A new book about one of Brigg’s best-known seats of learning is bound to sell very well in the run up to Christmas – and it thoroughly deserves to do so.
Brigg County Primary School 1963-1996, Through the Lens of John Holland is a collection of photographs taken by the author during his lengthy career as a teacher at what many of us always called Glebe Road School (now demolished and replaced by the new facility on Atherton Way).
John went to Brigg County Primary himself, moved on to Brigg Grammar, left to do his college training and returned as a teacher at Glebe Road in 1963.
His keen interest in taking pictures down the years has made possible this delightful book, which reads like a Who’s Who of Brigg people and families. Turn page after page and you see the young faces of today’s adults.
There are pictures of pupils in class, on school trips, taking part in sports and enjoying the swimming pool.
Staff also feature, including Reg Stocks, Brian Wass and Steve Pearce - “the school’s only three head teachers in fifty years,” John reminds us.
Now retired, John taught many Brigg people in the 1960s and 1970s and their offspring a couple of decades later (Fisher family included!).
The book costs £5.99 and is available from Brigg Tourist Information Centre, The Buttercross, Market Place, or from Brigg Deli, in Wrawby Street. If you are a former Brigg County pupil now living away, call John on 01652 653985 or email johneholland@btinternet.com to arrange copies by post.
John Holland seen on the book's back cover.
The expressions, 'Going Dutch', 'Turning the Clock Back' and 'A Man with Time on His Hands'!!!! all spring to mind.
ReplyDeleteThe book looks very interesting - the only info I can find on my old primary school are a number of newspaper announcements -
'Kenneth Charles. Harrison, age 9, a pupil at Rice Lane Junior (Boys) was fined 6d for playing football in the street.'
In my infant school, there was a kindly-looking, whited haired lady whose looks disguised her temperament; she used to bash us kids on the knuckles with a knobbly chair spindle, if we didn't hold our pencil properly.
The presence of her lurking in the aisles ready to strike made even the most competent 5/6 year old nervous, increasing the liklihood of a spindle-wallop.
Those were the days!! It was taken a the norm; no-one seemed to complain.
After Infant School - my school-days became much kinder!!!
In my junior school, there was Miss Fish - a teacher who dressed in men's suits and wore collar and tie and brown brogues. She came and left school in a man's trench coat and trilby hat - sometimes, she rode a 250cc Arial - as kids, we didn't think too much about it; some parents had difficulties.
However, Miss Fish was one of the best teachers I have met.
The moral of the tale, if there is one, is don't let looks pre-empt prejudice.
Anyway, hope JH's book sell well - it'll make a good nostalgic
stocking-filler for some local mums and dads and grandparents.