Wigan Album

We used to go to Whelley School for Cookery classes from St Pat's many memories of learning to bake and clean that have stood me in good stead all my life. The first lesson we had, was to bring hand lotion, (Nulon) and nail brush, nail file etc, to learn how to do a French manicure and a dainty embroidered tray cloth to learn how to set a tray!! It was a very forward looking domestic science class. Every week was a different recipe, we had to write out from the blackboard and bring with us every Tuesday morning. Really enjoyed going to another school and calling for fresh cream, for Victoris sponge sandwiches...can't remember the name of the teacher only that she had red hair, I liked her.

More houses!

Veronica, I and my future wife both went to Whelley School although I didn't know her then as I'm four years older than her. However, she informs me that the red-haired cookery teacher was Mrs Ashley.

That's sounds right John. I can see her now in my mind's eye, she always seemed to wear a plaid, pleated skirt and royal blue jumper! Her hair was on the 'frizzy' side. She certainly made us scrub the wooden tables well were we had been baking! We had to clean the ovens as well and she was always going on about using 'lanry'. I don't think I have ever seen the stuff for many years! Thanks to your wife reminding me. It was the late 50's!

Whelley Middle School was my school in the early 1980s. The headmaster was Jack Thompson who replaced Mr Edmondson, and the deputy was Gwyneth Millard. There was also a cabin that was the music room. The school like Gidlow and Marus Bridge middle schools closed in 1988, and became offices for Wigan council, and demolition came in September 2012. Another school that was almost identical was in Pemberton, near Norley Hall Avenue.

I began my reaching career at Whelley in 1975!
Head: Jack Edmundson.
Jack Thompson was my Head of Dept.
Great school, thoroughly enjoyed my 5yrs there.
Went back to visit 2021, all gone, new housing, no recognition of the school being there!
Very sad, a lot of good teachers went thru Whelley. Great memories!