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I’m writing my mother’s life story which includes attending The Firs school in 1944. Her name is Judith Callender. Can anyone advise me where to look for information on the school to help with the story. Thank you. Gary Lewis
Hello,
The Reference Library may be able to help, and Teesside Archives have some school records etc, as well as miscellaneous items. You can contact them on:
– Reference_library@middlesbrough.gov.uk
– Teesside Archives teesside_archives@middlesbrough.gov.uk
Thank you
My mum was evacuated there in 1939 ish after been at Grayrigg which was a sister school I believe.
Made to look after the younger children and feed the chickens, not much schooling for her 🙂
I think you may be on the wrong track Martin. Grayrigg school is near Kendal. The Firs was in Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough. Can’t think anyone would be evacuated from Westmoreland, as it was, to Middlesbrough area which was a target for the Luftwaffe after 1939. I attended The Firs in the 1950s. It was a small, private, prep school. Definitely no chickens – or room for chickens. Never heard of any sister school.
My name is Ian Proctor and I’m a member of the Nunthorpe History Group. Nunthorpe Prepatory Private school was built in 1904 and the first headmistress was Miss Ganderton 1904 – 1931. Mrs Malyon took over in 1931 and the school remained open till closure in the 1980s. I have photos of school pupils 1930-33 and 1940,1955. During the war Mrs Malyon took the decision to move the school away from the danger of the Luftwaffe who were bombing industrial Middlesbrough and they moved to Kirby Stephen in Westmorland, known as Cumbria today. I also have a copy of a letter that Miss Ganderton wrote to her pupils when she left the school in 1931.Mrs Malyon had two sons that went to the school called Keith and Neil. I have further information on some of the children that went to the school. I have an appointment on Tuesday morning at 10am with Cori Dale’s in archives which can be found in Dorman Museum on Linthorpe Road, Mbro open Tuesday wed and Thursday 10am to 4pm telephone number 01642 248321. I have asked if they have any information on the school will email you if I find anything. Ian
My sister Joan AYRES attended The Firs, Nunthorpe 1955-1960. Mr. Pennock was the elecution teacher.
Iwas rthe same class as Joan along with ronald knox jaquline matthewa margret glendining susan kirby keith and brian hutchinson malcom dayson these I can recall at the moment also had left shortlly before us brian cross wendy gibson andrew kelly as we left school on the last day some of us went to see the bridge on the rivr kwai please excuse poor typing and mrs.joy our english teacher would be appalled at my grammar
I was in same class as Joan for 4 yre love to hear from you totally out of touch having livd in Scotland for last 53 yrs or anybody fron this era
very interested was in same class
My relative, Alison Winfield from Australia, gave The Firs, Nunthorpe and 14 Rookwood Rd., Nunthorpe on visits in 1938 and 1950 respectively. She was a pre-school teacher, so was she doing something at the school? Are The Firs and 14 Rookwood Rd. the same place? Thank you. Peter
The Firs school was on Marton Moor Road in-between Connaught Road and Rookwood Road on the opposite side of the road. It opened in 1904 and closed at Christmas 1960.
Thank you Ian. It looks as though Alison was not staying at the school, but had a contact at 14 Rookwood Rd., perhaps another teacher.
Thanks, that is helpful info for me. I knew my grandmother had taught there from at least the 1940s until she was in her 80s. As it closed in 1960 she would in fact have been exactly 80 on retirement (born July 1880). She was by then Mrs Joy. Her second marriage in 1935 was short. She was widowed for the second time in 1946. This may be when she started teaching at the Firs.
Yes, I remember some of the names, especially Jackie Matthews, Margaret Glendining and your name Roy Mallaby. Joan is living with her husband in Norway.
i wold be delighted to hear from her or any other classmates
Jackie and I were friends for a long time .Iwas at her wedding in Warrington, at the time I was training in Hotel management at The Swan Hotel Newby Bridge Lake District. from here I started my travels. Some more names I remember are Mary Addison Christine Hinton Mary Stephenson.
My grandmother Ethel Joy (1880-1966) taught at The Firs. She probably began there in about 1945 when she was widowed for the second time. She was teaching there throughout the 1950s and only retired when the school closed in about 1960, when she was 80 years old. Her husband Mr John T Joy may possibly also have taught there. He was a science teacher. Ethel was trained at Darlington Training College. I have her diploma dated 1902. She lived in Linthorpe from 1935 until her death..