L to R: Cllr Chris Blakeley, The Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Andrew Hodson, my sister Val Frost, and my eldest brother, Brian pictured at the reunion
Last night I attended the Hoylake Parade, 100th Birthday School reunion. Although the building has not operated as a school since 1973, through the work of many people the building has survived and is now the Hoylake Community Centre.
I left the school back in 1965 and until last night had not been back in the building. From the moment I walked back in, thousands of memory’s came flooding back, the vast majority happy, however some sad memories as well. I met people who I had not seen for years and we exchanged many stories about what went on in school in our time there. Sadly only about a dozen who left in my year attended. The school exhibition is also great and well worth a visit.
Hoylake Parade
All four of the Blakeley kids were educated at Hoylake Parade Secondary Modern School, to give it its full title. Three of the four of us attended the reunion, my brother Brian, the eldest left the school in 1955, Tony (who unfortunately could not make the reunion) left in1961, Val my sister left in 1963 and me in 1965. It was rumoured that the Headmaster, Mr Rigby uttered each time one of us started after Brian the words, ‘Not another Bloody Blakeley’ I am sure that was only a rumour as we were all ‘model’ pupils!
Well I was definitely a model student
I was a pupil at the Parade School for over four years, leaving in 1956 after being permitted to complete an additional year of studies. Only 5 of us ‘stayed-on’, including Paul Roberts, etc. My sister Rose, was also a pupil. Two of my cousins,
Beryl Smith and Vivienne Smith were in the same year as me. For the past eight years I have lived with my wife on the Costa Blanca, Spain. I would be most interested to hear from any of my former classmates. I do, of course, remember Brian Blakely. The only change in his appearance is the colour of his hair.
Best regards…Brian Smith
I went to hoylake 1954 /1958 love to hear from old friends Ihave lived in Aust. N.Z 45 years lo ve to here from Sheila Holliday.
I went to the parrade as i called it from 1961 to the time i left i now live in yourkshire were i have lived since 1969 about i came back to hoylake a few times but i would like to speak to any one in my years like barbara picey and jennifer dodd she was from west kirby or any one at all thanks
Many happy, and sad, memories of Headmaster Mr: F. Fowles, Bernard Sephton, “Yokka” Tyson, Clem Morgan and many more. Having left in 1950 and now living in Eastbourne.
Does anyone remember going to watch Alec Farrell playing for England Schoolboys? Wongerful!.
I went to the Parade school, left in 1965. Lived in Hoylake all my life. I am currently living in Canada with my husband, two kids and 4 grandkids. Would love to hear from any classmates that remember me.