Miscellaneous

Rev. P. Mitcheson – school Chaplain from 1970

Paul Mitcheson was born on 6th July 1936 in Hadfield, Derbyshire, and baptised at St Charles Borromeo, Hadfield, on 19th July 1936. He was educated at St Bede’s College, Manchester.

Paul was accepted as an ecclesiastical student for the diocese of Salford in February 1954 and continued at St Bede’s College, transferring to St Joseph’s College, a seminary at Upholland in Lancashire, in September of that year. He was one of twenty-two students ordained in June 1960. 

Fr Paul Mitcheson was ordained to the sacred priesthood on Trinity Sunday, 12th June, in his own parish at the church of St Charles Borromeo, Hadfield, Derbyshire. His first appointment was to St Mary’s, Levenshulme, Manchester, in July 1960, where he remained for nearly ten years. He was involved in many activities including the Scouts; Army Cadet chaplain; primary and secondary school chaplain; founding a parish football league, and preparing and working with over fifty altar servers. He also celebrated daily 7.00am Mass at the Poor Clares convent on Clare Road. Fr Leonard Hulme was his parish priest for his first seven years, during which time they used a former cinema on Stockport Road as a church; there were six Masses each Sunday, all well attended.

Just before Christmas in 1968, Fr Mitcheson became seriously ill and was admitted into St Joseph’s Hospital, Whalley Range, for surgery, staying about ten weeks. 

In the spring of 1970, Fr Mitcheson, aged 33, was transferred from the parish of St Mary’s to St Anne’s, Ancoats, where Father William Hunt was parish priest, and then succeeded him as chaplain to St Gregory’s Grammar School.

A brief insight into his time and work at St Gregory’s was given many years later when Fr Mitcheson kindly took the time to write the following: 

“There was no blueprint on being a chaplain; it was what you made of it. We had Mass in the school hall to begin with from Tuesday to Friday each week before the school day began. Each R.E. class was divided into four groups – A, B, C and D. These represented Apache, Blackfoot, Comanche and Delaware, tribes of North American Indians. I had groups of seven or eight pupils during the day, seeing each boy at least once a month. Sometimes I was invited to visit classes. In the evenings I visited the boys’ homes, stretching from Moston to Wythenshawe. Surprisingly this covered 100 parishes in the Salford and the Shrewsbury dioceses, and the odd one in the Nottingham diocese (Glossop).

On Saturdays I used to watch the school football matches. Then there were several trips to London with [teacher] Dan Tranter and fifty boys on the school coach, as well as visits to Canada, camping at Aberfoyle in Scotland and so on.

Near Christmas we had an annual Carol Service in St Aloysius’ church. Every Friday we had an hour’s Confessions, and longer just before Christmas and Easter (over 200 at Christmas, and 150 or so at Easter).

Each boy was unique, and each was moulded by so many factors, including for some the loss of a parent. Visiting their homes was appreciated and helpful. As with all young people, it was important to be patient, to give them time, and to treat them as brothers.”

Fr Mitcheson played an important part in the spiritual and pastoral side of St Gregory’s in the 1970s and was often at the heart of what was going on. An extremely humble and holy man, he was much admired and respected by both pupils and staff, in what he said and in what he did.  He was genuinely interested in the pupils and enjoyed watching their progress and development. His sermons were measured, interesting, relevant and always pitched and delivered in a manner understood by the pupils. He regularly attended football matches, usually at Hough End Playing Fields, and was quietly supportive; the players knew he was there and appreciated his presence. He was a trustworthy confidant, always available and approachable, caring and compassionate. In Fr Mitcheson, the school was fortunate in having a chaplain whose priestly journey of faith and service was shared with so many young people. He would continue to serve God for many more years.

Fr Mitcheson celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a priest in June 2010. The following extracts from a booklet of that occasion perhaps sum up his ministry:

“I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me” Galatians 2.20.

“Jesus, you have given yourself to me; now let me give myself to Thee.”  

Secretarial change

After 12 years of being the school’s secretary, Mrs Doherty resigned in May 1970 and was succeeded by her assistant, Mrs Blaney.

New staff

Among the additions to the staff in the academic year 1970-71 were Mr Terence McManus, Mr Michael Casey, Mrs Andrea Morris, Mrs Ann Lucas (PT), Bernard H. Vincent Pizzala, Mr Patrick Penez, Mr Daniel Tranter, Miss Irene McKenna, Mr Thomas Sheridan, Miss Helen Fortune (temp), Mrs Winnifred Laurie (supply) and Mr Roy Waddington.

Decimalisation

On Monday, 15th February 1971, known as ‘Decimal Day’, the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies. The government had prepared the general public for this change over a number of years. Some of the decimal coins – such as those for 5p, 10p and 50p – had been introduced in previous years and were already in circulation so that by Decimal Day the public was already familiar with the new system.

The school took the new system in its stride, as did the country generally. As far as the curriculum was concerned, only a few subjects – such as mathematics and bookkeeping – were affected by the change.

Trip to Blankenberge, Belgium, Whitsuntide 1971

This seven-day trip for about 30 first-year pupils was organised by Mr Joe Deegan and cost £25. The outward journey was Manchester Piccadilly-Euston-Victoria-Dover, then by ferry to Ostend. There were trips to Dunkirk (France), Sluis (Netherlands) and to a theme park called Meli Park.

A vivid memory of some of the boys is of watching the televised European Cup Final from Wembley between Ajax of the Netherlands and Panathinaikos of Greece, with Ajax winning 2–0 in a match that was watched by 90,000 spectators and refereed by England’s Jack Taylor.

“I have only happy memories of the trip,” recalled Peter Steele.

Old Gregorian Association 1971

In July 1971, a well-attended meeting of Old Gregorians, the first such reunion in over thirty years, was held in the school and it looked forward to making plans for celebrating the forthcoming golden jubilee of the school. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Old Gregorian Association 1971, as its official title was agreed.  A steering committee was selected, a constitution drawn up and attempts made to contact Old Gregorians in every part of the world.

The aims and object of the OGA were twofold: first, to honour and uphold the name of the school; secondly, to bring together Old Gregorians in a spirit of good fellowship through the medium of meetings, newsletters, social and sporting events.

Its membership consisted of two categories. ‘Ordinary membership’ was open to all former pupils of the school since its opening in 1923. ‘Honorary membership’ could be accorded to men, though not old boys of the school, “who are, or have been, directly concerned and interested in the school’s activities and place in the educational environment”.

Mr W.L. McGawley, headmaster, was invited to become the OGA’s first president, an offer which he was pleased to accept.

The OGA planned and arranged a number of social functions. They put in hand arrangements for the golden jubilee dinner, regularly produced newsletters for circulation among members, and were constantly on the lookout for Old Gregorians to swell their ranks and make for a strong social organisation.

Former staff members who were not necessarily former pupils of the school were also welcome to take part in the association’s affairs.

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