Sunday, September 03, 2006
Gone but not forgotten...
Somerville School, Bromborough, Cheshire, was demolished many years ago to make way for a housing estate, but there must still be many people who have good memories of the school and its sometimes eccentric staff. This blog exists to share memories, photos and whatever else comes to mind.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
31 comments:
Iattended in the early 60's . remember Mr Broome senior who taught us arithmetic-forever top and tailing his pencil or chalk on the desk ." Will you put your pens down " was his famous saying . He was fond of the cane too , or thumping our behinds with his fist . pupils I remember in my class were : Donald Hughes (pod )Terry Paine , Roderick Gibson and Baynton , Paul Smith , Babs ,old man,Joan Rushton , David Eaton ,Richard Jenner and Paul Collins . Teachers I recall were John Broome ( geography --" Kent hops used to make beer , wheat oats and barley")miss Davies , mrs Collins.Mr Broome snr had a Humber and it was off to Lancaster caff for lunch in a battered old van -the model currently escapes me . One hand one bounce was played in break and prior to lessons on the wall in the play ground area.This was in the era of "superball" and the "johnny seven" gun and TV 21 comic.I am Nicholas Tragheim , commonly known as "trashcan"... Would be fantastic to hear from any old acquaintances I used to know.
Researching information about a James Robertson ORMISTON who taught at Ravenswood School near Tiverton, Exeter, Devon in the early 1950s and also Norwood Preparatory and Mount Radford School (Both Exeter, Devon)in the 1950s and 1960s - I came across the publication by his Uncle, Thomas Lane Ormiston,(Born 1867) who comments that, as he had no offspring he pssed the family Estate (TRood House, Matford, Exeter) to his cousin. the cousin had a son (born 1908) who, in about 1946/7 was described as being "PROPRIETOR OF SOMERVILLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, BROMBOROUGH, CHESHIRE"- anyone who can confirm this or shed light on this fact or elaborate on it please contact me, Richard Holladay (goldenhammerman@gmail.com) Higher Mill House, Clifford Street, CHUDLEIGH TQ130LH
Thanks.
A couple of years on and no response from anyone !!!
Hopefully someone will pick up on my query - valid now as it was then
Richard H
28th Feb 2017
A response after 2 years from a John Faleur. (Possibly J.J.L.A. Faleur ?) It would not be appropriate to give out details of the person on this blog but he apparently could write a book about Somerville in his time as so many things are still vivid in his mind.
My contact details are freely shown above.
If anyone eles, as John Faleur was able to, recalls anything about Mr Ormiston and his time at Somerville - about 1946 - 1947 please contact me, Richard H
I reckon you were a year above me. I was there with Pete Nadin I'll try and remember some of the other. I remember Miss Cooper and the rather lovely Miss Davis Broome was a tyrant who today would have been locked up ! Do you remember the black and white silent movies at the end of term at Christmas ? And Pirates in the dark Gym ? John Broome owned Alton Towers !!
December 2017
I recently received this e mail in connection with the School (my interest is the onetime Headmaster, Mr Ormiston who later moved to Exeter and taught at many local schools in that area)
Here is the email
Dear Mr. Holladay.
I attended Somerville between (approx) 1946-51.
I have some school photos along with lasting memories.
Kind regards.
David Hulse.
Unfortunately when I got around to replying the email was 'undeliverable' - if anyone knows how to contact this person I'd be obliged if they can provide an up to date email address - he is apparently connected with "antique-maps-books.co.uk"
Any help welcome
Richard Holladay
My brother Barry Ashley and I went to d
Somerville school early 60s loved it .Yes mr Broome senior use to give the boys the whacks in maths lesions to one poor boy John nearly every day .Yes went to the cafe for lunch on new chester road was taken in a large light blue car .Rember Kevin And he had a brother who also went to Somerville. We use to have half day on Wednesday .It was mostly boys but for a few girls Dilyes and Gill to sisters me Barbara Ashley carnt rember the other names .Miss Collins had a son in school .Rember getting caught climbing out a window in the class room got 100 lines must not climb out of windows sure if one of the boys had climbed out of window they would of got the whacks.
I attended Somerville 1945 to 1948. The Headmaster was Ormiston. His wife was also involved in the running of the school. I assume I left at the time the School closed. Although I believe it continued operating at a different address. The school on Alport Road was demolished in 1965.
I remember the sisters Gill and Dilys. I was Mrs. Collin's son, Paul. Remember Ian Strettle (Tank), David Eaton and Carl Simpson who i seem to recall moved to Australia. John Broome with a butter churn showing us how to make butter by hand. He married into Aston Towers and was also involved in an abortive bid to develop Battersea Power Station. Someone told me the sandstone from when the building was demolished is now immortalised as part of the elephant house at Chester Zoo. When it closed a few of us moved to Bebington Prep school.
Hi Paul my name is Barbara proctor (nee Ashley).I Rember you and your mum .My brother Barry Ashley was also at Somerville.His friend was Trevor Powell they were 3 years older than me I was born 1956 .I loved Somerville but was scared stiff of getting the whacks from Mr Broome .Are you in touch with anyone from Somerville?
