Wigan Album

Masters, lt-rt, Jem Hall,Savigny,(?) Robinson, "Shady" Gray, (?),(?)

Ive spotted Wiganworld member Bennielechat on this photo!

Jem Hall used to tell you to touch your toes and face the north pole when giving you the whack with his trusty pump Rupert.He was the geography teacher,and if you got it wrong you got another two!

I did Geography A Level with Gem and I think you'll find that he used to make you face "Mecca". He had an array of weapons ranging fron a very large black gym shoe, a chair leg and the spindle off a broken chair. He once punched a guy (the clown on the other photo)with an uppercut, causing his fountain pen to stick into his chin. He still had the accidental "tattoo" years later. I believe this was described as discipline back then.I remember him once threatening to re-"whack" everyone because some smart alec pointed out that Mecca was in another direction to the way he always made the boys bend over. Happy Days !!!

Masters should read r't to left

I am 1st on left,back row.Alan Bradshaw is 2nd on left,back row.

I am half way down the photo om the left hand side. I have my blazer pulled well beck so you can see plenty of white shirt. This is because, despite black being the official school colours my coat was a navy blue hand me down. Being worried that the photo may be in colour was the reason for showing as little of the blazer as possible.
I recognise some more of the teachers - from l to r when you look at it was Cadge (CD) Gibbons, Roy Knapman, Mick Gray, Robinson the PE teacher is also there

On the photograph as you look at it, immediately to my left is Dr. Ian (Bill Spike) Nelligan. Spike and I married identical twin sisters 30 years ago and remain good friends to this day.

Message to Ian Nelligan. I didn't know you at school because I was a few years higher up but my wife knows you from Liverpool poly. Her name was sue Durrant. We've been married 36 years. She said she could never understand your accent! I'm further along the photo near the back.

Is that tommy fletcher, back row on the far right?

This picture shows my late brother David in front row about middle of picture next to two people I met on last years school reunion

Just come acros this site . Dave C's comments about Gem. Jem, or Wes Hall(he was called all of these)are all true. I was in the class as well the day someone pointed out the true direction of Mecca. He also used to set a test every week and if you got less than 50% he would whack you with Rupert the gym pump. He called either the chair leg or spindle "Clarence. Makes him sound a monster but he was very well liked. I tell my daughter about the level of casual violence (discipline) meted out then and she thinks I am making it all up. I'm sure others remember board dusters (the woooden ones being hurled at peoples heads. My favourite story of retrbition however is non violent. Roger Freeman (RIP he became a well known rally driver and died in a crash in 2003)fell asleep - not unknown - in one of Bernie Stocks A level groups. As there were only 6 of us in the group it was quickly noticed. Bernie used to use an old scarf to wipe the board so it was full of chalk. he stood over Roger and patted the scarf until he was covered in chalk dust and looked like a snow man. Bernie then went back to his desk and shouted "Freeman. Wake up !!" Rog shot up and was totally gobsmaked to be covered in chal. As they say - Happy Days

Finally found myself (partly obscured) I'm just in front of Dave Button who's at the centre of the picture on the very back row. To the left of him is John Derbyshire, and Steve Horrocks is on the right. I still had dark hair then! Happy days

In response to John Foster’s comment, Yes John that is me next to the end on the back row! The guy next to me is John Eastham! Jeff Rourke directed me to this site but I can’t find him!!