Football Photos, 1954

Falling bricks

In January 1954, Mr Rocca reported that “Bricks have fallen from the old buildings in the yard during playtime”. After examining the wall with Mr Andrew and Mr Sheridan, he declared that “it looked very insecure”. Mr Rocca also noted that he had reported the matter to the Managers and, “as far as is possible, boys will be kept away from this wall”.

Inspection by fire officer

Following the fitting of fire extinguishers throughout the school, Mr Rocca requested the Fire Prevention Officer to visit the school to inspect the building and advise on a method of fire-drill. The school at that time had no reliable bell system for giving fire warnings. Nevertheless, the headmaster drew up a scheme using whistles and the bell in the yard (when this had been renovated and inspected) in order to give fire warnings.

School hours

The school day appeared to be from 9.30am to 4.10pm.

Passion play

The following report appeared in the Catholic Herald in March 1954:

“The Thomas More Society of 1 Manchester is now deep in rehearsal for the Passion play which will be staged from April 5 to 10. There have been difficulties in getting a hall but no problem in finding a play. A Manchester schoolmaster wrote the play, ‘I can lead you to My Son’. Mr James O’Malley first staged it [in 1952] at St Gregory’s Central School, Ardwick, and it was a great success. Now it is to be produced for the first time with an adult cast. It is a three-act play with 28 characters; the script is based on St John’s Gospel.”

“The Play of the Weather”, 1954

This was produced by the School Dramatic Society for the Adventure Theatre Guild Festival and was performed at the Adult Education Institute in Manchester.

Canal trip

A party of 60 boys and three masters made the trip along the Manchester Ship Canal.

Rhineland trip, Whitsuntide 1954

A party of 50 boys and five masters were given leave of absence on the final day of half term in order to take the 8.00am train for London. The party spent a week at Bad Honnef in the Rhineland.

School Leavers’ Service

This was held for the first time at the Holy Name Church on Oxford Road and was for leavers from Forms 4 and 5. The service usually commenced at 3.15pm and was repeated annually.

New name

From 6th September 1954, the name of the school was changed to “St Gregory’s Roman Catholic Secondary Technical School for Boys”. Note the word Secondary: this would be “dropped” four years later.

This transition from central to technical high school came about as a consequence of the Education Act of 1944, which classified secondary education into grammar, technical and modern. Thus, for a brief period, St Gregory’s was a secondary technical high school with a headmaster who had a sincere belief and dedication to the education of boys in a technological age. By the headmaster’s influence on both teaching staff and pupils, the school prospered and there was a very high standard of education.

Mr Hurst

Mr Eddie Hurst joined the staff as a physical education specialist in September 1954, replacing a Mr C.D. Shimmin who had been sent by the Education Office as a temporary teacher earlier in the year. Mr Shimmin had filled in for Mr Keith Lawton, who had held the post for just one full term.

Retirement of Mr E. Corney, January 1955

“Ted” Corney retired from the staff after 31½ years’ service. He was presented with a wireless set from the boys and an engraved pocket watch from the staff. A dinner was held in his honour at the Queen’s Hotel, Piccadilly, during the evening.

Mr Fred Andrew was appointed to hold the post of first assistant following Mr Corney’s retirement. This post would eventually come to be known as the deputy headship. Interestingly, on the few occasions when it was known that both Mr Rocca and Mr Andrew were to be absent, Mr Bernard Berry was nominated by the head to be in charge of the school.

Local visits

It became a common practice for parties of boys, accompanied by staff, to visit local work places of interest. Among those visited were the offices of the Manchester Guardian, Stuart Street Power Station, Crossley Motors, Beyer, Peacock & Company, Metro-Vickers, Mather & Platt’s, Ferranti’s, Telephone House, and the offices of the Manchester Evening News. On one occasion a party of boys and one teacher went down Bradford pit, permission from the boys’ parents first having been obtained.

In addition, boys were taken to cinemas and theatres, both nearby and in the city centre, to view certain films, plays and other performances. There were also visits to other institutions to hear lectures and view exhibitions. The school appeared to have good links with local firms and these outings gave the boys a sample of life at work in some of the city’s leading establishments.

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