I remember you Barbara .. Think you were known as Babs and in my class .. ( read my earlier post on here ) .. I'm Nicholas Tragheim '- known then as trashcan , surname related .. You and Joan Rushton were the only girls in our class .. Paul Collins i remember also along with David Eaton and others i previously mentioned on this site .. I met up with Roderick Gibson a few years ago .. I think Trevor Powell , who was a year or so ahead of us , had a Raleigh Molten bicycle which i always wanted for some reason .. Trevor may have been in the same class as Jonathon Gee .. Regards and best wishes , Nick ....
Barbara .....I think it might have been John Haughton you may have been referring to as for getting the whacks in maths lessons ..lol ... Nick Tragheim
Hi nick yes poor John houghton felt really sorry for him unknown to mr Brome I used to copy my brother’s home work .Yes I was known as Babs .Do you remember Kevin Terrial had a brother Martin they lived in Angus road off brookhurst ave and where from London .Also do you remember when we found a wounded bat in the school grounds .regards Barbara
Barbara ( or Babs ) ... Yes i remember you and everyone else in our class including Martin and Kevin Tyrell , on Angus Road .. I used to live on Alistair Drive nearby on the same estate .. We used to go to their House on bonfire night and their parents gave a good show .. I don't remember finding a wounded Bat though .. I think John Haughton lives in Australia now , but not sure .. There was someone in our class we used to call " old man " , but can't remember his real name .. Can't beleive it's about 55 or 56 years ago i was at Somerville .. I'm 65 this year !!!! How time really does fly .. I used to go to David Eaton and Richard Jenner's ( The class swat ) houses a lot .. I live in Greater Manchester now .. Whereabouts are you ?? ...Nick x
Hi nick we use to go to Kevin’s house as well my mum was friends with there mum.We have just moved back to spital the Wirral from Manchester lived in Manchester for 40 year’s now we are retired decided to move back must say wirral is so different from Manchester it’s a big change my husband has never lived anywhere tham south Manchester ! My dad lives off brookhurst ave (Banff ave) and I have ajunger brother who lives in Spital so it’s nice and close to my family. Barbara x
It would be so nice to meet up when ( if ) this virus eventually clears up .. I know Roderick Gibson and Dilys would be very interested .. Hope you would be up for this too .. I was a registered psychiatric nurse for around 34 years , working in the South and latterly Cheadle Royal and Wythenshawe Hospitals , in South Manchester .. now retired ..My email address is nick.tragheim@gmail.com Nick x
Hi nick we lived in Northenden went to whythenshawe hospital and cheadle royal many times which I had known you where working there then .I would love to meet up when we can .what part of Manchester do you live now.? I worked in Northenden tesco for 18 years before retiring a lot of medical staff use to shop there hey I might of actually served you differently some of your colleges.Do Dilys and Roderick still live on the Wirral? Do you like being retired both my husband and I love it a lot of people don’t.we both like Wirral it’s a lot slower pace and near the sea which we love keep in touch Barbara
.
Hi Barbara .. I sent you a message via my email address but not sure if you received it so will message it again on here .. I live in Hyde , near Ashton under Lyne and Stockport .. Rod lives in Shrewsbury but don't know where Dilys lives , but they are in touch .. I met Rod several years ago and drove to see him .. 2 years ago i had a stroke which affected my eyes .. This left me blind in the left half of both eyes .. Can still see , but peripheral vision to my left is poor and the DVLA said i can't drive anymore so had to give up driving .. ( homonymous hemianopia is the condition ) .. Yes , love to keep in touch Barbara .. My phone number is 07939155235 .. Nick x .. P.S. What's your's and email address ?? x
Hi nick I’ve sent you an email hope you’re received if let know on hear Barbara x
Yes Barbara , I received your email .. Did you receive mine ?? ....xx
Hi Barbara I now remember you. The only person I had limited contact with was Ian Strettle some years ago, I seem to remember he was manager of a shopping centre i think in Liverpool. Other than that I lost touch with everyone. O recall several of us went on to Bebington Prep after Somerville closed but after that I went to school in Bath. University in Manchester and then to London to train as an accountant. Spent approx 24 years in Africa, moved back to the UK in 2011 and moved to France in 2017. My mother had re married but moved to stay with us in 2019 after her second husband died.
Hi Barbara I now remember you. The only person I had limited contact with was Ian Strettle some years ago, I seem to remember he was manager of a shopping centre i think in Liverpool. Other than that I lost touch with everyone. O recall several of us went on to Bebington Prep after Somerville closed but after that I went to school in Bath. University in Manchester and then to London to train as an accountant. Spent approx 24 years in Africa, moved back to the UK in 2011 and moved to France in 2017. My mother had re married but moved to stay with us in 2019 after her second husband died.
