Embedded Files
Hamlet
In September 1965, a party of sixth-formers accompanied by Mr A. Neilson, the newly appointed Head of English, attended a film showing of Olivier’s ‘Hamlet’. This 1948 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play of the same name was adapted and directed by, and starred, Laurence Olivier.
Brothers’ quartet
The admission in September 1965 of first-year pupil Antoni Marciniak meant that there were now four brothers on roll at the same time, with Paul in Upper VI, Stanley in 5th year and Stephen in 3rd year. Whether this was the first or only occasion that this ‘feat’ had been achieved is not known. Of course, Antoni spent his first year studying at the annexe, which was based at Plymouth Grove.
Tom Dobbin’s Club
A Christmas Fair was held in the school in November 1965 in aid of a local club for elderly people, namely ‘The Tom Dobbin’s Club’.
Theatre visit
In November 1965, a party of 43 pupils accompanied by two teachers attended French plays at the Palace Theatre.
Time changes
In December 1965, the school’s working hours were changed to the following:
Morning session: 9.30am to 12.20pm.
Afternoon session: 1.15 to 4.00pm.
Concert
In December 1965, a choral and orchestral concert was performed in the school hall by the Manchester Schoolchildren’s Orchestra, directed by W.D. Pearson Esq, and the St Gregory’s School Choir, conducted by Mr J. Farrell.
Carol service at St Mary’s, Mulberry Street
A lunch-hour Christmas carol service was given at St Mary’s Church, Mulberry Street, Manchester, in 1965. The school chaplain, Fr William Hunt, officiated and the school choir sang nine carols and the benediction hymns. This delightful and festive practice became an annual event for the school.
Known as “The Hidden Gem”, the church was also the venue at various times for the Annual Mass for Deceased Gregorians which was always held on the last Friday of November. After the service refreshments were taken at either the Abercrombie or Nag’s Head public houses.
A view of the outside of St Mary’s Church
The ornate and decorative high altar of the church
Right Rev. Dr Thomas Holland, Bishop of Salford 1964-83
Higher Education applications
Most students who continued their studies to A-level did so because they intended going on to higher education. Applications for places at universities and colleges of education were usually made in the autumn term of the upper sixth and necessitated students writing off for prospectuses and other relevant information and documentation. A growing number of students were entered for some A-level examinations – such as History, Economics, and British Government, to name but a few – whilst in Lower VI. In some cases, students were “double-entered” in the same subject for both the JMB and University of London examination papers, although the syllabuses were not always fully compatible. Nevertheless, there were always a sufficient number of questions that could be answered and students generally performed well, with some achieving very good grades indeed. A consequence of this was that many students already had some A-level passes at the time of applying to higher education institutions. This resulted in some students receiving (and usually accepting) “unconditional” offers, meaning that no further qualifications were required. Other students might receive favourable or generous offers based on their O-level and A-level qualifications to date.
In addition, the London board’s examination papers could be taken in January of the upper sixth in some subjects, as well as in the summer along with the JMB’s papers. Consequently, some students – but not all, such as the scientists who were usually examined after a two-year course of study – had “several bites of the cherry”, as it were, at a time when A-levels obtained at multiple sittings did not appear to be a disadvantage. A student’s best grades were what counted.
Incidentally, there were occasions when there was a clash of dates of examination papers of different boards. This sometimes resulted in some students having to sit an examination in the evening, after having taken two three-hour papers earlier that day. When this occurred, students were properly supervised and kept separate from other students who had already taken the exam.
University applications generally involved filling in a form on which one wrote out a CV and listed six institutions (and courses), with the first-named being one’s first preference. Sometimes, as stated above, an unconditional offer might be made; when this was from one’s first-choice university, one was expected to accept it. Sometimes, students were required to travel for interviews, although very little, if any, preparation had been made in terms of anticipating questions and rehearsing answers. Unfortunately, some students were restricted in their choice of universities by not having acquired a foreign language at O-level.
Some students applied only to universities; others applied to both universities and colleges of education, whilst some applied only to the latter.
Day of Recollection
In late March 1966, a party of fifth and sixth-form pupils attended a day of recollection at Allen Hall, a Manchester University Hall of Residence. They were accompanied by Fr Hunt, school chaplain, and three members of staff and the day’s events were conducted by the Rev. Fr Cantwell, S.J., assistant chaplain to the University.
Other venues used for days of recollection included the Cenacle Convent at Whalley Range, St Aloysius’ Church and even the school itself.
General Election, 31st March 1966
On this day the forms using the Plymouth Grove Annexe did not attend as the building was in use as a polling station. The result of the election was a landslide victory for the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, the incumbent prime minister.
Cinema visit
In July 1966 a party of 120 boys accompanied by four teachers attended the showing of a French film at Studios 1 and 2, Oxford Road.
Overseas trips, 1966
Although there is no written record in the school’s surviving log book of any overseas trips in that year, it seems highly unlikely that none were organised.
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