The Visitors' Book for St Augustine's Grammar School Old Boys

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Gerard Lodge

I can only refer to the early years.I was there before the opening day sorting out things and I had the dubious privilege of discovering the box of straps which were eventually used to flog the boys. The original side burn twister was that fat get McSweeney, real nasty piece of work. He also was adept at finding pressure points in the elbow area. The treatment we received from some of those teachers would land them in court today.Even some of the great teachers were very harsh and possibly subject to criminal prosecutions today. "Would you like to see Father McGuinness or step into my stock room?" Say no and you went to see Spike. Say yes and you got hit on the backside with a training shoe with very, very extreme force. The quandary was take the pain from the teacher or go to see Spike get ten strokes on the backside, gone on report and get you parents involved where you could a lot of grief which wouldn't involve physical battering but being grounded etc. The number of strokes of the strap did not matter after about four, your bum got numb. Oh God I wish I had taken pictures of the bruises. This place from 1965 to 1969 was for an awful place in some aspects for me. However having said all of this I had some great holidays camping and YHS with Alan Shaw, Barry Thorpe and Henry Rigby. Out of school they were excellent guardians and a great source of education and fun.I know that at least two of them have died As teachers they were harsh but very fair. It is ironic that on a school trip to Stratford several pupils were guilty of shop lifting all they got was a severe telling off. Me, I was a mouthy Wythenshawe kid and yes I did not conform to 1950's view that children should be seen and heard. I was not the best behaved pupil in class as I would always question the teachers by way of a comment of a joke. I think today it might well be called interaction. One bloke Hartley, one of the science teachers said I would be the funniest man in the dole queue, sadly for him he got that wrong. Apart when I was 18 as a student at holiday time I did claim the dole, which at the time was perfectly legal. Spike took an exception to me. So he "asked" me to leave because my side burns were to long. I was 15 not guilty of any other crime. I had not been on a school trip which involved shoplifting, I had not been caught smoking. Oh yes, when I was 12 I got ten stokes of the strap on my backside for "obvious eating". Let me explain... whilst in school uniform eating sweets was fine, but even outside of the boundaries of the school if you were to seen eating an ice cream or something similar...six or ten strokes on the backside. Spike had spotted me and my mate Pete Smith through his binoculars eating an ice cream on Altrincham Road several hundred yards from his office
Has this caused any problems in adult life? No not really. I had some great time with Harry Rigby, Alan Shaw and Barry Thorpe. Jasper Brennan and the little history bloke were great. I used to be an altar boy, and in fact, Paul Bird and myself were the first two boys to serve at a mass at St Augustine's.
What are my lasting memories from this place...well they certainly managed to flog the Catholic Church out of me.

Yes I know that you younger people may have great memories from this place...kissing the bishops ring... girls spread yourself amongst the boys.
I know that even from my entry year some folks have made good, even later a musician. Of course the rouge.

You younger blokes enjoy your memories. It was probably a far better place than when I was there. Not my favourite place.

patrick freney

Yes,one of the boys of 65....i have to make a comment-so i'll say hello!

Franz Collinge

went to StAugs 68-75
Started in 1K
Fond memories of maths with Mr.Rigby twisting sideburns- but a still great teacher.Got six of the best off Spike together with John Lyons cos we pulled apart the back seat of the 71 bus to Stockport!

markb

kinell, Shay Dinan and Mark Caffrey back from't dead now - who next, F J McGuiness?

Shay Dinan

Some fond memories!! I remember the day I took that strap clearly!

Mark Caffrey.

Came to SAGS in '74 to 76 from All Hallows' to do my A levels, Shaun Carter and John "cornet" McCormack also came. Was amazed at the difference in how much better the level of tuition was from secondary school, but missed the girls !

Mike C. Okereke

Prior to coming to SAGS, I was a student, for one term, at Crusaders' Secondary School, Isingwu, Umuahia. It is not completely clear to me why I keep having far more fond memories for Crusaders' than SAGS, even though I did spend a comparatively miniscule amount of time at Crusaders than at SAGS.
All that glitters, as the saying goes, is not gold.

john mcgrath

first time viewing just trying to remember old classmates

Dave Espley

New novel, inspired by St Augustine's - see the Message Board