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CWN : PEOPLE
: GUESTBOOK : 2005 : FEBRUARY
Guestbook - February 2005
The Guestbook is not just about finding old friends, you might also
want to post questions about the local area or make comment on a visit
to Coventry and Warwickshire. If you would like to post a message to the
guestbook please send them to : editor@cwn.org.uk
NOTE : For any enquiries where someone
is trying to find someone else we feel it better if you do know the people being sought to ask them first before passing on any information about them - remember they may not want to be found!
| [19 FEB 05] |
MEMORIES OF FOLLY LANE SCHOOL |
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I was at Folly Lane School from about 1942 - 1947. I think my form teacher
was Miss Holly and the headmaster was a Mr Kelsey. Mr Kelsey always used
to call me 'Lightening' because presumably I was a little slow. My
sister was also at the school in the girl's half. We lived in Hollis
Road just opposite the school.
I must have gone to another school in Coventry in 1949 when I was 12 -
Stoke Secondary Modern - as I still have my midsummer 1st Year Report. I
came 21st in the class of 36 with a mark of 423½
out of 550. Regarded as not very good in those days! The Formmaster was
a Mr W K Fawson.
When I made a return visit to the Folly Lane School in about 1950, I
think Mr Kelsey was still there because he was disappointed that I
didn't stay at the school to take my 11 plus as I was sent to the
Coventry Wyre Farm School because of the post war problems.
During the war period, it was a great delight to have sweets handed out
from a brightly coloured box from the front of the class on the
teacher's desk. When I first started, I remember the rows of desks with
their empty inkwells as we first started writing using slates and chalk.
It was only later that we progressed to pencils and then to pens for
which the inkwells were filled from stone bottles.
Surprisingly, as I relate to people in later life, we each used an
abbacus and even more surprisingly in maths we learnt not only the
duo-decimal system but also the octal system and the binary system of
counting long before computers.
The toilets were open, cold and wet closets at the back of the
playground and if it was raining we got wet.
I remember the war well and the air raid shelters on the patch of ground
next to the school opposite the park. After the war, German prisoners
were used to dismantle the shelters, but the main shelter was under the
railway embankment further on the Humber Road toward Whitley. Every time
I hear sirens I can smell the musty shelter.
I left Coventry in about 1950 to move down to Devon with my parents.
After a short time in a comprehensive school in Exmouth, I was the only
one to pass my 13 plus exams which took me to a technical school in
Exeter and thence from there into the RAF to complete my 'A' levels.
After that I became a nuclear physicist and electronic systems engineer
gaining an MSc in 1966 in physics and a member of various scientific
institutions. Later on at the age of 66/67 I re-entered university to
study cosmology and astrophysics. I shall be 68 in July.
My name at that time was Gary Thomas Norton, but for various personal
reasons I am now G P Tracy. |
| CONTACT |
G P Tracy |
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| [17 FEB 05] |
LOOKING FOR ANDREW GAY |
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I am trying to find Andrew Gay - only he would know this name.
He was born in Bristol in 1968 but moved to Coventry shortly afterwards.
He would be 37 this summer.
I am his younger sister and I having been looking for nearly a year for
him and was wondering if anyone could help. |
| CONTACT |
Sue |
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| [01 FEB 05] |
LOOKING FOR SHANE MCPHERSON |
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I am trying to contact Shane McPherson who lived on Queen Margarets Road
in Canley with his father and mother Barbara and Peter. He attended
Canley Primary School sometime between 1993 - 2000.
If you can help, please email me. I am his sister from Canada looking
for him. I have exhausted every avenue, and am hoping you can help.
I am 20 years old now and in university , and I know he is about 18
years old. |
| CONTACT |
Amy
McPherson-McAlpine |
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