Other Items, 1968

Conference

In February 1968, a careers conference, attended by some 30 advisers and the officers of the Youth Employment Service, was held in the school hall from 6.30 to 9.15pm. A large number of boys and their parents came to seek information and advice.

Burglary

A burglary took place during the holidays in April: some damage was done, but nothing of value taken.

YCS 

In July 1968, two pupil representatives attended the Young Christian Students conference at Sedgley Park College of Education.

Field trip

In July 1968, 50 4th and 5th year boys accompanied by two geography masters went on a field work expedition to the Edale and Mam Tor areas of the Peak District.

Ardwick Town Hall

The following letter was sent by the Manchester Education Committee to the Department of Education and Science in London on 8th August 1968:

“The [Manchester] City Council on the 31st day of July 1968 approved the sum of £2,361 for the demolition of the former Ardwick Town Hall which adjoins the above-named school [St Gregory’s]. This amount will be set against the current Block Loan Sanction for building work and the layout of playing fields [for the school].”

In its reply the following month, the DES acknowledged the intention that once the former Ardwick Town Hall had been demolished, “the site will provide playing fields” for St Gregory’s. Had this idea come to fruition, the playing fields would have been very small indeed.

Football trophies wrecked, 1968

In October 1968, it was reported in the press that police had recovered ten football cups and shields stolen from St Gregory’s. All but one had been damaged beyond repair. The school had won most of the cups and shields the previous season when it “scooped the pool” in the Lancashire Schools’ Football Association.

The Under-14s’ Shield, which was completely ruined, had been competed for in schoolboy matches since 1891. The trophies had been found on spare ground in Ancoats.

It was a major setback for the school, but the Manchester Evening News and Chronicle offered to “help the boys to get over it by presenting a brand-new trophy to the school”. One of the problems, apparently, was that some of the trophies were uninsured

There were also other gestures of encouragement; some readers sent donations to the MEN towards the school’s trophy replacement fund, expressing admiration of schoolboy soccer. One reader enclosed a ten-shilling note for the fund. 

Although sad, this story is a reminder of the powerful football teams fielded by the school and the degree to which they were successful. It also says something of the teachers, who gave time in organising teams and refereeing matches. 

Leadership course

In October 1968, 20 sixth formers accompanied by Mr F. Evans and Fr Hunt attended a two-day leadership course at Wood Hall Pastoral Centre, Linton, near Wetherby, Yorkshire.

Carol Service, 1968

A Christmas carol service, featuring the school choir, was held in St Mary’s Church, Mulberry Street, by Fr Hunt, the school chaplain.

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