 but I'm sure we lost in the next round against Ainthorpe H.S. I damaged my Achilles tendon and missed out for some of the games that season. Submitted by Harry Downes
HSB was an annex of Hull College of Technology Submitted by Harry Downes
The school was bomb damaged. The front, as I remember, was the playground. When you crossed the road from the Cecil, there was the large wrought iron fence facing you, the school gates to the right. Once through the gate you walked approx. 40 yards across the playground to reach the school entrance. Submitted by Harry Downes
I can recall one funny incident, when Frank Mason embarrassed me in front of the whole school. During the early morning assembly Frank was addressing all the pupils about the news and forthcoming school events. All of a sudden he said, "Over the past week, I have been looking out the window during the morning break sessions” I have been monitoring the behavior in the playground and I have noticed some rather odd behavior by one of our pupils". This remark quickly drew the attention of the assembly and you could have heard a pin drop. He then said “Harry Downes-would you like to tell the school, why every day, you move all the crates of milk from one area of the playground to another?". Of course with all eyes on me I froze in horror but re gathering myself I blurted out, "Well Sir-the delivery man always leaves the crates in the sun and when the milk gets warm it makes me sick and I can't drink it!. The assembly burst into laughter but Frank raised his arm for silence and said:-"Hands up the pupils who like warm milk?” As no one put their hands, Frank said, "Oh! In that case, any boy misbehaving from now on will move the crates and give Harry a day off!
You never forget moments like that but I always found that Frank had a devilish sense of humour but could be strict when it was needed. Submitted by Harry Downes
I remember nicknaming the school HumberSide Borstal. (HSB) Submitted by Mike Worsey
I was at HSB from 1956 to 59. The school was definitely Victorian Period with a tall spire, directly at the back of the Cecil Cinema in Osborne Street. Next to the school was a building with transmitters or some type of Radio mast on the roof-not sure but it could have been Marconi. Prior to being HSB, I think one time it was a special school for handicapped or special needs children. Submitted by Harry Downes
An update about Jeff Tucker. I met up with him about 5 years ago and he is great enjoying life in New Zealand. There is a web site about his family and his partners business. Use the drop down boxes especially Tuiscope Scene. I am going back NZ later this year and we are meeting up again. When I last saw him he said he had no intention of coming back to the UK. And after being in NZ a few times and seeing his mansion I can understand why.
http://www.tuiscope.co.nz Submitted by Mike Worsey
I was the captain of the school football team who won the Hull Schools cup in 1957. I would love to meet any of that team Submitted by Roger Gale
Kevin Davidson (no relation) and I were great friends. We were all thick as thieves (or maybe just thick!!) Can you believe 2 boys actually broke INTO the school one weekend? Not to do damage like it would be today - objective was to get up the spiral staircase and into the loft area. No, I don't know why either!! Submitted by Mike Davidson
Paul Caldeira is trying to get in touch with Keith Edwards. Paul’s email address is paul.caldeira@btinternet.com
A guy called Baines - taught French also - had a little goatee beard and was a prankster
Does anyone remember him dressing up and coming into the school as an Indian visitor calling himself Rancid Ham Submitted by Ron Smith
Hope everything goes well. I am unable to make it on 22nd but would like to be kept informed of future events. I started at Christopher Wren in 1967 and was a pupil until the school was closed in 1969 (a very sad day which messed up the last years of my education!)... Submitted by Paul Hirscher
Mike Worsey raised a question on a Hull Daily Mail site as a result of a comment by Harry Downes about a fish shop, Lavines, in Osborne Street that was frequented by pupils. The following is the answer The fish shop on Osborne St. was well known for frying in oil not lard or dripping because of religious food rules. Seems to be fairly common now for chippies to have a notice in the window stating what they use for frying, I suppose veg. oil will keep their veggie customer’s on board, personally, the replier stated, I’m convinced that you can’t beat a good thick cut chip fried in beef dripping.
MEMORIES OF THE TEACHING STAFF: