Canny lass

One more - 35 Ann Chapelhow.

Number 28 is, I think, Janice somebody or other.

PS Did your memory also fail to remember that it's usually number 35 that comes between 34 and 36?

Seems like we're both reached that time of life!

2 Melvin French (?)

3 Joe Miller

8 Paul Mann

10 Harry Wilson (?)

11 Derek Wilkinson

12 Eric Burns

14 Denise Groves

17 Lorna Hudson

18 Brian Goodall

19 Margaret Coppin

20 Anna Thaine

21 Neave Tweddell

22 Ann Bower

23 John Darling

26 Sandra ???

27 Elizabeth (Betty) Hall

29 Dorothy Dickinson

30 Patricia (Pat) French

31 Susan Arnold

33 Margaret Morton

34 Miss Wilkinson (Maths)

36 Lorraine Armstrong

39 Eileen Brown

40 Lesley Bainbridge

Eggy, this is JR (Junior Remove) 1959-60. Put some numbers on it and I'll give you most of the names.

Nr. 1 is ELSIE Grant.

Nr. 2 is JIMMY Simmons

Nr. 6 is JOHN Bell

Nr. 12 is RUBY Stewart

Nr. 15 is AURTHUR Brodie

Well, that's another 'mystery' cleared up. I have vague memories of the bandstand possibly as late as 62-63. I think I remember some sort of walk arranged by the YMCA that went to the freewoods. Pete might know.

Might have been demolished before your time, Bandsman. I remember it from the fifties.

Definitely the free woods at the bottom of the Furnace Bank. The 'seven sisters'  to the left of the band stand give it away.

Eggy,  nr. 24 might be Pauline Tatlock (2nd Street). Ask George what he thinks. She ought to be on this photo somewhere as she was in the same class as Lorna Naisby and Margaret Stewart.

27 Teacher: Mr Bebbington (Biology). He could wiggle his ears!

i do hope they manage to keep this stone somewhere.

You're probably right, Ovalteeny. On closer ispection she seems to be wearing a hairband which would take the hair away from her face. The year is about right. Moira was a couple of years younger than me.

It's just that I can't remember Moira ever having had short hair.

I don't think that 14 is Moira Climpson.

That class must have been a teacher's nightmare! 22 boys and only 5 girls.

Eggy, it says "1959" at the top of the photo.

Grass skirts and 'black' were very exotic at the coronation celebrations in Netherton Colliery as well. I think the influence came from the visit of Queen 'Saloty' of Tonga to attend the coronation. She was probably the first non-white seen, on TV and in newspapers, by the colliery children.

I think it was called 'Laird's House'. No definite article.

Thanks for that information! I remember the hut but I couldn't remember what it was used for.

It was the home of Robert (Pat) and Margaret (Peggy) Gair. They refused to move if they didn't get a house at West Lea, which they eventually did.