On the corner of Cuckoo Lane there was a small shoe repair/shoe makers shop. In winter it was lovely to go in there - the smell of leather and glue - and it was always warm. 1959 - 1967. To this day I have a pair of my father's black shoes repaired there with 'Philip's soles'. Many thanks for the walk!
I was from Childwall Valley (Wellgreen Road) my two brothers John and Peter attended "The Comp" in the mid 60s early 70s, I attended from 1976 to 1981. When The Comp officially closed, they had a come and see weekend for past students ... On going back to see the place, so many memories (good and bad) came back to me of teachers, class mates. In regard to Woolton, we went to the woolton show, the baths and cinima, we would walk up to woolton from Childwall Valley, in our teens we would go to the Woolton pups on Sunday nights. I worked in the Youth Centre from the late 1990s up to 2000, my Dad had his last years in two old peoples homes from 1992 to 2003. As a cyclist I use the Liverpool Loop Line, when those fraight trains ran on it we knew it as "The Ralla" so you could se the old "Comp" and the outskirts of Woolton while cycling. Thanks for the history of "The Comp" and thanks for rekindling my momories of Gateacre and Woolton.
I went to Gateacre left in 1983. I loved the school, it seemed very posh to me coming from a council estate! Some teachers were so strict, one used to walk round with a stick and hit people if the were walking on the wrong side of the corridor (we had to walk on the right) he had a glass eye, can’t remember his name. Hated the swimming lessons in the pool as the teacher used to make us take our towels off about 6ft away from the showers, we would run to the showers and back to the hooks holding our towels! One funny memory was a lovely girl called Julie Longmire she brought table tennis paddles in to cover herself up teacher went nuts but we had a such a laugh!! Great memories
At the baths, one PE teacher used to line us up on the edge of the pool and from behind he would put both his hands around your neck, lift you off the floor and drop you in the water. We learned to swim pretty quick 😆
I remember someone accused a lad of taking their money, our form teacher told the lad to sit on the window board, the teacher then grabbed his legs and hung him out of the window gave him a shake and told the other lad to go get his money outside. The lad never took money again!!
Different times. It was strict discipline at times, but it worked. The same PE teacher, by the way, gave me a lift to school a couple of times when I'd missed the bus and was walking. So not all bad. Imagine a teacher hanging a kid out of a window these days though
Or throwing a board rubber at your head for not paying attention! Hitting you with a walking stick for walking on the wrong side of the corridor or stair well! I remember kids being hit on their hands known as the cane! It was all excepted then as part of the school rules. I thought it was an amazing school, hated the lower school head mistress, she was a little woman. Can’t remember the upper school head
I left in 73, but the Head was a Mr Hughes. Deputy head was a Mr Dawson and later a PE teacher Mr Edwards took over when Dawson left... Edwards was actually OK.
Great video much appreciated. I lived close to the school but ended up going to Toxteth Tech and had similar experiences. In the 60s, some of the teachers were 2nd World War veterans and not sympathetic to kids, thank goodness those days are gone. The village, sandstone walls, structures are really impressive. What a nice place, so grateful to have grown up there and every scene brings back good memories.
its lovely to see woolton and Gateacre, I live by Mackets Lane so this is a frequent journey for me and also my sons and daughters all went to schools in woolton, theres some money in those areas some lovely houses that i can only dream of living in
I went there from 1970 to 1974... My happiest memories were playing Football on Barnham Drive and Art classes with Mr Hay....I remember it was a pretty strict regime, but it probably needed to be. I remember some horrendous incidents by pupils against teachers and each other.
I grew up in Oakfield Terrace. A beautiful Regency house built by a Liverpool merchant in the early 1800s.. Three houses all joined together. I was in 1, Oakfield Terrace. In the cellar there were three rooms. One for the coal with an outside chute. One a wine cellar with stone shelves. The third . . . Before us someone had built a forge there. Strange to say now I make blacksmith's bellows from new. There was a long garden. In WW2 the lower third of the garden was a vegetable garden. Below that was a chicken shed and enclosed chicken run and a greenhouse. I cannot remember who lived in the middle of the terrace. At the third part lived the Dentons. That house was the mirror image of our house. In the attic Mr. Denton had a MAGNIFICENT Basset Lowke steam train set. I think he and two unmarried sisters lived there. I have still a mahogany chest which came from their house. In the Denton 's garden was a bomb shelter. Next to it was their greenhouse. Ah well! Boys will be boys. I broke one of the panes with a stone. 😢
I went to gateacre comp in the 70 to 76 it was a good school iwas Yvonne Adderley then all my siblings also attended gateacre comp watching your video reminded me of my time there
I went to the school from 2003-2008 then 2008-2010 for 6th form. It’s strange to think that it’s gone now. It’s weird to see the old pictures of the school especially with the music and 6th form buildings missing
I went to Gateacre comprehensive in 1988 after attending Kingsthorne. I think the headmaster at that time was a Mr Barnes but even in the 80s and early 90s there were still a few teachers like you say you would be wary of as they'd really ball at some kids they didn't like. Im guessing it's a far cry from today but things have changed a lot over the years. 🤔 One regret I have is that I didn't take History GCSE coz I still have a keen interest in it.