Hi Barbara I now remember you. The only person I had limited contact with was Ian Strettle some years ago, I seem to remember he was manager of a shopping centre i think in Liverpool. Other than that I lost touch with everyone. O recall several of us went on to Bebington Prep after Somerville closed but after that I went to school in Bath. University in Manchester and then to London to train as an accountant. Spent approx 24 years in Africa, moved back to the UK in 2011 and moved to France in 2017. My mother had re married but moved to stay with us in 2019 after her second husband died.
Hi Paul lovely to hear from you .Give my regards to your mum I remember het well .I have been what’s app Nick Tragheim carnt believe he lives in Manchester when we lived there quite close as well would have meet up with him I’ve I had known.So how do you like living in France?I am so glad we finally moved back to Wirral it’s a completely different live to Manchester we moved back in September we are close to my dad and my young brother lives 3 minutes walk .We have both retired really enjoying not having to work have you retired ?.Nick has retired as well.regards Barbara (Babs) X
Hi Paul .. It's Nick Tragheim ( known as " trashcan " ) due to my surname .. I remember you and your mum , who took us for English .. Think i went to your house on occasions .. Remember your mum reading us " Moonfleet " , if i'm correct .. Hope all is well with you and family and be great to hear from you .. Been in touch with Dilys , Roderick Gibson and Barbara ( Babs ) .. Do you remember " old man " ? .. Forget what his real name was ... Regards , Nick ..
I was at Somerville from 1957 - 1963. I think I was in the same year as Jonathan Gee, Richard Hawkes, Jamie Churton, Hartley Rushton, Christopher Pope, Elizabeth Roberts, , Fiona McPherson, David Tolcher. Tom and John Kinsey were farmer's sons and one seemed to be very good at maths. Yes, I recall Charlie Chaplin and Oliver & Hardie films at Christmas. I hated gym in the hall going over a wooden horse. Football for me was even worse, picking up bits of ice from the pitch. I can recall starting in Miss Cooper's class. Frozen milkbottles had to be warmed by that fire. When Music and Movement was on the radio we went upstairs to listen to it. I think that there was Mr Lovelady with the iniitials ES, who made us think it stood for Ebenezeer Scrooge. I recall being in Mr Faulkner's class. That could have been the third form. I believe that I pushed by desk against a gas tap set in the floor, leading to the evacuation of the school. I enjoyed the grounds and woods which had fir trees, redwoods, laurels, all deep leaf mould. That triggered my love of gardening. A big fallen redwood pine was known as the log. The dinner van was as dormoobile with orange roof lights. We went to Lancaster's Cafe for rather greasy egg and chips. Mr Broome senior had a Humber Hawk or snipe. He would warm himself with his back to a roaring fire, Mr John did indeed use the cane. That might have been the fourth form where the room had a section in the corner with several windows, perhaps a turret. Maps of the world seemed huge with large red areas on them. As the Brookhurst Estate was being built a high wooden fence was built to separate the school from the new road to the south. Now nearly 70 I thought I'd jot that lot down while I can remember it.
Hi my name is Barbara (Babs) what is your name ?Think I started at Somerville 1963 so we might not of meet .I remember Tom Kinsey did he have a cousin who was in Somerville? We went for lunch in Mr Brooke car all crammed in the back .Do you remember Barry Ashley he is now 68 he is my older brother .I loved playing on the log the grounds where fab .
This is amazing! I was at Somerville from 57 to 62 - Sarah Weller, alongside Priscilla Lancelyn Green, Dianne Sanchez, Rosemary something, John Nadin, Jonty Gee, John Hawkes, Michael Vogwell, I remember Somerville so clearly, even now! The easily irascible Mr Broome senior, and I found Eric Lovelady fascinating. I remember Nicholas Grace!
Just found this site! Amazing I was at Somerville from 1962 to 1965, I lived opposite Martin and Kevin Tyrell on Angus road, I was friends with them, Jonathan Gee, Richard Hawkes, David Tolcher and Roderick Gibson. Had a great time at the school, apart from when a couple of went out of bounds into the woods a lunch time, when Mr Brooke senior came back he found us and went absolutely berserk and whipped our bare legs with a branch from the Monkey Puzzle tree. That really hurt!
John Payne
Hi John .. Were you by any chance left handed ? If so Mr Broome senior used to harass you for this .. I'm in touch with Babs , Dilys Thompson ( nee Parry ) and Roderick Gibson ..
Regards Nicholas Tragheim , ( commonly known as ' trashcan ) ..
Hello, yes it was me who Broome gave the “Wack” to I still think of him as an evil monster , child abuser, he hit me so hard I lost conscious a few times, I remember his black cape covered in chalk, not living in Australia as Nick mentioned but I have travelled a bit racing sailing yachts in the Caribbean / Greek islands, also
Lived in Jeresy and now settled fir the last 20 years in Spain, married with children, became a musician playing guitar for the pop group the Merseybeats then a solo career and still
Performing, maybe you can catch me on channel 5 later in 2025 as I am on a few episodes of Bargain loving Brits in the sun, or find my Facebook page Rocking Johnny, best regards to you all John Houghton
Post a Comment