Central Technical School

[Gerry]

Is that the school next door that had girls?

[mahonia]

Iam doing this post on behalf of my dad ( David Johnson ) who went to the Tec School from August 1960 - September 1962.

He has asked that I write the following on some of the teachers.

 

Wadge Headmaster ( Drove an Austin in two tone blue)

 

Dep Head died in 1960, Thompson took over but didn't want the job as he was a chain smoker and had to sneek out of lessons every 10 mins , also took Mechanics

 

Sid Gibbons, Maths 1st years

 

Fairbrother , Housemaster / Tec Drawing / English

 

(Sally) Hughes ( A Bloke) / Choir Master / Mathes / English

 

(Buzz) Bee , Maths

 

Alf Simpson , R.E / Maths / English

 

Mr Groake ( Ugly bloke with glasses ) Married Miss Pross in 1961

 

Don Woolhouse , Tec Drawing

 

(Pop) Gregory , Chemisty

 

Mr Davies , Careers

 

Mr Baines, Metalwork

 

Mr King , English / French

 

Mr Parkin , Plumbing

 

Mr Harrington , Physics

 

Mr Stacey , Sawman

 

Mr McManus , Fitting

 

John Hunter , Rugby , General Teacher

 

Buddys/Classmates

 

David Sorsby, Roger Taylor (Tennis Player) Martin Dale , Stephen Dunkley, Trevor Todd.

 

Ive also been asked if anyone knows Andy Spivey? he lives next door to me and went to the Tec School from 1962-64/5

[JWPeatfield]

Originally posted by tara

my uncle went there -40s

his name was norman antcliffe

 

Hi Tara,

My Dad (Bill Peatfield) went to the Central Tech in the '40s (43-46). He remembers a Norman Antcliffe at Davy United in the late '40s and early '50s. Did your Uncle Norman work for Davy United?

[PopT]

Today I noticed they had pulled down the school hall at the Old Central Tech.

 

I smiled when I saw a sign outside saying it was a architectural conservation development.

 

I wonder what they are going to pull down next?

 

Happy days!

[hagardriley]

I was at CTS 1962 to 1965 and I detested every single day. The day that I left was without doubt the greatest day of my life, even better than getting married or the birth of my children.

 

The staff were only interested in making you 'ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL'. Your education was of secondary importance to making you conform to their very narrowly defined dress code. I was actually sent home one day for wearing trousers that were an inch too narrow at the bottoms.

 

As for that evil man Herbert Wadge, all I can say is that the world is a far better place for his no longer being with us.

 

What finished it all for me was the day at Gleadless Road when I refused to be caned by Thornton the science teacher for something for which I wasn't responsible. Having been sent to see Wadge I was told by him to apologise to the teacher which I refused to do. The colour of his face lives with me to this day. He went purple with rage but I stood my ground and was sent home with a message for my mother to be at the school next morning.

 

That was probably the biggest mistake that old Herbert ever made. My mother gave him a right old rollocking and at a volume that I was assured could, quite literally, be heard all over the school. Herbert suffered a severe dent in the credibility stakes that day and I believe that he retired shortly afterwards. Good riddance! I never went back and was given early release by the Education Committee in February 1965.

 

I would love to know what became of my two best mates from the time that I was there. One was Derek Poole who lived in the Pitsmoor area and always wanted to join the Fire Brigade. He was affectionately known as Fred because of his striking resemblance to Fred Flintstone. The other was William (Billy) Harling who lived on Gleadless Road near the Carlton Club and was my best mate from our days at Hurlfield Boys School.

[PopT]

hagard Riley

 

I've just read your post and I'm sorry you felt you had such a bad deal there.

 

it seems to me you were a square peg in a round hole and should have been placed in the CTS.

 

Many others would have exchanged places with you from schools all over Sheffield.

 

Everyone I know remembers the school with fondness.

 

It the time I was there I had a few problems but accepted they were of my own making.

 

The school ran a disciplined regime and that was one of its assets and as far as education I do not think I could have received any better.

 

Many people who attended the school went on to greater things and the school gave thm a good grounding.

 

The Old Boy's Association is still in existance and to think the school has been closed for so many years is a testament to the feeling of its ex pupils.

