Brenda recalls all her pals

11:19am Thursday 28th February 2008

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THE old photo from Coal Clough Secondary School, Burnley, which appeared on our page last week, chalked up much comment among former pupils.

And we learnt, through Brenda Ashcroft, nee Smithies, the names of all the girls from class 3A.

Brenda, who now lives in Hapton, reckons she was able to recognise every one of her old school pals.

From left to right on the front row are - Eileen Laurie, Patricia Jackson, Ann Robinson, June Proger, Carol Ellins, Kathleen Entwistle, Patricia Taylor, Kathleen Perry.

Second row - Ann Berry, Susan Frankland, Jennifer Ewart, Jean Moore, Sylvia Jeffs, Marie Launder, Patricia Parlane, Shirley Waterworth, Jean Laffan, Sandra Hales.

Third row - Christine Whalley, Margaret Bennet, Christine Isherwood, Ann Cox, Dorothy Pickup, Linda Sellars, Pamela Smith, Adele Armstrong, Cynthia Preston and, on the end, Brenda.

Back row - Pamela Wheatcroft, Nina Hardern, Susan Snaith, Moira Griffiths, Susan Green, Julie Mutters, Margaret Liversedge, Lorraine Brash, Sheila Bamford, Janet Proctor.

The photo was taken in 1961, when the girls would be 13/14. They left school the following year. Their form teacher for that, and the following year was Mrs Morris, who taught maths.

Other teachers recalled by Brenda include Miss Hinton, now nearly 90. After leaving the all-girls' Coal Clough Secondary, she became head of English at Ivy Bank.

Then there was Miss Driver, who taught English; history teacher Mrs Myers; Miss Baldwin, art; Miss Knight, music; cookery teachers Mrs Smith and Mrs Pedley; Mrs Sharp, RE; Miss Shenton, PE and also Miss Winterbottom and Miss Varah. Does anyone else remember the formidable headmistress, Miss Alice Lucas who, Brenda recalls, was very strict and ruled with a rod of iron.

"Consequently there was hardly ever any trouble or misbehaviour. None of us would have dared to be cheeky to any of the staff as the threat of being sent to Miss Lucas's office was enough."