mr farrel woodwork teacher, mr crowther music teacher(cained me a few times,sent to mr edwards room for punishment book, loved the school walked or biked from hunts cross ave . know live in penzance!! good memories. cheers davd fallows born 1958.cheers
I had those two as well. Mr Farrel was OK but Crowther was a bit odd. Know Hunts Cross Avenue very well, it'll feature in a video soon. Thanks for the comment.
Two of my sisters went to Gateacre Comprehensive School from 1965 to 1967 while I was at Rudston Road School in Childwall. I would love to have stayed in Liverpool, but was sent off to boarding school in Lincolnshire in the summer of 67.
thanks for this video... i lived in Woolton and went to this school,1970 to 74 ,remember hockey in the snow on that top field , no fond memories whatsoever !!!
Hello Jeff, I'm not sure if you know or not, you mentioned swimming pools, Is that one of the houses on the right hand side that the owner of Starways at Speke Airport lived?, I recall only 2 houses or bungalows being built on that side and they was related. It could be another road that's similar but it was near to the school. wasn't as many houses then, the shops was new and belle vale station had just closed but the gate posts are still there. Halsnead Coal Company had the contract to remove all wooden sleepers within that little area, the Brown Cow was a Favourite back then as was the butchers on the corner with home made pork pies, a favourite for kids in lunch time. I'm not well up on road names for the area, but I knew my way around very well.
I don't know who owned them, there was one where you could see the pool through the window. I thought there were three. So many vans around that day I filmed I couldn't see what was there now.
Yeah, that was the Jew, Austin Wilson. He owed my father a pile for work done on hangers when he never paid for what was agreed. Good riddance to that thief.
Looking up railway history I found the station to be named "Gateacre" and it's the continuation line from Hunts Cross, It closed in 1972, I thought it was 1971 but I'm not an Historian. I go by events in my life, such as Mothaks at Speke, The Great fire of Picton Rd Sidings, the building of Entwistle Heights. I didn't get to see the brewery on Gateacre Brow, I recall what looked like a mill at the top of the brow on the left and also the chicken factory behind the elephant. I'm still catching up on all your videos and it is making me remember things. I mentiond your videos to my friend who lived in Ruston Place from birth who also left Liverpool many years before me, I will show him the videos next time he visits me. Can we write a book together hahaa
I see the brick formed homes. Denotes uniformity etc...brick, stone, walkways. Just like in México. The major difference is in México...we are free to express our tastes. Fuschia Pink, red.....yellow and all pastel colores outside and inside. In the USA not so expressive with the wild colors but most homes are painted to our own tastes. Good post!
Hi Jeff love your work.. I lived in Hunts Cross then moved to Frodsham then to Melbourne Australia in 78 ...very close to Rita Tushingham lovely family..please contact
Hi thanks for the comment. Rita Tushingham was well talked about in the 60's and 70's in Woolton and Hunts Cross as a local girl who made it big. I seem to remember her family had a shop in Hunts Cross opposite the junction with Mackets Lane, and I think there was another one in Hunts Cross Avenue near Out Lane. Possibly one in Garston too? She's still going strong I believe.
There was a convalescent home on the main road. I think people with tuberculosis. I remember seeing them through the gate in wheelchairs, pyjamas and dressing gowns.
The first three houses on the right on Oakfield Avenue were owned by Austin Wilson a Jewish buissinessman who owned the Army and Navy stores. He was a keen golfer and a member of Lee Park and Woolton golf clubs. His mother lived in the first big house and his daughter Danielle lived in the second house with Graeme Souness who she married she had a kid before she married Souness to some scally from Halewood if I remember rightly who Ozzy Wilson paid off. Austin Wilson lived in the third house a big Spanish villa.
IIRC, Wilson built another 'Spanish Villa" with a swimming pool extension off North Mossley Hill Road. It was sold and knocked down for development a few years ago.
