Central School Document Library

From the last intake at Darley Abbey,
David Cattermole writes
Email: October 11th, 2005

I was in the last year of Central School before it moved to Breadsall Hilltop, so I still consider myself an Old Centaur. I was in the Corinthians. In the 1958 school photo, I'm crouched 13th from right front row (as per right). My father went to the school when it was Hastings Street School.

Comments on the staff from the 1958 photo. From the left – Evans, who later moved to Derwent School in Beaufort Street. I think he became Headmaster or Deputy Head there, because they passed him by when the school went to Breadsall and gave the post to Seth Adams (of Rawhide fame) who came from Burton-on-Trent.

Next is Cox, who taught English, then Miss Smallwood, my form mistress, who taught German and later married Fred Peake. We only knew the cook as "Wishbone" from the cook that was in Rawhide, on the TV at that time. By the way we always called Mr. Lingard Jimmy. (“Take your pump off boy and hand it to me,” which you did. And he gave you a whack on the backside, then gave it back to you to put on again. Some of the lads got wise to this and did PE without pumps. He got wise and used to bring in an old pump just in case.)

Names from the 1959 photo. It is Evans again to right of Smith (chemistry). I'm 11th to left of her on same row. To the left of Pritchard is Butterfield (arts and crafts), and to his right is Mogg (biology) who taught us the facts of life and kept bees on the school grounds and at his home at Idridgehay. To right of Boss (Bonehead as the new intake seemed to call him) is Mrs Dale, the girls Deputy Head, who later went on to become Headmistress at Parkfield Cedars School when it moved to Mackworth. Then there is Goodwin and Miss Smallwood. To the right of Topliss (Rubbergob as he became known) is Alf Camp (metalwork) who also formed his own scoutgroup, 125th Littleover Methodist, which is still running. My kids were members. He's still alive. I went to the Scout group’s 25th re-union some years ago, which is when I found out that Alf was involved. To right of Fred Peake is D. J. Cox, then Mr. Smith (Chimpy, for obvious reasons) who taught me Technical Drawing. Then comes "Pop" Hanson, a real Gentleman. He would always speak to you, and when he entered class would say "Good morning boys." I always thought he taught till he was 90 because he always looked the same gaunt figure of a man.

When the School moved from Darley Abbey I had the privilege, as youngest boy, of helping the Mayor of Derby, Walter White, plant a plaque in recognition of the School’s stay there - sadly now gone. I did this with a big black eye after a collision with another boy at the school canteen, which was to the right of the music room in the car park (I think they are still there). The School Song song continued in used after the move to Henry Cavendish but the first line was modified to read, "Centaur thy sons and daughters proudly stand".

Hope this has been helpful for you, there is a Henry Cavendish website which may contain other info you require.

The plaque, the organ, the stained glass ...
November 11th, 2005

David Cattermole addresses issues of ongoing interest

THE OAK LECTERN, I believe, was going to be disposed of, because the Education Authority wanted all new furniture at Henry Cavendish. So The Boss acquired it for posterity. The oak lectern at HC was a brand new, light oak one to match all the furniture and woodwork. The Boss used it every morning at assembly, as did "Seth" Adams when assembly was delegated to him.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. Fred Peake used to play the piano at the school assemblies, but complained he had to really "stomp" the keys to make it heard in the new vast hall, so convinced the Boss to invest in a new "state-of-the-art" (at that time - 1959) electronic organ. This was achieved by donations from pupils, parent, staff and I believe the Old Centaurs, and the organ had it's "outing" some 6 months later, with Fred again proudly "stomping" the swell pedal this time, He loved "showing off" its capabilities - it was part the old valve (tube to you) and "new" transistor type of course. The organ wouldn't have done bad if it lasted 30 years!

THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW was again donated by the Old Centaurs, to celebrate their stay at Darley Park, and the ultimate demise of the Association. This may have been approximately 1962-ish. Wouldn't it be nice to see "The Old Centaurs Association "revitalised?

(Click here for large view of the window)

THE WAR MEMORIAL PLAQUE was fixed to the wall at the old school in the glass conservatory leading to Joe Hawsby's art room, but because the roof leaked (hence the water damage) was moved to the main entrance hallway as you came into the school. When the school moved to HC it was put up in the hallway leading to the Boss's office, and I always remember that during "Remembrance" week, it always had a poppy attached to it. Does anybody remember how Joe came to "work" and what he wore on his head? (On a bike, wearing a beret – Ed.)

THE ROOF. I too was there when the roof blew off the top of the school – the refurbished rooms overlooking the park, where Bill Grimley (not only by name but also by nature) taught history, and Bert Fossey taught geography. Remember the story about Jimmy Lingard with the pump's? Well, Bert Fossey used to belt you with an old galoshes he kept in his store cupboard. I saw many a boy reduced to tears with only one whack from that. But back to the roof. Luckily the school was at assembly at the time and most of the debris blew into the playground, though some smashed the hall windows and even struck some pupils on the back. None was seriously injured. It took about 6 weeks to get the damage repaired.

THE PIANO FIRE. I believe the person responsible for the arson attack was non other than the big trouble maker - dare I mention John Irons?( you may want to edit this. Nah! - Ed.) The Boss made the whole school stay in at break times every day for a week till the culprit owned up and afterwards file past the said piano to show the wanton destruction somebody had caused. But it wasn't till some time later that the culprit was caught. This damage had reduced Harry Simpson (Simpo, because he was always on about symphonies) to tears, as the piano was his pride and joy, but after a time is was put back to it's previous working order.

MISCELLANEOUS MEMORIES. Talking about Mr Pritchard, he taught my father at Hastings Street School when he was a student teacher, maths of course, and even came into my shop for goods and services when he had retired.

The chap in the '58 photo (can't remember his name) 2nd row, 3rd from left (little guy), used to come to school in a car - a pale blue Austin A35. He was so short he had to sit on a cushion, and regularly gave some of the staff (who came by bus) a lift home! He parked it in the school car park of course. (This was Titch Harris, left - Ed.)

Does any body remember the old cellars at Darley Park and the way down there?

Hope this info. has been useful and once again thank you for your mail and keep up the good work.

POST SCRIPT. I still see a few of the "Old Centaurs" about the place: John Hulse, John Gill, Philip Borsley, ('58 photo 5th row from front, 2nd from right) and sail with Ged Bellamy, (1958 photo, 6th row from front, 7th from right) regularly. The chap who runs the HC website (Barker) is sitting in the front row of the '58 photo, 9th from the left.