St Joseph’s RC Primary School - 1988

I attended St Joseph's School from 1982-1988 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

Headmistress: Mrs Headmaster: Mr Duggan Teachers: Mrs Parrish, certainly my favourite Teacher at that School.

Mrs Perojinsky, I remember her being somewhat aggressive towards the younger pupils, seemed to mellow out a little as she aged/as we aged.

Mrs Cummins, only ever tought by her for recorder practice, which I simply could not play to save my life. I'd manage the first three notes of "Hot Cross Buns" and then the rest consisted of mimeing.

Mrs Lewis: She was the Music Teacher, which was probably one of the better lesssons, especially when wanting to get out of Mr Duggins Stand In Teaching of Long Division and Multiplication.

Mr Scannel: Without a doubt the best Teacher one of the best Teachers within those walls. He tought us a final year, prepping us for Secondary school. I remember him having a passion for French, and the Country itself, to which he later moved to. Sadly I heard both he and his family will killed in a Fire at there new home in France some couple of years after I moved to Trinity Secondary School in Warwick.

Mr Buick: A tough old cookie that one, not the teacher you would play up for, despite being no disciplinary clouting then, he was certainly not afraid to clip someone round the ear.

Pupils

Lee Montgomery, Christian Stringer, Peter Jenkins, Benn Thombs, Marc Sailers, Stephen Behan, Andrew Williams, Manoj Harrah, Paul White, Leo Cooper, Debbie Cleary, Antonia Rodriguez, Kamaljit ?????, Claire Williams, Emma Wright, Christine Murphy, Tracy Burg. And whole host of others, who I cannot for the life of remember.....what age does Alzheimers set in?

Comments

Certainly have some good memories of that School, and will still be like one big family to me. Strange how perceptions change somewhat over the years. For any pupil school can be a somewhat boring chore, which has to be fufilled. Yet the moment you leave, is probably one of the saddest days of any pupils lives, whether they care to admit to that or not. Its strange how, after tying somewhat unbreakable bonds with fellow students/friends, how a simple move to another School can change, what would have been thought, the unchangeable.

I always remember School Sports Day, usually around June/July time, just a few weeks before the Summer Break, and how it always seemed to be the HOTTEST day of the year. Just sitting there waiting for your race was tiring enough, and then when actually participating, in the most exhausting run (The Dreaded Fence Race) was almost enough to bring tears to your eyes. Despite actually looking at the distance now, and thinking why anyone could possibly struggle running from one side of the field and then back to the other, is quite beyond me. However at the time, it was like punishment for a year of bad spelling. Despite that, both Summer Sports Day at both St Joseph's and at Edmonscote Sports Ground in Warwick (Where the local schools competed year in year out), they were fun to both watch and participate in.

One of our favourite pass times was sliding round on our backsides across the polished floor in the hall, which for some reason used to rile the teachers to the point of insanity. Personally I cannot see the problem in 40 or so Hyped Up Kids taking 20 Feet run ups, and then diving ass over tit towards the alter on the far end. The last day before leaving for Seconday school, involved every Year 6 Student participating in a Water Fight. Yes, the school was somewhat wet, and No the Teachers and Headmaster were again strangely not amused. After being given detention (1st time ever) on the last day, along with every other studant, and being made to write line after line, why it was a silly thing to do, were we allowed to leave for the day. Still, it made for a somewhat more memorable experience.

Evenings at the School were somewhat more fun, yes a group of us would get together, and hit the outdoors in search of fun. Where the now fairly new Old Persons Home, and housed down by Alexandra Close are, was all once field. Although it was more ruff ground there at the far back, it did make for some interesting Winter Evenings come October and November. Whilst creating Tree Houses and Dens, and well causing as much 'harmless' mischeif as possible at that age, it was a fun time.

Another favourite pass time was an invented game called Prisoner, where it would be a 2 vs 2 hide and seek. 2 would scurry off into the darkness of some field (usually Acre Close), and the other two would then actively go out and hunt the other two party members down. Its amazing how you can use light blindness to full effect. Thats it...I think.

Paul Lawrence - Leamington Spa