I remember my friend had a teacher he might of even been the headmaster of Gateacre a Welsh teacher Mr Hughes Eryl Hughes he lived in a nice house on Woolton Hill Road called Manisty he was also a member of Woolton golf club he was a very shady character and too friendly with us young boys if you know what I mean.
Hi! I used to deliver mr Hughes news papers on my paper route really nice big white house up the hill across from the convent. Live in Victoria Canada now fond memories
What an awful school. I was 11 years old back in '59 when I was supposed to go there but it wasn't finished and went to Lister drive instead - along with the ruffians and teddy boys who also awaited the opening. The quick and the dead describes it. Awful rough kids and teachers (remember Seth Adams?) and bullying was endemic; the strong preying on the weak all the way down. I remember Hughes - not happily. The only happy memories are the of biology and metalwork teachers. I hated that school. But thanks for these pictures - life outside school was much better.
I'm pleased someone agrees with me. There's a few who actually liked the place, although they seem to be from the 1980's era. Perhaps it changed then. In my day the teachers were worse than the pupils, canes, detentions, general violence throwing things at anyone who spoke in class.
I too was at Lister Drive then the main school in Grange Lane. Gateacre Concentration Camp was our affectionate name for it!! I considered that school to be an unecessary inconvenience to my social life!! I hated it with a vengeance!!!
On the corner of Cuckoo Lane there was a small shoe repair/shoe makers shop. In winter it was lovely to go in there - the smell of leather and glue - and it was always warm. 1959 - 1967. To this day I have a pair of my father's black shoes repaired there with 'Philip's soles'. Many thanks for the walk!
I was from Childwall Valley (Wellgreen Road) my two brothers John and Peter attended "The Comp" in the mid 60s early 70s, I attended from 1976 to 1981. When The Comp officially closed, they had a come and see weekend for past students ... On going back to see the place, so many memories (good and bad) came back to me of teachers, class mates.
In regard to Woolton, we went to the woolton show, the baths and cinima, we would walk up to woolton from Childwall Valley, in our teens we would go to the Woolton pups on Sunday nights. I worked in the Youth Centre from the late 1990s up to 2000, my Dad had his last years in two old peoples homes from 1992 to 2003.
As a cyclist I use the Liverpool Loop Line, when those fraight trains ran on it we knew it as "The Ralla" so you could se the old "Comp" and the outskirts of Woolton while cycling. Thanks for the history of "The Comp" and thanks for rekindling my momories of Gateacre and Woolton.
Brings back memories I lived in the prefabs in Belle Vale #87 knew Mr Hughes I delivered his news papers ...left in 68 Mr Isaac's room.
Thanks for the videoa Jeff, always make me smile. Appreciate your work!
I went to Gateacre left in 1983. I loved the school, it seemed very posh to me coming from a council estate! Some teachers were so strict, one used to walk round with a stick and hit people if the were walking on the wrong side of the corridor (we had to walk on the right) he had a glass eye, can’t remember his name. Hated the swimming lessons in the pool as the teacher used to make us take our towels off about 6ft away from the showers, we would run to the showers and back to the hooks holding our towels! One funny memory was a lovely girl called Julie Longmire she brought table tennis paddles in to cover herself up teacher went nuts but we had a such a laugh!! Great memories
At the baths, one PE teacher used to line us up on the edge of the pool and from behind he would put both his hands around your neck, lift you off the floor and drop you in the water. We learned to swim pretty quick 😆
I remember someone accused a lad of taking their money, our form teacher told the lad to sit on the window board, the teacher then grabbed his legs and hung him out of the window gave him a shake and told the other lad to go get his money outside. The lad never took money again!!
Different times. It was strict discipline at times, but it worked. The same PE teacher, by the way, gave me a lift to school a couple of times when I'd missed the bus and was walking. So not all bad. Imagine a teacher hanging a kid out of a window these days though
Or throwing a board rubber at your head for not paying attention! Hitting you with a walking stick for walking on the wrong side of the corridor or stair well! I remember kids being hit on their hands known as the cane! It was all excepted then as part of the school rules. I thought it was an amazing school, hated the lower school head mistress, she was a little woman. Can’t remember the upper school head
I left in 73, but the Head was a Mr Hughes. Deputy head was a Mr Dawson and later a PE teacher Mr Edwards took over when Dawson left... Edwards was actually OK.
