I was a pupil at Westridge from 1961 until 1965...looking for anyone who was in the A stream when Geordie Hemming was headmaster. Mr Stafford (French teacher) Mr Douglas(Math) Mr Abrehart (History) etc. My name is Ken Straw, anyone who remebers me please get in touch through this website.

I have been living in the USA since 1982, but still come home regularly, my brother Peter and sister Pauline still live in the area.

Ken

I was a pupil at Westridge from 1961 until 1965...looking for anyone who was in the A stream when Geordie Hemming was headmaster. Mr Stafford (French teacher) Mr Douglas(Math) Mr Abrehart (History) etc. My name is Ken Straw, anyone who remebers me please get in touch through this website.

I have been living in the USA since 1982, but still come home regularly, my brother Peter and sister Pauline still live in the area.

Ken

Hello Ken, I was there from 64 to 69, I dont recall who you are but surely we crossed paths, does Richard Coulthard ring a bell?? he would have been around your year, I live in Fort Washington Pa now, I was home last August visiting my 2 brothers Glen and David. where in the states are you??

Hi Ken

I was one of the first bottom to top, went there on the first day the school opened & stayed until 1962.

I remember all the teachers you mentioned & Miss Gray, Nancy McClean & others

Jack Henderson

My wife Dot (Doreen nee Dagless) was there '56 until '59, Mr Douglas was her home teacher, Nancy McClean was her gym teacher, Mr Hemming the Principle.

Vic

Hello Ken, I was there from 64 to 69, I dont recall who you are but surely we crossed paths, does Richard Coulthard ring a bell?? he would have been around your year, I live in Fort Washington Pa now, I was home last August visiting my 2 brothers Glen and David. where in the states are you??

hi mick

Is the glen potts the same one i worked with at Ellington colliery we were both loco drivers, he used to live at lynmouth now lives at Ellington with joan.Used to live at Bedlington beside the park if i can remember if that what he said.If it is tell him to ring me the next time you speak to him. Infact im sure i can remember having a drink with you and glen one time when you were over. Thanks graeme ogle

Hi Ken

I have only just started using this forum , just became a member.I think you may be a year or two older than me. I `m 59 , name is John Bowman. I have after all these years just contacted the guy above Michael Potts a class mate from the same period. I remember Froggy and Ganny Reay as well as the teachers above . I`ve been living in Canterbury for the last 25 years. I occasionally go back to Bedlington to see family and friends .....big changes over the years.

I can remember a few guys that were a few years in front of me ....Stephen Locker , Alan Charlton ( I think ) , there was a Susan Lindsey , Janice Furlong .

Here`s wishing you all the best

Hi Jack Henderson!

I was also at Westridge the day it opened,and can you mind what happened?...we all got sent home for an extra day's holiday,cos the stationery hadn't been delivered due to a contract being renaged upon.

Mr Hemming introduced all the staff on the stage.... a stage!!!!!!...there wasn't any stage at the old Whitley School!

Mr Marley,Freeman,Douglas,Johnson,Epsley,Abrahart,MISS Short,Thew,Nicholson,Mclean[i worked under her Dad at Bedlington A pit later on,he was a Deputy,nice bloke and all,]

I was in the upper remove class,1956-9,but left in1959,at 15 years old cos my exam results were poor,well,my maths were,but the rest were o.k.

By the time i was 14 years old,i was trusted with the keys to the whole school,cos i used to stay until 11-0pm most nights with Mr Johnson,working on building electronic circuits....shortwave radios etc....valves in those days,no transistors...high voltages etc...Mr Johnson was a great guy,an old RAF radio operator during the war...he learnt me a lot about electronics.

Hi Vic...am i pleased to hear from you!!

You took my old friend away to Canada many moons ago...and i'm always talking about her and Maureen,and Linda.

How is she,and yourself?Jimmy Bower went to wales,after you emigrated,and i married a station lass and moved to Stakeford.

Tell Doreen i lived in 13,Hollymount Square....she'll remember me!!

We were friends from 5 years old,went to infants,then Whitley,then Westridge.

Kindest regards to you and Doreen,and give her a few kisses from me,to catch up Vic!!

Cheers,

High pit Wilma.

[Real name coming tomorrow night!]

Dot says hi B....y! it's been almost 37 years, Maureen (who married my brother) lives near by, we are all well other than the expected ailments of our age!

Hello fellow Westridgians! I'm also an old A-streamer, left in 1962. I remember all these teachers. Richard Coulthard rings a bell with me. He was in my class.

Hello Ken, I was there from 64 to 69, I dont recall who you are but surely we crossed paths, does Richard Coulthard ring a bell?? he would have been around your year, I live in Fort Washington Pa now, I was home last August visiting my 2 brothers Glen and David. where in the states are you??

Richard Coulthard is my cousin

What about taking a term to make a skirt by hand!

While you guys could enjoy woodwork and metalwork.

The teacher was also the Guide Leader.

What about taking a term to make a skirt by hand!

While you guys could enjoy woodwork and metalwork.

The teacher was also the Guide Leader.

Oh happy days! I gave up needlework in favour of technical drawing, not without a fight I might add, as I thought it was far too tedious with all this hand sewing. I'd already learned to use a sewing machine (of the treadle type) at home before starting at Westridge and even that I couldn't do properly according to Miss Craigs.. On my last school report I got a D for needlework. I met Miss Craigs (of the Railway Tavern) some years later in Bedlington. She said that she had seen my wedding photo in the newspaper and thought I had a beautiful dress. She didn't believe I'd made it myself and would certainly not believe that today I've made a tidy sum of pocket money making them for other people. So much for the school grading system.

Memories are strange.

1960 and going to the Olympic Games was special but I forgot that a few of us got lost in the Colliseum and simply made our way back to the place we were staying. Evidently we got into trouble but it made no impact on me. If there is a problem you just solve it.

Get the bus home! Maybe a bit far for you at the moment. There is also the question of where is home.

There is a film called the Glory Days where three girls follow Spurs in 1960. One girl is sentenced to make a dirndl skirt by a teacher.

Strangely I enjoyed school dinners but that is a whole new topic. The communal aspect seemed a good way to do things and the food could be a little different. Maybe Jamie Oliver would have approved.

Biology prize won by a certain person.

School can define us. Good or bad! Maybe another topic. Teacher be aware! Mind there are always people who refuse to be pigeonholed. Sweetness and light.

Vic,i am pleased you said that Doreen was at Westridge from 1956-59,cos someone on the forum elsewhere doubted my word and relied on a book he had read,which stated the school opened in 1957!!

As if you could forget what day you started a big,brand new school,on the day it opened from being built!

Cheers Marra!

Jack,i wouldn't have grown up with you,and known you by the name of John,would i?[at the old Whitley School]

Also,was Tony your Dad,a lovely natured fella?

Bill.