 

Happy Days!

[JWPeatfield]

My dad went to CTS and always refers to it with pride. I showed him this thread and was smiling reading people's recollections and grinned when he saw reference to the Old Boy's Association as he said, "I left in '46 so I'm a very old boy".

[terryp]

I went to the Tech 1952/55 can't remember many of the teachers now but two of them still stick in my mind, Herbert Wadge and the physics teacher Mr Mcmanus he scared the s..t out of everybody. I finished in 6b when I left, don't know if anyone remembers me. I can only remember a couple of names my mate Roger Foster and Tony Palmer, I haven't come across anyone in all the years since. Sad in a way we had some good times.

Terry Perrett

[GLYNNFURN]

does anybody remember' killer whittem'? my old man said he used to punch yer on the arm all the time he was talking to you

 

Glynn

[CHAIRBOY]

Iam doing this post on behalf of my dad ( David Johnson ) who went to the Tec School from August 1960 - September 1962.

He has asked that I write the following on some of the teachers.

 

Wadge Headmaster ( Drove an Austin in two tone blue)

 

Dep Head died in 1960, Thompson took over but didn't want the job as he was a chain smoker and had to sneek out of lessons every 10 mins , also took Mechanics

 

Sid Gibbons, Maths 1st years

 

Fairbrother , Housemaster / Tec Drawing / English

 

(Sally) Hughes ( A Bloke) / Choir Master / Mathes / English

 

(Buzz) Bee , Maths

 

Alf Simpson , R.E / Maths / English

 

Mr Groake ( Ugly bloke with glasses ) Married Miss Pross in 1961

 

Don Woolhouse , Tec Drawing

 

(Pop) Gregory , Chemisty

 

Mr Davies , Careers

 

Mr Baines, Metalwork

 

Mr King , English / French

 

Mr Parkin , Plumbing

 

Mr Harrington , Physics

 

Mr Stacey , Sawman

 

Mr McManus , Fitting

 

John Hunter , Rugby , General Teacher

 

Buddys/Classmates

 

David Sorsby, Roger Taylor (Tennis Player) Martin Dale , Stephen Dunkley, Trevor Todd.

 

Ive also been asked if anyone knows Andy Spivey? he lives next door to me and went to the Tec School from 1962-64/5

 

I am not saying these are wrong but I make a few changes as I remember them. I remember going on to meet up with some teachers when I joined certain staffs - one such kindred spirit was Roy Wostenholme who taught Physics and Maths. Later met up with Roy at Myers Grove. Roy passed away a couple of years ago. John Godbehere was another who taught Maths and went on to become HoD at Tapton. One of his contempories, Ron Upton, works/worked at Silverdale.

Frank Groarke - became a teachers' union rep. His nickname was 'Girty'. Do you remember the beam balance and those weights ne'er to be handled by human hands!?

I remember 'Fanny' Fairborther as an art master. Sally Hughes taught RE but also music - in an ineffective way with poor control. His choral duties were assisted by 'Dovie' who had an input for Speech Days.

Alf Simpson taught mechanics and did fitting or EWP (Engineering Workshop Practice). I still possess a copy of Bee & Gray, a trigonometrical text of which Bee was co-author. Davies, as well as chief of Stephenson House, taught patternmaking as well as his career duties. Ken King taught down at Cathedral School on Queen Street, alias "Jack Queen".

Two other Mathematicians were Alan 'Fred' Frow and Andy Walker who came from Abbeydale Boys' G.S. Another member of staff was Terry Wiggett. There was Arthur Hill who taught History, Don Charlesworth, Geography, and a tinsmithing pair of Ken Westnedge and Mr.Williams whose workshop was based on Arundel Place opposite the Library Theatre.

 

I think I probably have a photograph with Andrew Spivey on it. I remember another chum called Clive Herrington who was a speedway buff and I think Spivey had a pal called Marsh from Millhouses area? Remember Frank Green?

I met him again at Wisewood School.

I tend to share PopT's fondness of the C.T.S. and have spent many moments reminiscing with former staff come colleagues. The more you hear from the 'inside' the funnier it becomes.