Great video much appreciated. I lived close to the school but ended up going to Toxteth Tech and had similar experiences. In the 60s, some of the teachers were 2nd World War veterans and not sympathetic to kids, thank goodness those days are gone. The village, sandstone walls, structures are really impressive. What a nice place, so grateful to have grown up there and every scene brings back good memories.
Maybe it was the time as you say, they took the war to the classrooms. Still, it taught us discipline and how to duck.
its lovely to see woolton and Gateacre, I live by Mackets Lane so this is a frequent journey for me and also my sons and daughters all went to schools in woolton, theres some money in those areas some lovely houses that i can only dream of living in
I know, house prices for even small terrace houses are astronomical now in Woolton and Gateacre.
Omg..What memories of that walk to school.I did the same route..We used to get the 78 bus, or school bus.. What a mad school it was.. ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽
I went there from 1970 to 1974... My happiest memories were playing Football on Barnham Drive and Art classes with Mr Hay....I remember it was a pretty strict regime, but it probably needed to be. I remember some horrendous incidents by pupils against teachers and each other.
I remember Mr Hay and going to Barnham Drive on a bus every week. Two of my favourite lessons.
@@Jeff1photo Barnham Drive playing field is still there yet some houses were built close to the other house by the old rail way now a cycle waalk way
I grew up in Oakfield Terrace. A beautiful Regency house built by a Liverpool merchant in the early 1800s.. Three houses all joined together. I was in 1, Oakfield Terrace. In the cellar there were three rooms. One for the coal with an outside chute. One a wine cellar with stone shelves. The third . . . Before us someone had built a forge there. Strange to say now I make blacksmith's bellows from new. There was a long garden. In WW2 the lower third of the garden was a vegetable garden. Below that was a chicken shed and enclosed chicken run and a greenhouse. I cannot remember who lived in the middle of the terrace. At the third part lived the Dentons. That house was the mirror image of our house. In the attic Mr. Denton had a MAGNIFICENT Basset Lowke steam train set. I think he and two unmarried sisters lived there. I have still a mahogany chest which came from their house. In the Denton 's garden was a bomb shelter. Next to it was their greenhouse. Ah well! Boys will be boys. I broke one of the panes with a stone. 😢
I went to gateacre comp in the 70 to 76 it was a good school iwas Yvonne Adderley then all my siblings also attended gateacre comp watching your video reminded me of my time there
I went to the school from 2003-2008 then 2008-2010 for 6th form. It’s strange to think that it’s gone now. It’s weird to see the old pictures of the school especially with the music and 6th form buildings missing
I went to Gateacre comprehensive in 1988 after attending Kingsthorne. I think the headmaster at that time was a Mr Barnes but even in the 80s and early 90s there were still a few teachers like you say you would be wary of as they'd really ball at some kids they didn't like. Im guessing it's a far cry from today but things have changed a lot over the years. 🤔 One regret I have is that I didn't take History GCSE coz I still have a keen interest in it.
I remember the sandstone walls, and kicking the leaves in the autumn as we walked up to Woolton.
mr farrel woodwork teacher, mr crowther music teacher(cained me a few times,sent to mr edwards room for punishment book, loved the school walked or biked from hunts cross ave . know live in penzance!! good memories. cheers davd fallows born 1958.cheers
I had those two as well. Mr Farrel was OK but Crowther was a bit odd. Know Hunts Cross Avenue very well, it'll feature in a video soon. Thanks for the comment.
Michael Fallows was childhood friend and with Kevin Malpass, we always went to each others Birthday parties
Two of my sisters went to Gateacre Comprehensive School from 1965 to 1967 while I was at Rudston Road School in Childwall. I would love to have stayed in Liverpool, but was sent off to boarding school in Lincolnshire in the summer of 67.
thanks for this video... i lived in Woolton and went to this school,1970 to 74 ,remember hockey in the snow on that top field , no fond memories whatsoever !!!
I've not found anyone who has any fond memories, but maybe one day.
I went to this school in the early 1970's, I hated it and most of the teachers too. So pleased when they pulled it down.
Hello Jeff, I'm not sure if you know or not, you mentioned swimming pools, Is that one of the houses on the right hand side that the owner of Starways at Speke Airport lived?, I recall only 2 houses or bungalows being built on that side and they was related. It could be another road that's similar but it was near to the school. wasn't as many houses then, the shops was new and belle vale station had just closed but the gate posts are still there. Halsnead Coal Company had the contract to remove all wooden sleepers within that little area, the Brown Cow was a Favourite back then as was the butchers on the corner with home made pork pies, a favourite for kids in lunch time. I'm not well up on road names for the area, but I knew my way around very well.
