St Joseph’s RC Primary School - 1977

I attended St Joseph's School from 1972-1977 and had a wonderful time. I will try and remember the staff and pupils from that time (my memory is bad but it was a small school!)

Teachers

Headmaster - Mr Montgomery

He was a bit mad as I remember. Friday Assembly was always good for a laugh. If he was in a good mood (which wasn't often) then the morning passed uneventfully. If not then he used to (pardon the expression) scare the shit out of us. I do seem to remember him thrashing Denis Darby all over the room one time.

Mr Scannell - Deputy Head

Nice bloke. Although handy with the cane he was fair minded with it. I remember David Kelly notching on his desk every time he got the cane and actually notched up a fair few. He also got the cane for notching on his desk as I recall!

Mrs Piroginsky

Lovely lady whose name apparently should have been the feminine Pirozinsky but allowed us to call her by the masculine as it was easier for us to say.

Mrs Cummins

Another lovely lady whose son I went to school with at Myton.

Mr Canon

The moustachioed Mr Canon. I remember him turning up for school on his first day in his Beetle and locking his keys inside! He came with all sorts of rumours about board rubber throwing incidents but was, in fact, a nice bloke. We met some years after I left school and he not only remembered me but also remembered that I was a keen footballer.

Mr Bewick

Memorable as a Stoke City fan (as am I) who liked the odd wager with the Man Utd fans as to the weekend score. (usually a draw in those days... ahhh, those days...)

Mrs Yardley

Looked after me when I was sick on a school trip to France (sick, I was drunk on wine!), then spilt the beans to someone who I later went to school with at Myton. Great!

Mrs Grigg

Mrs Grigg was an older member of staff who I recall only briefly as fainting in class and being carried out by another teacher.

Mrs Coles

Taught me French which I wish I had kept up.

Pupils
(I can't believe that I remember so few, there must have been more girls. Someone help me out, please...)
If there are any old school photos knocking around I would love a copy.

Boys

Des Bowen, Paul Burke (left early), Steve Byrne (me), Frank Cronin, Sean Curran, Ultan Darby, Paul Doyle, Brendan (Barney) Fitzgerald, David Kelly, James (Jim) McGarvey, Stephen O'Reilly, Chris Sheard, Martin Thacker and Joe (Giuseppe) Venuto

Girls

Kerry Devanny, Sandra Dunlop, Nicola Hanford, Rachel Hawkins, Carol Henderson, Siobhan 'Lofty' Lamont, Geraldine McCann, Sharon Murphy, Niombh Stamford, Sheila O'Sullivan, Pat Rochford and Donna Waters

Steve Byrne