e-mail

My most vivid memory of Ardwick Central School (and please don't laugh) was my first day there. My father took me, first on the bus to Manchester and then on a tram to Ardwick. It was all very bewildering to me. He gave me my bus fare home and left me at the school gates. I don't remember much about the day but when it was time to go home I remember feeling petrified as I didn't know which way to turn to get the tram back to Manchester but sure enough, much to my relief, my Father was waiting for me at the school gates. To make matters worse I had turned up at school in a brand new navy blue gymslip and, of course, the school colours were green. I had to wear it for a year before I could have a new one.

As I lived in New Moston I had no option but to have school dinners. Nobody seemed to take packed lunches in my day. I remember queuing up in the hall at Miss Turner's desk in the corner to purchase our dinner tickets. I don't remember the meals being particularly bad but I never liked the sago pudding. In later years I used to spend my dinner money in the local shops , on cakes mainly, and by the end of the week I was lucky if I had anything to eat. I remember going to a shop on Hyde Road where you could get hot vimto. That was a treat for the earlier part of the week.

I remember Miss Turner very well. I remember going with the school to St. Mary's Central School in North Manchester (not far from where I lived) to sing in a choir. I also remember to this day Miss Turner telling us to make the most of our education as we would always regret leaving school. Alas, I'm afraid that is not true in my case.

I remember domestic science, the first year being laundry and the second year cookery. Laundry took place in a building tucked into a corner of the girl's playground. I hated it. If I remember correctly there were two rows of zinc tubs facing one another, each having taps. We were provided with a scrubbing brush, washboard and cake of soap. There were also some boilers to boil the white clothes. I don't remember how we dried the clothes but I remember we ironed them with flat irons. If you were lucky you could use a charcoal iron and if you were extremely lucky you could use one of the two electric irons. I don't think I ever managed that. It was bliss when we progressed to cookery on the top floor.

We played netball in the girl's playground but once a week, weather permitting, we went to Debdale Park for games. We had a turn at playing tennis about twice a year but I was always glad when I didn't have to play tennis because (although I'm 5'10") I could never get the ball over the net!!

Not being very interested in cricket in those days I don't remember Don Bradman's visit to the school in 1948, but I do remember that we had an Australia Exhibition while I was there so it must have been about the same time.