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Football champions, 1950-51
Standing, from left: Mr A.J. Rocca (Headmaster), Unidentified, Roy Beale, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Lawrence Radcliffe, Mr A.L. Smith.
Seated, from left: John Welsh, Phil Beswick, Unidentified, Unidentified, John Queenan.
Cricket team, 1950-51
Standing, from left: Mr Harry O’Brien, Unidentified, Unidentified, Peter Aspinall, Unidentified, Terry Queenan, Unidentified, Unidentified, Frank Beecher.
Seated, from left: John Royan, Vincent Murray, Norman Mayo, Brian Hewitt.
This was probably a mixed-aged intermediate team.
Football players, early 1950s
Pictured with the nine boys is Mr Denis Brannan, who commenced teaching at the school in January 1950. The writing on the football reads 3rd Div “B”.
Standing next to Mr Brannan is Poole, and Turner is seated fourth from left.
Swimming team, about 1951-52
This rare photograph featuring six swimmers was donated by Peter Renshaw, who is seated, centre. Also pictured is Mr A.J. Rocca, left, and Mr B. Gorton, right.
This was an intermediate team and comprised boys of different ages. The badge on Peter’s trunks had the Manchester coat-of-arms on it, as he was selected to swim for Manchester Boys. The badge had been presented to Peter on the stage in the school hall in front of all the school by Mr Rocca. As with other successful sports teams such as football and cricket, Mr Rocca was keen to follow Mr Holmes’s example of encouraging the boys and recognising their achievements, and was happy to pose for the photograph.
Pupils did not receive swimming lessons. In spite of this, many boys would have been proficient swimmers and some, who were members of local swimming clubs, were very good. All the high schools in the area would have been invited to enter teams or individuals to compete in the District Championships which were held at Gorton baths near Belle Vue on Hyde Road. (The baths would later be demolished and replaced by new homes.) The final stage of the district galas was to go to High Street baths. (These are the baths now restored in Manchester to their former glory with heritage grants.)
With the exception of 1955, the school held a swimming gala annually from 1947 to 1956. The school would close at noon to enable swimmers and spectators to travel to the venue.
Swimming award, 1952
Presented to fifth-form pupil Peter Renshaw, this is a rare example of a certificate won in the District Championships for swimming. A pupil since 1947, Peter had also been successful the previous year. The Latin proverb on the certificate translates as “The end crowns the work”.
Manchester Boys’ cricket team, 1952
This creased and rather worn photograph features two boys from St Gregory’s: Hubert Brown, front row extreme left, and Bernard Morris, front row fourth from left, wearing pads and gloves. Bernard, who had the distinction of being the team captain, was the wicketkeeper and opening batsman. Another player of interest, standing directly behind Hubert Brown, is Wilf McGuinness, of Mount Carmel, Blackley: he went on to captain England schoolboys at football and, of course, would play for and manage Manchester United.
Bernard, who supplied this photograph, recalls that the city team played matches against teams from Stockport, Rochdale, Ashton, Denton, Oldham and a few others. Home matches tended to be played at Longsight Cricket Club, where this picture was taken.
As for school matches, Bernard recalled that home games were played on the concrete pitch at Platt Fields. Schools which St Gregory’s played against included Webster Street, Heald Place, Ducie Avenue, Chapel Street, and St Roberts. The team was taken by Mr Denis Brannan, who would travel with the boys by bus. Looking back after sixty-five years, Bernard speaks with fondness and appreciation for the commitment and dedication of so many of his teachers during his time at St Gregory’s.
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