I don't know who owned them, there was one where you could see the pool through the window. I thought there were three. So many vans around that day I filmed I couldn't see what was there now.
Yeah, that was the Jew, Austin Wilson. He owed my father a pile for work done on hangers when he never paid for what was agreed. Good riddance to that thief.
1959 - 1967 grew up in Cuckoo Lane. In those days most of it was still farmland. I remember watching hares there.
Looking up railway history I found the station to be named "Gateacre" and it's the continuation line from Hunts Cross, It closed in 1972, I thought it was 1971 but I'm not an Historian. I go by events in my life, such as Mothaks at Speke, The Great fire of Picton Rd Sidings, the building of Entwistle Heights. I didn't get to see the brewery on Gateacre Brow, I recall what looked like a mill at the top of the brow on the left and also the chicken factory behind the elephant. I'm still catching up on all your videos and it is making me remember things. I mentiond your videos to my friend who lived in Ruston Place from birth who also left Liverpool many years before me, I will show him the videos next time he visits me. Can we write a book together hahaa
You right the words I'll supply the photos.
I see the brick formed homes. Denotes uniformity etc...brick, stone, walkways. Just like in México. The major difference is in México...we are free to express our tastes. Fuschia Pink, red.....yellow and all pastel colores outside and inside. In the USA not so expressive with the wild colors but most homes are painted to our own tastes. Good post!
Remember walking down Grange Lane in the snow of 1963.
Hi Jeff love your work.. I lived in Hunts Cross then moved to Frodsham then to Melbourne Australia in 78 ...very close to Rita Tushingham lovely family..please contact
Hi thanks for the comment. Rita Tushingham was well talked about in the 60's and 70's in Woolton and Hunts Cross as a local girl who made it big.
I seem to remember her family had a shop in Hunts Cross opposite the junction with Mackets Lane, and I think there was another one in Hunts Cross Avenue near Out Lane. Possibly one in Garston too?
She's still going strong I believe.
There was a convalescent home on the main road. I think people with tuberculosis. I remember seeing them through the gate in wheelchairs, pyjamas and dressing gowns.
Anyone remember the Chez club over the road from Gateacre Comp?
The first three houses on the right on Oakfield Avenue were owned by Austin Wilson a Jewish buissinessman who owned the Army and Navy stores.
He was a keen golfer and a member of Lee Park and Woolton golf clubs.
His mother lived in the first big house and his daughter Danielle lived in the second house with Graeme Souness who she married she had a kid before she married Souness to some scally from Halewood if I remember rightly who Ozzy Wilson paid off.
Austin Wilson lived in the third house a big Spanish villa.
IIRC, Wilson built another 'Spanish Villa" with a swimming pool extension off North Mossley Hill Road. It was sold and knocked down for development a few years ago.
I remember my friend had a teacher he might of even been the headmaster of Gateacre a Welsh teacher Mr Hughes Eryl Hughes he lived in a nice house on Woolton Hill Road called Manisty he was also a member of Woolton golf club he was a very shady character and too friendly with us young boys if you know what I mean.
Mr Hughes was headmaster when I was there, only spoke to him once in all that time.
Hi! I used to deliver mr Hughes news papers on my paper route really nice big white house up the hill across from the convent. Live in Victoria Canada now fond memories
Williams nursery was were those new homes are before the roundabout top of the brow
Thanks very much for that Nicola.
I loved William ses , Sold out for building but leaves the area without a garden centre .
75-80 so many memories not all good mr Breeze head of wood work certainly seemed to enjoy caning boys
Ah yeah I remember him, never had a problem with him personally, but he was a bit cane happy.
What an awful school. I was 11 years old back in '59 when I was supposed to go there but it wasn't finished and went to Lister drive instead - along with the ruffians and teddy boys who also awaited the opening. The quick and the dead describes it. Awful rough kids and teachers (remember Seth Adams?) and bullying was endemic; the strong preying on the weak all the way down. I remember Hughes - not happily. The only happy memories are the of biology and metalwork teachers. I hated that school. But thanks for these pictures - life outside school was much better.
I'm pleased someone agrees with me. There's a few who actually liked the place, although they seem to be from the 1980's era. Perhaps it changed then. In my day the teachers were worse than the pupils, canes, detentions, general violence throwing things at anyone who spoke in class.
I too was at Lister Drive then the main school in Grange Lane. Gateacre Concentration Camp was our affectionate name for it!! I considered that school to be an unecessary inconvenience to my social life!! I hated it with a vengeance!!!