Post by Les on Dec 13, 2017 3:38:56 GMT
Terry McKenna
Maidstone I remember it well: Hi Jim Yarwood. It was great to see all 4 of you: Even Jim James!! I spent a 'fortune' laying on the Balloon Festival for you guys... Yep Bristol is a lovely place as you say full of history. The centre where you guys stayed is not normally as busy as last week but can get 'lively' sometimes. Always a door open here in Bristol for visitors! I too remember "Shocks" John O'Shaunessy and his brother Martin. Shocks was a fearless keeper and a decent bloke. Shaun Scannell is another former St Francis "Old" boy {and there were plenty of us weren't there? 52 in a class as I seem to remember with teachers such as Miss Cokely, Miss Stroud {you didn't want to get on the wrong side of her did you!). Mr Macparland head teacher was always very kind to me and lived I think in Wateringbury (No doubt 'Rain man' Hugh Shannon will tell me if I'm wrong!). As Jim Y. said Hugh, always good to hear your recollections from such a long time ago. And 'Tap' Taylor who replaced Mr Macparland as head teacher and reminded me of a young Roger Moore as well as his lovely wife who also taught at the school. I remember the van that used to bring us our dinners and sometimes helping to 'unload' them. Gypsy Tart was my favourite pudding. Went into the old school 2 years ago to have a look around. The wooden desks c/w inkwells were stacked in the hallway by the stairs to the upper classrooms and everywhere smelt musty!! Miss Lenton's little classroom was still complete. Lovely lady was Miss Lenton. Always made time to talk to ALL of us. For one so young as she was that a 'special' gift to have. The two playgrounds (1 by the railway line with the 3 Bars and the bigger one were still there too, although the wall between them was gone. Even the two cold water fountains were in evidence!! Cheers guys...
Maidstone I remember it well: Hi Jim Yarwood. It was great to see all 4 of you: Even Jim James!! I spent a 'fortune' laying on the Balloon Festival for you guys... Yep Bristol is a lovely place as you say full of history. The centre where you guys stayed is not normally as busy as last week but can get 'lively' sometimes. Always a door open here in Bristol for visitors! I too remember "Shocks" John O'Shaunessy and his brother Martin. Shocks was a fearless keeper and a decent bloke. Shaun Scannell is another former St Francis "Old" boy {and there were plenty of us weren't there? 52 in a class as I seem to remember with teachers such as Miss Cokely, Miss Stroud {you didn't want to get on the wrong side of her did you!). Mr Macparland head teacher was always very kind to me and lived I think in Wateringbury (No doubt 'Rain man' Hugh Shannon will tell me if I'm wrong!). As Jim Y. said Hugh, always good to hear your recollections from such a long time ago. And 'Tap' Taylor who replaced Mr Macparland as head teacher and reminded me of a young Roger Moore as well as his lovely wife who also taught at the school. I remember the van that used to bring us our dinners and sometimes helping to 'unload' them. Gypsy Tart was my favourite pudding. Went into the old school 2 years ago to have a look around. The wooden desks c/w inkwells were stacked in the hallway by the stairs to the upper classrooms and everywhere smelt musty!! Miss Lenton's little classroom was still complete. Lovely lady was Miss Lenton. Always made time to talk to ALL of us. For one so young as she was that a 'special' gift to have. The two playgrounds (1 by the railway line with the 3 Bars and the bigger one were still there too, although the wall between them was gone. Even the two cold water fountains were in evidence!! Cheers guys...