Wigan Album

That brings back hazy memories for me Graham. I went to the old Woodfield School for a while. My Grandparents lived at 3 St Clements Rd.....a long story but I recall that at sometime during the school day we used to have to have a rest or sleep on oval coconut matting mats on the wooden floors. I must have been about 6yrs old. Nice photo.

Helen,
My two elder sisters started their school life at the old Woodfield School in 1938 & 1941. I can remember when the time for me to start school age 5 my Mum & I went to Woodfield school to enroll but was refused because we lived outside the Wigan boundary (Standish). So we walked to St. Michael & all Angels, Swinley where I was accepted.
I have a photograph of my elder sister aged 5+ in her school uniform (1939) which I will try to upload to the Woodfield School Album. By the time my other Sister started there in 1941, film rolls were scarce due to the war as father mentions in the Family Albums during that period. Hence no photos of my other sister in her early uniform.

I started school here in 1950. So lucky to be in such a tranquil space, just after the war. The large tree to the left of the school was a horse-chestnut. Conkers abounded. My Kindergarten teacher was Miss Mayberry, a calm, gentle young woman who taught my to read, and appreciate our surroundings. Now my son is a Kindergarten teacher in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. One of my 3 grand-daughters is in his class.

Isn't that a great memory Derek...& your son teaching in The Yukon. My memory of Woodfield was that it was a very 'gentle' school.

Very good of you Derek to share your memories with us.
I went to St John School and there were twin sisters in my class by the name of Hyde who lived in Swinley.
I think one became a police officer. Could they have been a relation?

Derek, Miss Maybury was also one of my teachers. If you look on the Woodfield school album you’ll see a photo of the Christmas party at Woodfield. She is on that photo alongside Miss Parkinson (Headteacher)and Miss Dunn (later Mrs Sharples). The others I remember were Mr Torpey and Mr Woodcock.